Page 28 of Miss Vincent’s Vow
He followed her into the drawing room, shut the door, and took a seat opposite her before he licked his lips and began.
“I apologise if my actions seemed harsh to you.”
Cassandra sat with her hands folded tightly together in her lap and met his gaze without wavering. “I did not mean to challenge your right to dismiss my maid. I meant no disrespect. With my father’s illness, I have had to make such decisions for myself. It is harder than I thought to fall out of the habit of independent thinking. Forgive me.”
Jethro accepted his wife’s apology, but hoped she would not feel the need to think for herself too often. He did not care to have her questioning his authority. Especially not if it led to such an acute disagreement as it had done today.
Now that a truce had been made, they could move on. He was tempted to retreat to his office, but he remembered Crowley’s nagging words, urging him to spend more time with his wife, and so remained where he was.
Having maintained a stony silence over dinner, Jethro took the opportunity to ask about her day.
“I spent a great deal of your money on some new gowns from Mrs Fisher’s,” Cassandra said, with a lightness that was at odds with their previous conversation, “and subscribed to Harvey’s Library. It was a strange sensation, taking out a subscription in the name of Mrs Hunt, but I am certain I will become accustomed to my married name in due course. Especially once we start moving in society. Which reminds me of something I wanted to discuss with you—visiting cards.”
Visiting cards? They were a symbol of the polite society he had avoided for so long—and that he now needed to enter. An unpleasant taste formed in Jethro’s mouth just remembering how clumsy he felt moving in such circles.
His unease must have shown on his face, as Cassandra sounded less confident as she continued. “I observed that the pile of visiting cards on the plate in the hall is growing.”
Was it? He hadn’t noticed.
“We should respond to them.”
“We should?”
“Of course. Are you not in the habit of doing so?”
There she was. Doing it again. Making him feel inadequate. “Cards are rarely left unless they are to do with business. If there is a pile, it must be as a compliment to you.”
Cassandra tilted her head to one side. “Maybe. I received a large number of cards on my father’s death, but he served the parish for many years before his illness, so I put it more down to him than me.”
“Then, by all means, reply to them, if you wish.”
She let out a little gurgle of laughter. “If I wish? Jethro, it would be the height of rudeness not to send our own cards in return.”
“Then do so.”
“Have you ordered some?”
“Was I supposed to?”
“My father had new calling cards printed as soon as he and my stepmother wed, but I guess you have been so busy in the weeks since we married it is hardly surprising it got overlooked.”
Jethro did not like to tell her it was more than overlooked. He didn’t know it was necessary.
“Will your existing card suffice, or do you wish to have new ones printed for both of us at the same time?”
Jethro tried to look nonchalant. “I think new ones would be best.” He didn’t want to admit he didn’t have any visiting cards. He had never seen the need. His trade card had always sufficed.
“Could you order some tomorrow?” she asked.
Jethro nodded. The stationer would know what was appropriate for a newly married couple.
“As soon as they arrive, we need to send a reply to everyone who left a card. If we wish to be on visiting terms, we invite them to call. What day would suit you best to receive our guests?”
Cassandra’s expectant gaze penetrated his normally tough exterior, making him wriggle in his seat. She clearly assumed he would sit through these wedding visits with her, but he could not see that his presence was necessary. His wife would manage much better without him.
“I am rarely at home to receive calls, and I make none that are not connected with business.”
When his wife continued to stare, he rushed to defend himself. He wanted her to understand his actions.
