With Love, Louisa by Ashtyn Newbold

Chapter 16

Aslow smile curved Jack’s lips as he listened to the faint rustling in the hallway beyond the breakfast room the next morning. He had seen Louisa’s maid enter her room earlier that morning, so he knew she was awake.

And she was sneaking through the hallway.

He pushed away from the table, careful not to make any noise as he walked toward the door. If Louisa was going to live there, she ought to feel welcome enough to walk normally, not moving about the house as if she were stalking prey. Unless, of course, he was the prey. He held back a laugh. Something told him she was avoiding him, not trying to sneak up on him.

Jack waited until the rustling was right outside the door. And then he threw it open, stepping out into the hall. “Good morning,” he said in a cheerful voice.

Louisa gasped, nearly jumping out of her shoes. She pressed a hand to her chest, whirling to face him.

One dark curl fell over her eyebrow, and she brushed it away, looking down at the floor. Jack took her in with his gaze. He was discovering that there wasn’t a color that didn’t flatter her. Just when he thought white was the best, she wore a pink dress like the one she wore that day, the color matching the flush in her complexion that he found so blasted endearing. Was it a crime to be attracted to his wife? Certainly not. But it was unwise to dwell on her beauty when she wanted nothing more than to stay as far away from him as possible. Her lips pressed together momentarily, an expression he had learned usually preceded a scolding.

“You startled me,” she said, taking a deep breath. Her brow furrowed. “And since you are smiling, I suspect you did it intentionally.”

Jack grinned. “You may call it revenge. Now imagine that this room was dark and you thought you were alone in the house.”

A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Do you think you still have to prove to me how frightened you were that night? Your scream was proof enough.”

“Did I scream?” Jack leaned against the doorframe. “I am fairly certain that was you.”

Louisa shook her head resolutely. “You screamed like a newborn infant.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you chose to marry me despite that tendency. So long as you have abandoned your habit of hiding in wardrobes, you should never have to hear my scream again.”

Louisa’s eyes lifted to his before flitting away. Her smile was smug, as though she were proud of herself for making him scream the first time. “I’m afraid my habit is very difficult to abandon, especially with such a spacious wardrobe tempting me each time I pass your room. You ought to always be prepared to find me inside.” Her face was serious enough that Jack might have not caught the hint of teasing in her voice. It shocked him…she had never done anything but scowl when he teased her. And now she was teasing him back?

He quite liked it.

“Is wielding a weapon part of this habit of yours?” he asked.

“Only if I am threatened.”

“Or hungry?”

Her face broke into a smile, and she nodded. “Yes. It seems, for your own safety, you will have to sacrifice your dinner to me every night.”

“Well, you do seem to be in an agreeable mood today, so perhaps I should.” He studied her smiling face for a long moment, surprised at the way it tugged at his heartstrings. Her smile faded and she looked down, seemingly back to the shyness he was accustomed to. He tore his gaze away from her face, pulling the door open wider, gesturing inside. “While we are on the subject…breakfast is on the sidebar. Of all the staff that has deserted this house, at least the cook has remained.”

Louisa walked past him, taking a plate tentatively. “In truth, I am still quite satisfied from my meal last night.”

“Meal?” Jack raised one eyebrow.

She glanced at him from over her shoulder. “Meals.”

He chuckled, watching as she took a small serving of fruit and sat at the table. Her eyes wandered the room, settling on everything but him as he sat in the chair across from her. “Are you going to begin hiring new staff for the other areas of the house?” she asked. “As I recall, the house has a need for maids.”

“Indeed.” Jack smiled. “I plan to hire a new steward who will manage it all for us.” He clasped his hands together on the table.

“Once the house is fully staffed,” she began in a quiet voice, “may we have guests? Surely you have friends in town, and I would like to make some friends of my own here as well.” She looked down at her plate. “I still need to write to my sister and tell her that I am married. I daresay she will be very surprised.” Louisa still appeared surprised herself. She pushed the blueberries around with her fork, but didn’t eat a single one.

“I’m afraid you are wrong.” Jack gave a weak smile. “I don’t have friends in town. Not anymore.” He had once called Lord Bridport his friend, but the man had believed every word Evan Whitby had said. Or rather, he had pretended to believe him in order to gain his favor. Jack’s jaw tightened.

Louisa tipped her head to one side, suddenly far more interested in him than in her blueberries. “Not a single one?”

“I suppose if your friend Mr. Northcott remained in Yorkshire we would come to be friends.”

Louisa nodded. “Matthew is very kind. He would be friends with anyone.”

Jack raised one eyebrow. “Do you mean to say that I am one of these pitiful creatures he would befriend out of kindness?”

She didn’t hesitate for a moment. “That is precisely what I mean.”

Jack laughed, leaning back in his chair. She was in an agreeable mood indeed. Although her words were sharp, there was something in her eyes that he hadn’t seen before. Amusement.

She glanced at him with curiosity. “I wonder how a man of your position could have so few friends.”

His position. Agentleman, set to inherit an estate in town—that must have been what she meant. He blew out a long, slow exhale. “As I have said before, rumors can be the cause of upheaval, and reputations are more fragile than that blueberry.” He pointed at her plate at the same moment she skewered a berry with her fork.

Her eyes widened.

“I am not admired by society…to put it kindly.” He wasn’t admired by anyone. Not even his family wished to claim him. His heart stung. He had thought his marriage might help gain his father’s approval, but his father had seemed indifferent. Jack hadn’t been exactly cordial toward him at the wedding. “Although, I suspect I will be more admired now with you at my side.” He cast her what he thought to be a charming smile.

She didn’t seem to agree. Her brow furrowed. She was silent for a long moment, her face reflecting deep thought. When she finally spoke, her words surprised him. “You must be very lonely.”

The smile slipped from his face, and he cleared his throat. Her gentle voice struck him squarely in the chest, unstopping a pain he hadn’t realized was there. He looked down at the table, certain the vulnerability showed in his eyes. He had become very skilled at hiding anything he felt, but he was fairly certain Louisa’s large brown eyes were capable of seeing everything. “I suspect you have felt a similar loneliness,” Jack said, avoiding confirming her words directly. There was so much he still didn’t know about Louisa, but the fact that she had come here to live with an aunt she had never met told him her circumstances had been abnormal. He recalled what she had said the night she had tended to his broken nose. She had told him that she didn’t belong anywhere.

Louisa’s eyes were heavy and distant as she nodded. “Yes, but I have grown accustomed to it.”

“As have I.” Jack gave a small smile, meeting her gaze. Understanding passed between them with that one glance. Warmth filled his chest as she looked down at the table, fleeing back to her shyness as she always did.

“I suppose no one should ever become accustomed to being lonely,” she said in a quiet voice.

“It is a good thing you married me then.”

She glanced up at him from under her lashes, a conceding smile on her lips. She quickly erased the expression. It was cruel of her to only let him see it for a second or two.

Louisa may have felt like she didn’t belong anywhere, but it was now Jack’s objective to change that. He wanted her to love her home, her life, and eventually—if it were possible—to love him. He was beginning to discover that Louisa was far too easy to love. His blasted heart had already grown attached to her in a matter of days. He could only imagine what a lifetime would do. The notion scared him a little, if he were to be honest with himself. What if she never loved him in return?

Louisa ate the last of her fruit in silence, her eyes still wandering the room. He tucked away his unwelcome fears, packing them down and out of sight inside him.

“I imagine this is all very overwhelming for you,” Jack said. “I have not lived here long, but I suspect I know a little more about the house and grounds than you do. Would you like a tour?” He waited, holding his breath. He had fully expected her to spend another day locked away in her room, but so far that day she had seemed very forgiving. Much more forgiving than he deserved.

“I suppose I should become acquainted with the place.” She stood as a footman cleared her plate. “If only to prevent another incident. These halls are quite confusing in the dark.”

Jack chuckled. “At least if we are seen alone together again, it will no longer be cause for distress.”

“For the spectator, or for me?” Louisa raised one eyebrow.

She was relentless today. He could hardly tell whether or not she was teasing, because being alone with him did indeed seem to cause her distress. Only when he saw the faint smile touch her lips did he deem it appropriate to tease back. “For me. So long as I keep you well fed and the fire pokers hidden, I will be safe in your presence.”

He started walked out the door of the breakfast room, glancing back as he held it open for her. He flashed her a teasing smile.

Her eyes narrowed as she passed him. “You are the one who put both our lives in danger yesterday.”

Jack’s stomach twisted with guilt. How had he been so foolish? “I know.” He followed Louisa into the hall, moving ahead of her so he could see her face. “And I promise it will not happen again.”

She eyed him, obviously skeptical. “Do you plan to teach me to steer the horses?”

“If you wish.” He gave a soft smile. “But an even better solution would be for me to stop drinking to excess as you requested. That is why I have disposed of all my brandy, port, and sherry.”

Her eyebrows rose. “All of it?”

Jack nodded. “Yes. Not a drop remains. I do not intend to ever break another promise I have made to you.”

Her head tipped slightly to one side, lines of surprise still creasing her forehead. “Are you certain it wasn’t Cassandra who disposed of it?”

“Yes, although she would have taken great pleasure in it. I suspect you would have as well.”

Louisa shrugged. “Perhaps.” The shock still lingered on her face. “I cannot believe you would dispose of it.”

Jack could hardly believe it himself, yet here he was. “I’m beginning to realize there is little I would not do to gain your forgiveness.” He had heard that forgiveness was won by action. Words of apology were only the seed from which it grew, although sometimes no amount of watering could make it grow. Ever since his uncle’s death, Jack had been doing all he could to show his father he was sorry. He had blamed himself for so long, and that was a weight that was too heavy to lift off of his own back. All his father had done was add stones to his satchel.

Louisa stared up at him, hands interlocked behind her back. “I am glad to hear my forgiveness is more valuable than a bottle of brandy.”

“Few things in life are.” He smiled.

“I knew you would say so.” She followed him as he began walking down the hall. “I did hear a rumor about you, but I wasn’t certain if it was true,” she said.

Jack’s heart pounded and he turned to face her again. Had she heard about the hunting accident already?

“There was a rumor in town that if you were ever to marry, you would sooner wed a bottle of brandy than a woman.”

A laugh burst from his chest. “Rumors are never to be believed, especially outrageous ones such as that. There are times I wonder who could have started such a ridiculous falsehood.” He shook his head.

“I did.”

He glanced up as Louisa began walking forward, a smug smile on her lips.

He froze, unable to stop his laugh of disbelief. “Is that so? Isn’t it a bit counterproductive to have disproved your rumor so quickly by marrying me yourself?”

How could she walk so quickly? His strides could barely keep up with hers and he was several inches taller. As he caught up to her side, he realized what she was trying to hide in walking so quickly. Another smile. Each one felt like an unexpected prize, and he felt inclined to start a collection.

“I believed the rumor wholeheartedly. That was the most important reason for my hesitation in accepting your proposal.”

“Are you certain it wasn’t my nose?”

Louisa eyed him sidelong. “Fortunately the swelling will eventually subside.”

He burst into laughter, melting her facade for a brief moment. She gave a shy smile, as if proud of her quips but too humble to relish in them.

“Well, before you can insult me further, shall be begin our tour?”

Louisa turned to face him, her eyes dancing with amusement. “It wasn’t an insult. It was an observation.” Her cheeks were flushed to match her dress, her lips pressed together to hide her smile. There were many other observations about her he could have made known in that moment, but he kept his mouth shut. She did not enjoy his compliments.

Jack extended his arm to her as they walked down the hall. At first, she pretended she didn’t notice, focusing intently on the lofted ceilings. He waited, keeping his elbow outward until she finally placed her hand softly around his arm without looking at him.

Even with her reluctance, he would still call it a victory.