Marriage - Married In Haste Part 32

A minute later, the innkeeper returned with choice table sc.r.a.ps and a hamper with a lid.

Brenn helped Tess and her new friend up into the coach. He knocked on the side, and they were off.

"Look," he said to Tess.

She leaned across his lap to look out the window back the way they'd come. The innkeeper and hispatrons still stood on the road, watching the coaches drive off in profound silence."Do you think they'll write a poem to us?" she asked archly.Brenn laughed, the hearty sound filling the coach and frightening the little cat.He calmed it by scratching under its chin. "What are you going to name him?"Tess considered a moment. "Miles.""Why Miles?"

"I like the name."

For his part, Miles growled deep in his throat at Brenn, apparently not ready to forgive his capture.

"Quiet," she told him. "If it wasn't for him, those boys would have gotten you."

To her delight, Miles stopped his growling, although he did keep a cautious eye on Brenn.

Miles was grateful for the food. Tess tore the pieces of meat into smaller morsels. Brenn warned her not

to give Miles too much or he'd get sick.

She put a shawl in the bottom of the hamper and Miles curled up into an exhausted ball and went to sleep.

"What a sweet cat," Tess said. "I can't imagine anyone mistreating him. Especially over religion. I thought

all of that was settled centuries ago."

"It's never settled as long as men have differing opinions."

"But I thought there was only one church in England."

"Tess, there are almost as many different faiths as trees in England. Perhaps in your circle most people

are of the same religion but it is different out here in the country. Do you not have any friends who are Catholic?"

"No. I met a Catholic woman once...and I've seen Jews but I've never a.s.sociated with them."

"You did live a sheltered life."

The criticism stung a bit. She crossed her arms and asked the question uppermost on her mind. "Will Erwynn Keep be like that village?"

"My uncle was a staunch Church of England man. However, don't let different opinions stop you from exploring new ideas. The world is full of good people who share different beliefs."

"Then you think those boys were justified in throwing rocks at poor Miles."

"No, they weren't. And that's not what I said."

"Then I hate that religion. I think Parliament should pa.s.s a law and make it a crime to practice something so horrid."

Brenn took her hand. "Parliament did do that years ago and it threw us into civil war. Tess, don't hate the religion. It's intolerance that makes people do evil."

"Is that what the village boys were? Intolerant?" "Absolutely, but don't stop with religion. Intolerance is everywhere. Why, in my few weeks in London, I witnessed members of the ton socially ostracize those who didn't follow social protocol to the letter. It was ridiculous. Look at men like Deland G.o.dwin. With his paper, he attempts to destroy anything that doesn't fit his particular ideas-and for what reason except to puff up his own consequence?"

"Oh, yes, G.o.dwin." She frowned. "He is the reason Anne can't find a husband. When she was first presented, he made terrible fun of her for no other reason than because he likes to choose one debutante to ridicule. It has been very hard for her ever since. I call her a friend, although some girls were afraid to."

"I didn't like him.""He's very powerful though.""People like him exist because the rest of us are either followers or refuse to stand up to them. You are neither of those things, Tess. You befriended Anne and you chased off those boys. You were a fine

sight." He smiled as he said those last words, but there was pride in his voice.Tess slid closer to him. She slipped her hand in his. "I don't think I've ever talked to someone in such astraightforward manner as I do with you. And in my first three days of marriage, I've had more newexperiences and been introduced to more new ideas than in all the years since Minnie died."

"At Erwynn Keep," he said, "we will create the type of world we wish it to be. No war. No hunger. No

selfish men wis.h.i.+ng to rule the world with their own petty ideas."

"No intolerance."

"Yes."

"But isn't it already like that?"

Her question caught him off guard. He hesitated, his brows coming together in a frown.

"I mean, the pictures you drew," she said lamely. "It looks so lovely and peaceful."

"Yes." His voice sounded distant. She looked up and discovered that he watched her intently.

"What is it?" she asked.

His fingers tightened around hers momentarily and then he released her hand completely. "It's nothing. I'

m just anxious to return home."

That night, they stayed at an inn that was not as cozy as the Faraways' or as ostentatious as the King's

Crown. Miles delighted her by wanting to sleep on her pillow.

Later, while she and Brenn made love, Tess whispered the words she'd discovered in her heart. She told him she loved him.

He didn't answer, but held her close and she fell asleep at peace with the world.

Brenn couldn't sleep.She'd told him she loved him. She'd spoken the words as he had released his seed inside her.He stared up at the ceiling, not knowing what to say to her. Her words should have made him happy and yet he felt guilty. On the morrow, they would reach Erwynn Keep and the truth would be out.

The wealthy debutante he'd married was changing. She was giving far more to this marriage and to himthan he'd ever imagined.He could only pray that once she laid eyes on Erwynn Keep, she would forgive him.

Chapter Fourteen.

Miles woke them both the next morning, anxious to go out. It was just as well; Tess was anxious to make an early start and to see her new home.

"When shall we reach Erwynn Keep?" she asked.

"By midday." Brenn stood shaving in front of a square mirror. He was dressed except for his s.h.i.+rt. He rinsed his razor off in the basin and sc.r.a.ped a few more whiskers off. He wasn't moving very quickly.

"Are you feeling well?" she asked.

"What?" He acted as if her question didn't register a moment and then said, "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just preoccupied."

She crossed over to him. "You act tired. Did you not sleep well?" She was teasing him but he answered

her seriously.

"I slept fine."

Still wearing her nightdress, Tess put her arms around his waist and rubbed his back with her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "I

slept wonderfully," she whispered.

He froze, and then lowered the razor and turned to her. Half of his face still had the shaving soap on it.

"Tess-" He lifted a hand to her face. His thumb brushed her lips. She parted them and touched histhumb with her tongue.His arm pulled her close. "It's hard to believe you were once called the Ice Maiden.""That was before you." She pressed her lips to the warm skin of his chest. "Before I fell in love."Brenn sucked in a breath. She snuggled closer, her voice humming with desire as she said, "Are my hands cold? Do you want to warm them?"

Placing his hands on hers, he moved them from around his waist. "I'm trying to shave." He reached for a

towel and dried his face. "You could cause a man to slit his own throat coming up like that." He waddedthe towel and set it beside the bowl before noticing the expression on her face. "What have I done?""Nothing." She wasn't going to tell him either but then the words slipped out. "You're so distant."He raked his hair back with his fingers. "I'm sorry, Tess. I'm just ready to go home."Home. The word sounded solid. "Of course you are," she agreed, anxious for any plausible explanation for his distant behavior.

Later, over breakfast, Tess watched him eat. Perhaps he'd learned her secret. Could she, at some time

during the night, have whispered the truth about her fortune? She had always had vivid dreams and could talk in her sleep- She set her teacup in the saucer, scarcely able to breathe.

Now it was his turn to be concerned. "Tess, what is the matter? You've gone pale."

For a second, her mind spun with fear. She forced herself to look at him. "Is everything fine?" It took all