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Screwing up her face, she huffed. “Yes, you should have. Nonetheless, it was very nice.”

“If not for you being so adorable, my ego would be bruised,” Miles informed her.

She snuggled against him, his arms around her. In his arms, as his wife, Siobhan knew she’d been gifted something special. A wonderful ever-after.

The day’s activities claimed her, and she fell into a deep slumber.

*

In the morning, Siobhan woke to maids bringing in a tub and water. She sat up in the bed and looked at the opposite—empty—side of the bed.

Hot and cool water were poured into the tub and then instructed by the head maid, perfumed oils were added. The woman gave her a wide smile. “I am Leena and will be at your disposal from now on. I will have tea and toast brought in. Is there anything else you require?”

The woman looked to be in her thirties, with a pleasant face and light brown hair that was pulled up under a cap.

“Where is Lord Miles?”

Leena slid a look to the doorway. “In his bedchamber, my lady.”

It was then she looked around the room. It was devoid of any personal belongings and not the room she’d seen Miles in the night she’d snuck upstairs. When had he left?

“I see. Thank you.”

Feeling a bit unsettled, she allowed Leena to help her into the bath. While she bathed, the woman laid out her clothes. “I will see about your tea and return to help you dress and to fix your hair, my lady.”

She’d have to get used to being addressed with a title. But it was the least of her concerns. What she really wanted to know was—where was her husband?

*

When she joined the duke, duchess and Penelope for breakfast, Miles was noticeably absent. Siobhan sat across from Penelope after greeting Miles’ parents.

“If you wish to eat anything different, just inform the cook,” Arabella, Miles’ mother, said.

“Everything is perfect,” Siobhan replied, sliding a look to the doorway. “Will Miles be joining us?”

Penelope frowned. “He is…”

“He will not,” Arabella interrupted. “Miles prefers his own company some days. We are used to it, I am sure you will be as well, in time.”

Siobhan nodded, saying nothing but looking at Penelope who seemed to find her plate of food most interesting. She’d find out the truth from the lass, Siobhan had no doubt, since she was young and open.

Finally by the afternoon and with Miles nowhere to be seen, she was becoming annoyed. It was understandable that someone would wish for private time, however, he’d left her without telling her anything. Would they live there at the estate, or his townhouse? What did he expect her to do day-to-day?

There was the matter of her excursions to help the shelter and Susan. She’d planned to talk to him about continuing it. Despite the attack and the fact that no one had located the scoundrel, they’d insist Jean-Paul remain with them the entire time.

The work was much too precious to her to simply give it up.

“This is nice,” Penelope said with a smile as they walked through the garden. Siobhan used the excuse of cutting flowers to get time alone with the lass.

“Yes it is.” Siobhan looked at the house. “Is your brother still in his bedchamber?”

“Or in the study,” Penelope said. “He is so boring.”

Siobhan could not help but smile. “I do not think to have ever considered him to be a bore. Miles seems vibrant and always in motion.”

“I mean he always wants to work. He and Papa pore over those ledgers of theirs, day after day. They scribble items into them, then talk about what they wrote. When visitors come, they go to the study and also seem interested in the ledgers. It is such a tedious thing, do not you think?”

“Agreed. However, I am told your family’s holdings are vast and require much oversight. My father informed me that your father and Miles are responsible for entire villages and many people’s livelihoods.”