Page 71 of The Baron Takes a Wife

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Over time, she came to see that the tenants respected David’s family because they saw them as not so far from them, perhaps because of their roots in the merchant class. His family was known throughout the area as generous and attentive landlords. This general goodwill eventually extended to Elena, negating her fears that she would be reviled as a foreign witch. They still stared occasionally, but almost everyone she met with was friendly, and Elena’s worries eventually disappeared. As David predicted, most regarded him as good-natured but slightly eccentric, so marrying a strange, foreign woman was not so surprising. They seemed excited that the hospital would create new jobs, as well as new places to sell food and goods. Elena was happy she could help to contribute to David’s community, perhaps in a way she would not have had the power to do so in her life before.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Elena awoke one morning with a new lightness in her soul. With all her might, she tried to hold on to the dream she was having, but as much as she tried, it faded away from her, like trying to grab a fistful of air. Opening her eyes, she regarded her husband as he came into view, sleeping with his hand behind his head. His hair had grown rather long, covering much of the scarred flesh on his temple and eyebrow. She gently brushed his hair out of his face, trying not to wake him. She knew he still disliked his scarring, likely much as she still despised her own scars, but she found him beautiful, scars and all. Elena felt the overwhelming need to rouse him and tell him something, but what was it? What had her dream told her? This one had been different, solid and real, and hopeful in a way she wouldn’t dare to be hopeful outside of dreams. She remembered Annie once told her that she sometimes woke up and wrote down her dreams so she could remember them later, but Elena was not in the habit of doing so, nor did she have paper at hand. Instead, she leaned over and lightly pressed her lips to David’s forehead, trying to say many things she was not yet ready to closely examine in that kiss. She felt his hand come up to her hair, twisting the locks between his fingers.

“Wife.”

“Husband.”

“Whatever shall we do today?” His hand began to travel leisurely from her hair down her back.

She relaxed into his touch. “I was going to meet with some of the builders about plans for the hospital, but that was moved until next week.”

He pushed himself up on his elbow and began playing with her braid. “I would like to attend that meeting to ensure they give you a fair price.”

“I do not need that. I’m a merchant’s daughter,” she scoffed.

He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and tapped her chin. “Yes, but you do not know the price of materials or labor in England.”

She had to admit he had a point, but she was not ready to concede, still wanting to tease him awake. “True, but I am still the better negotiator.” She hopped up out of bed as he tried to catch her.

“Elena, this isn’t fair. I don’t have my cane.”

“Oh right, I am sorry.” She picked up his cane and walked back toward the bed, reaching it out to him.

“Not fair for you!” He pulled on the other end of the cane, then caught her around the waist and threw her back on the bed as she shrieked with laughter. The lightness in her soul bubbled up, and she cupped his face and kissed him, pulling him to her so she could wrap her arms and legs around him. In that kiss, she tried to share that lightness, to show him how happy she was here.

As they broke apart, he set his forehead against hers. “What were we saying?”

“You were asking me what we were doing today.”

“Ah, yes. I unfortunately have a great deal of business and correspondence, but I hope I can join you later today.”

“Yes, Irene was going to show me the wishing well this afternoon.”

He eased onto his back. “What do you need a wishing well for when you have the bees?”

“True,” she conceded, “but do the bees grant wishes?”

He appeared to think on that for a minute. “I’m not sure I dare get close enough to ask.”

“I’ll tell my secrets to the bees and my dreams to the wishing well. How is that?” Elena offered.

“I’m just glad that you’re dreaming again.” He pulled back and looked down at her, flashing that grin she loved so well. Maybe that was what the new lightness was from. She returned the smile with one of her own.

“Me too, amorul meu, me too.”

He gave her a quizzical look, but she just shook her head. She needed to understand and explore this lightness first before she was ready to make any grand statements or decisions. She enjoyed the lightness, with its infinite possibility, and let it spread through her entire body as they spent several more hours in bed that morning before they both rose for the day.

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“Irene, this is much farther than the bees. I’m glad we did not bring Goliath. It would be very taxing for him.” Elena shaded her eyes as she looked in the distance for this mythical wishing well, dearly regretting that neither of them had brought a parasol.

“He was very interested in that bone by the stables anyway. Don’t worry. It’s just a little further, Elena. I promise it’s worth it.”

“All right, I—” At that moment, as the woods came into sight, Elena could swear she heard the hum of bees, but that didn’t make any sense. The bees were some way off in the other direction. Then she realized the hum was in her own blood, and suddenly, she was reminded of the times she had seen Goliath with his hackles up as she stood rigid, the skin on the back of her neck tingling.