Page 31 of Bluebell’s Fate

Was Bell so detestable that her own mother and father-in-law wanted nothing to do with her? Were his parents’ reactions to Bell due to how Nathaniel himself felt about their marriage? There was so much Bell didn’t understand. And what would Rose think of Bell’s situation after witnessing such hostility? Would Nathaniel really be spending more time at Cairnsby Cottage now that his parents were here?

The men decided to forego taking their port as Mr. and Mrs. Payne desired to return to their home early to make sure preparations were in order for the Hastings’ stay. Bell waved to her in-laws as they drove off, and selfishly wished they lived further away.

Chapter Twenty

Nathaniel moved cautiously toward Bell in the parlor. He didn’t know what to say to ease the hurt she’d just endured. He was used to being obsolete and unimportant to his parents. They’d never tried to hide their disappointment in him, even more so since Edwin’s passing. But he’d meant what he’d said to his father. He was going to spend more time on Cairnsby Cottage. He wouldn’t leave Bell to navigate this new life alone any longer. Although his intentions had been pure in going to Cairnsby Hall for his meetings, his project’s secrecy wasn’t paramount. Procuring happiness for his wife was.

Before he arrived at Bell’s side, Lady Rose marched in front of him, and lifted her chin. “I don’t know what just happened, Nathaniel. But you would do well to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” She stuck a finger in his chest.

“Rose.” Mr. Hastings took his wife’s arm. “I believe your scolding is unnecessary. Nathaniel looks just as angry at his parents as you are.”

Nathaniel’s shoulders sagged under a lifetime of weight. “He’s correct. I do appreciate your offer to relocate. If I cannot set things to rights, I’ll take you up on it.”

“What do you intend to do about your parents, then?” Rose asked Nathaniel.

What did he intend to do about them? He’d been working incessantly since even before his brother Edwin’s death to prove that he was worthwhile to his parents. Nothing he’d done had altered their opinion. “I intend to do just as I’ve said. I will remain here, at my wife’s side, and we will weather the storm together.”

Lady Rose threw up her hands. “That’s not enough!”

Bell came between them, shielding him from her sister. “Rose, I need time with my husband. If you don’t like the idea of going to Cairnsby Hall tonight, I quite understand. Perhaps the inn would be acceptable for one night?”

“I do not back down from a battle, Bell.” Fire flashed in Lady Rose’s eyes as she regarded her sister. “I will return here to call on you tomorrow.” She leaned forward, and kissed Bell on the cheek.

Frederick grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, I do believe we are in for a bit of fun.” He bowed to them both. “Good luck, Nathaniel. I look forward to seeing you again soon.” He smiled at Bell and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry. There is nothing so satisfying as watching your sister become a dragon.” He winked.

Rose arched one eyebrow at her husband, but Nathaniel thought he could see laughter behind her expression. Before he knew what had happened, Nathaniel’s brother and sister-in-law were off, and they’d left him in a heap of confusion. Frederick had looked almost giddy with excitement, but Rose was clearly unhappy and designing some sort of plan to help her sister. For all Nathaniel knew, that plan could be extricating Bell from this sham of a marriage in some way or another. He swallowed; why was it he always felt his life was on the line when he dealt with any of his new in-laws? If Rose went back and told Lord Gardner about her sister and her miserable new life, what would the earl do?

Bell slipped her gloved hand into the crook of Nathaniel’s arm as they stood on the porch and watched the Hastings’ carriage roll down the lane. “Would you care to walk with me?”

Nathaniel looked out into the night and tried to shake his morbid thoughts. It wasn’t fully dark yet, but it was not a typical time to go walking. “Are you certain? It’s dark out.”

She hesitated, her sapphire eyes searching his. “We can stay here if you’d prefer it.”

“No.” He recalled her father’s advice that Bell would be happiest when out of doors. “I would enjoy a walk.” He closed the door to the cottage and set his hand atop of hers as they descended the four wooden steps to the road. The sound of rocks crunched beneath their boots, and a low rumble of thunder in the distance made Nathaniel more hesitant to take Bell far from home.

Bell breathed in deeply through her nose. “I love the smell of rain.”

Nathaniel sniffed. The smell of rain? It hadn’t even rained yet. Besides, water didn’t have a strong smell of its own—didn’t rain just smell like mud? He peered down at Bell, her face barely visible in the fading light. She looked peaceful and relaxed. It was almost as if the darkness gave her confidence.

She met his gaze, and her eyes sparkled like the stars that would soon join them on their walk. “What?”

Nathaniel shook himself. “It was nothing. I’m sorry.”

She turned and faced ahead once again. “I don’t know what Rose and Frederick intend to do while they are here, but I can guess that it will be quite disruptive to our normal routine, and if not ours, certainly your parents’.”

“I would wager you are correct. I don’t mind doing things differently. However, I don’t know how to plan for something unexpected.” If he were being honest with himself, it had been difficult to plan anything since he’d been married. Yes, he’d tried to make plans to make his wife happy. But his methods of carrying those plans out had evidently made Bell miserable. Some things were going to have to change. “What would you like to do while your sister is here?”

Bell squeezed his arm, just enough for him to know that she heard his question, but it took a while for her to answer. “I’ve never been much of a planner. Typically, when I’ve had free time, I went to my woods.”

“And what did you do while you were there?”

She shook her head back and forth a little. “I can’t say I did anything meaningful.”

The discouraged tone in her voice gave rise to a natural defensiveness in Nathaniel. “You don’t have to tell me, Bell. But whatever it was you have done in your woods has made you into the woman you are now.”

She heaved a heavy breath. “Like I said, I’m no one meaningful. Most of the time, I played and told stories. Sometimes I read, or drew, or built things. None of it would amount to much, none of it has prepared me to be a wife,” she finished with a whisper.

Nathaniel’s conscience pricked at him as he found himself mentally agreeing with her assessment of the use of her time. He’d spent years planning and working for his future. But then, he hadn’t ever put much thought into being a husband. He’d always planned to marry, of course. But the purpose of his marrying was always to have a companion to work toward the same goals as he had for his estate, and hopefully to have a family one day. Miss Stone had fit all his requirements. Instead, he’d married a woman who might not even have goals, let alone share the same goals he did.