Something Old, Rebecca Connolly [ebook reader for laptop TXT] 📗

wife’s affections. Or if hers turns for the same. When the two of you become comfortable with the change, will you revert back to your lives of separation? Not that your feelings would alter, but your urge to act upon it would settle…” He drummed his fingers on his desk, seeming to consider the idea. “It will be very interesting indeed.”

Thomas didn’t think it would be all that interesting, the idea of the feelings building and swirling within him and between him and Lily fading into something unremarkable. After years of privately wanting and feelings of loneliness, he never wanted to be far from her again. Yet he knew for himself that the most agreeable marriages did not always maintain the same level of exhilaration that was there at the beginning. He knew that comfort in marriage frequently became a feeling of a rather commonplace arrangement, something endured daily rather than fully embraced, but surely that was not the fate for all.

“Have you no designs for matrimony?” Thomas asked him, suddenly eager to shift the subject away from speculating on his own marriage. “With your title, surely you must have some duties there.”

Basset nodded without concern. “I do, and I am sure I will take up the cause soon enough. The estate could use a mistress, and I ought to have an heir. With my father’s philandering, it would behoove me to choose a wife of impeccable breeding and respectable fortune. I’m established enough in my finances to not require any particular prospects there, which gives me some freedom. It would help if she were beautiful, but a good character would suffice.”

It all sounded so polite, so formal, that Thomas wondered if they were talking about marriage at all. For him, his own thoughts of marriage had been of Lily and of affection. He hadn’t considered marrying before she’d crossed his path again, and anything less seemed somehow unsavory, even if it was the order of the day. Marriage, to most, was a connection of family or fortune, and of profitable interests, and emotions were rarely considered in truth. Some undoubtedly felt comfort in that, but why shouldn’t marriage be an enjoyable state?

“Have you given thought to any particular candidates?” Thomas inquired with genuine curiosity, given the very starched description and expectations Basset had given.

“A little,” came the unaffected reply. “I know many of the local families, and I find I cannot confine any of their daughters to the polite arrangement I’ll propose. I’ll have to go to London, I think, and make arrangements there. She’ll have to be hardy enough to endure Cornwall, or at least independent, but I think my prospects are fair enough to make that a relatively simple task.”

Thomas raised a brow, finding several issues in the statement, though none strong enough to express aloud. “And what about your sister, Basset? Do you have aims for her marriage?”

Basset groaned and lowered his head, shaking it slowly. “Emblyn is the most difficult woman I have ever encountered in my life, and I am at my wits’ end. I can’t think of a single way to improve our relationship except to give in to her demands. If I didn’t think it would be worth the effort to have her as my sister in truth, I’d give up on it. But God help me, I think we could grow closer than my brother and I have ever been.”

“So that would be a no?”

“That would be a hell no. I don’t dare try to marry her off or even express my opinion. I’d like to keep my head and all of my appendages attached to me. Now, do you have any interest in attempting to discuss shipping again?”

“Lily, you are looking so well, so refreshed and at ease. Cornwall clearly agrees with you.”

“I think it does. And it agrees with my husband too, I believe.”

“Indeed? What makes you say so?”

Lily blushed a little as she picked up her teacup, avoiding the curious eyes of Julia and Emblyn. “He has… Well, he has grown more affectionate and approachable. More tender. More present. He quite takes my breath away, and it has been years since he’s done that.”

“Ah, begun to appreciate you, has he?” Julia laughed, her elegantly plaited and curled copper hair dancing against her neck and shoulders. “About time, I’d say. It’s a wonder he could withstand your charms for so long, given how he stared at you all throughout dinner at Basset’s.”

“Only a lout would keep ’is ’eart closed to ee forever,” Emblyn agreed with a firm nod. “And I be certain Mr. Granger be no lout.”

“No, he is not.” Lily smiled shyly, sipping her tea slowly. “He’s really quite wonderful. If we’re in the same room, he always wishes to hold my hand or sit close by. He’s always wanting to do things together, even if it is only an outing into Breathreath for ribbons. He accompanied me to the fields yesterday just so I could pick cornflowers, and we walk down to Dandrea Beach every other day.”

Julia’s eyes went wide, and her smile accompanied it. “Goodness. He is aiming for attentiveness, isn’t he? What’s brought this on?”

“Sanity,” Emblyn quipped before Lily could answer. “Look at ’er, ’e be only a man, after all.”

Lily clapped her hands as she laughed, heat racing into her cheeks. “Emblyn, for pity’s sake! There are many women prettier than me in the world.”

Emblyn gave her a scolding look. “Just because ee be blushing like a piny doesn’t make ee less pretty. The man’s got eyes, ’asn’t ’e? Beauty is in the eye of the be’older, and ’e be’olds you on the regular. Only right that ’e wakes up to ’is good fortune and treats ee as a treasure.”

Lily looked at Julia for help, but she only shook her head. “I agree with her, Lily. Modesty won’t diminish the truth. Best move along if you don’t wish to discuss your beauty.”

Trying her best to remember the question,