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“It’s all right, my dear, have your cry out. Men are insensitive sometimes. And even the most placid temperaments can get grumpy.”
Emily wiped her eyes and blew her nose, trying to swallow her sobs. “You—you m-mean the viscount gets grumpy, too?”
“Occasionally,” admitted Annis with a soft smile. “He is the dearest man, but even he succumbs to bad temper occasionally.”
Emily blew her nose again. “Deo used to be quite bad-tempered when I first met him, but he has been much less so lately. I was taken by surprise, I suppose.” She swallowed and added, “Oh, it hurts when he looks at me like that! And the worst part is I don’t know what I did wrong!”
“He didn’t take Lord Kenrick’s teasing well at all, did he?”
“No.” Emily kneaded her damp handkerchief in her hands. “He is of a rather serious disposition. I used to think he didn’t have much of a sense of humor, but lately—he has been much more cheerful and lighthearted.”
“Yes, I have noticed the difference. That is due to you.”
“Is it?” said Emily wistfully.
“Of course it is! It is plain to the meanest intelligence that he adores you.”
“Not at the moment he doesn’t. Oh, what did I do wrong?” wailed Emily. Tears started down her cheeks again.
“I think he did not wish the possible Arthurian connection spoken of.”
“Yes, but why?”
“Well, for precisely the kind of reaction it provokes. People jump to conclusions.”
“Yes, he doesn’t like that. He is always counseling me to be cautious in my interpretations. But in this case, the evidence is so strong—” She broke off, shaking her head. “I wish I hadn’t said anything now. But how was I to know he didn’t wish it spoken of? He didn’t tell me not to say anything. If he had, of course I wouldn’t have said it.”
“I’m sure he will explain his reasons later when he is more rational,” said Annis.
“I suppose so. I do not wish to be a bad wife, Annis. Am I?”
“Of course not. It is natural to have disagreements occasionally, even in the most harmonious of relationships. I have found that the secret is always to communicate one’s feelings—but in a rational way, when the emotions are less engaged.” Annis smiled softly. “I am fortunate to have a husband who agrees with me on that head. He was married before, as you must know. He has brought what he learned from his first marriage to ours, and it helps a great deal. Deo doesn’t have that experience, my dear, so try not to be too hard on him.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t! He has been—” She stopped and swallowed. “Oh, if you only knew how wonderful he is! I love him so much!”
“Of course you do. And your shared happiness has been a delight to witness for all of us.”
Emily smiled down at her lap. “Have we been so obvious?”
“Emrys and I think so, but then we know what love looks like.”
“He does love me, you think?”
“Without a shadow of a doubt,” said Annis firmly. “You should see the way he looks at you. He is very proud of you, you know.”
“Oh!” Emily blushed with delight.
“Now I shall leave you to your work, for Emrys and I have promised the children an outing this afternoon while this wonderful weather holds,” she said, giving Emily a hug and rising.
Emily sprang up and hugged her back. “Thank you so much. I’m not accustomed to having friends. Especially female friends. You are most kind.”
Annis blushed faintly and said gruffly, “You may always count us as your friends, Emily. You’re like family to us, for Deo is a brother to Emrys in every way that counts.”
“Then you are like my sister? I have no siblings or even cousins,” confessed Emily, her heart swelling with affection.
“I have no family either, except a brother I never knew growing up, so it has been the greatest felicity to have Emrys’s family as my own. And before him, the duke and duchess treated me like family, too. Robert and Sarah are the kindest and most generous people. I was the duke’s sisters’ governess, you know, before I married Emrys.”
“I do know. That sounds like a very romantic tale.”
