Two hours later, Genevieve and Frances had done math, French, and a little penmanship. When they heard Admiral barking, Genevieve agreed it was time for fresh air. The day was sunny, but there was a chill in the air. She stuffed Frances into her coat and donned her own, following the girl outside. Her nose was cold after twenty minutes, and the groundskeeper agreed to watch the girl and dog while Genevieve fetched a scarf.
She was halfway up the stairs when she saw Gables come out of Rory’s library.
“Gables, is Lord Emory in the library?” she asked.
“He is…my lady.”
Of all the servants, Genevieve knew the upper servants, like Gables and Mrs. Mann, would be the slowest to accept her in her new position. People often said it was the upper classes who frowned upon anyone marrying below their class. While that was true, it was often the servants of a household who were the most rigid about enforcing hierarchy. She had turned everything upside down by marrying the master. Now she ranked above them, and that would take some time for them to accept.
Genevieve turned and descended the steps. “Thank you, Gables,” she said, which was a sort of dismissal. He sniffed and went on his way, and Genevieve tapped on the closed door of the library.
“What now?” Rory snapped. He probably thought she was still Gables, though the butler would have tapped and then entered without waiting for a response.
Genevieve opened the door a sliver. “May I come in?”
Silence for a long moment. “Yes.”
She pushed the door wider, and Rory stood. “What is it?” He seemed concerned, and she realized he probably thought she had come about a problem with Frances.
“Everything is fine.” She pushed the door closed and walked toward the fire, which felt good against her chilled skin. “I just wanted to see you.” She removed her gloves and stuck her hands out to catch the warmth.
He narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Why?”
She hadn’t expected the question or this response, and was beginning to feel like an idiot. She was aware husbands and wives usually spent their days separately, each attending to their own affairs. She hadn’t remembered this until now. Her first impulse was to make an excuse and flee, but he quirked a brow at her, and she realized his question was still hanging between them.
“Because I like you,” she said, because she couldn’t think of any other answer to his question but the truth.
His expression changed from one of confusion to shock to what she hoped she read correctly as pleasure. And still he stared at her as though no one had ever told him they liked him before.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your work. I should go—”
“No. Stay.”
Oh, thank goodness he wasn’t ushering her out. First, because she was still cold, and the fire was lovely. Second, because if he wanted her to stay, perhaps he liked her too. “I cannot stay long,” she told him. “Frances is outside playing with Admiral. Mr. Bloom is watching them.”
Rory came around the desk. “Bloom will keep an eye on her. He was a midshipman in the navy for years before he came to work for me. If he can manage sailors, he can manage Frances.” He moved closer to her, and Genevieve began to feel too warm. Perhaps she should step away from the fire. “Not as well as you,of course,” he said. “You could put Admiral Nelson to shame with your ability at imposing discipline.”
“Not at all. Franceswantsdiscipline. Children often act out so they might learn what the limits are and how they can better observe them.”
Rory crossed his arms. “You are saying that children deliberately misbehave so they might learn how to behave better?”
“That’s one reason for misbehavior. I believe it is Frances’s reason. Otherwise, it would have been much more difficult for me to manage her.”
To her surprise, Rory laughed. Genevieve straightened. “Why is that amusing?”
“Because I can’t imagine it being difficult for you to manage anyone. You crook your finger, and we all rush to do your bidding.”
“Is that so?” She rather liked the image his words brought to mind. What was the harm in testing it? Genevieve pointed a finger at him, deliberately crooked it, and motioned for him to come closer.
*
No woman hadever summoned him like this, and yet Rory was not about to argue with her. Genevieve liked him. She’d said she liked him. He knew she liked him, else she would never have kissed him that first time during the game of hide-and-seek. She wouldn’t have participated so enthusiastically in their lovemaking last night if she hadn’t liked him. And yet he hadn’t expected her to seek him out today, especially after he awakened alone this morning. When he’d reached over and felt the cold space where she should have been, he began to wonder if he’dmisjudged. She might have been pretending to like him so he would marry her.
In which case, why was she still pretending?
And did it even matter? He’d gone into this marriage because Frances needed a mother. It didn’t matter if Genevieve liked him or not. He was providing her with security, his daughter with another parent, and himself with…well, all the benefits of marriage. She didn’t need tolikehim.
But the way she was smiling, the way she was looking at him right now—no one was that good of an actress. Were they?
