staff. Putting frogs in Cook’s bed.”
“Marisa is going to need a very special type of husband.” Her statement elicited no response, so Beatrice continued, “She has a mind of her own, she is quite determined, and she knows what she wants.”
“Marisa is very sensible underneath her bravado. She knows what it would take to make a good marriage.”
Beatrice blinked. “Make a good marriage? What does it take to make a good marriage, in your opinion?”
Sebastian seemed to hesitate before answering. “I think it takes mutual respect. I think you need to care for the other person, but not care too deeply. You definitely don’t want love to be involved. Love just spins passion and desire into a whirlpool of feelings that cannot be controlled. No. Respect, courtesy, and admiration are all that are required to make a successful marriage.”
There it was again. His disdain for love evident. He almost choked on the word, making Beatrice wince, but she didn’t know what to say. In her own mind she had to agree with Sebastian’s way of thinking. If love was to grow, it had to start with respect, trust, and admiration. Her parents had no love in their relationship, butunfortunately, neither did they have respect or admiration. This saw them live as virtual strangers in their own house. All she knew was that she didn’t want her marriage to be like her parents’.
“I think that is probably a good recipe in order to have a marriage that is workable. However, admiration and respect are earned. And certainly your past behavior does not lend me to feel very admirable or respectful.”
Sebastian simply turned and looked back out the window. It was obvious he would not be drawn into a discussion on marriage. Perhaps he still had to come to terms with what had occurred this morning.
Some two hours later Beatrice felt the carriage slow; she roused herself from her daydreams to look out the windows as the carriage turned off the main road and onto an avenue lined by towering oaks.
“We have arrived,” Sebastian informed her absently. “They are going to be surprised that I’ve arrived with you. They will be even more astounded when I announce we are married. But they will embrace you and treat you as one of their own.”
The carriage rounded a curve, and she caught her breath at the vista. It was obvious this was the home of a very wealthy man. It was also a place of stunning beauty. Across the parklike gardens an immense building stood in magnificent glory. It was a pretty yet imposing, castlelike house, so large that it would probably take days to learn all its secrets. She half expected to have to cross a moat’s drawbridge to enter. The carriage moved on and swung round the cobbled drive. Beatrice began smoothing her skirts, suddenly nervous.
The instant the conveyance came to a halt, several grooms and footmen leapt to assist. As Lord Coldhurst helped Beatrice alight from the carriage, she made sure her hair was properly tucked in underneath her bonnet.
A man similar to Sebastian in height, but fair of hair, came out to greet them as they walked up the limestone steps. “Sebastian, my man, how wonderful to see you. With guest?” A flicker of puzzlement crossed his features when he took in Beatrice standing beside Sebastian.
“Lord Hadley Fullerton, may I present my wife, Beatrice Hennessey, Marchioness Coldhurst.”
It was the first time Sebastian had ever seen Hadley Fullerton at a loss for words. He quickly hid his shock. “I see we do have a lot to catch up on.” But hestepped forward and took Beatrice’s hand and raised it to his lips, bowing over it slightly.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Coldhurst. You are a very lucky woman to have captured Sebastian’s heart.”
Beatrice merely smiled and acknowledged his greeting. “Please, as a dear friend of my husband’s, call me Beatrice.”
Sebastian escorted her up the enormous steps and through the imposing doors into the
“Marisa is going to need a very special type of husband.” Her statement elicited no response, so Beatrice continued, “She has a mind of her own, she is quite determined, and she knows what she wants.”
“Marisa is very sensible underneath her bravado. She knows what it would take to make a good marriage.”
Beatrice blinked. “Make a good marriage? What does it take to make a good marriage, in your opinion?”
Sebastian seemed to hesitate before answering. “I think it takes mutual respect. I think you need to care for the other person, but not care too deeply. You definitely don’t want love to be involved. Love just spins passion and desire into a whirlpool of feelings that cannot be controlled. No. Respect, courtesy, and admiration are all that are required to make a successful marriage.”
There it was again. His disdain for love evident. He almost choked on the word, making Beatrice wince, but she didn’t know what to say. In her own mind she had to agree with Sebastian’s way of thinking. If love was to grow, it had to start with respect, trust, and admiration. Her parents had no love in their relationship, butunfortunately, neither did they have respect or admiration. This saw them live as virtual strangers in their own house. All she knew was that she didn’t want her marriage to be like her parents’.
“I think that is probably a good recipe in order to have a marriage that is workable. However, admiration and respect are earned. And certainly your past behavior does not lend me to feel very admirable or respectful.”
Sebastian simply turned and looked back out the window. It was obvious he would not be drawn into a discussion on marriage. Perhaps he still had to come to terms with what had occurred this morning.
Some two hours later Beatrice felt the carriage slow; she roused herself from her daydreams to look out the windows as the carriage turned off the main road and onto an avenue lined by towering oaks.
“We have arrived,” Sebastian informed her absently. “They are going to be surprised that I’ve arrived with you. They will be even more astounded when I announce we are married. But they will embrace you and treat you as one of their own.”
The carriage rounded a curve, and she caught her breath at the vista. It was obvious this was the home of a very wealthy man. It was also a place of stunning beauty. Across the parklike gardens an immense building stood in magnificent glory. It was a pretty yet imposing, castlelike house, so large that it would probably take days to learn all its secrets. She half expected to have to cross a moat’s drawbridge to enter. The carriage moved on and swung round the cobbled drive. Beatrice began smoothing her skirts, suddenly nervous.
The instant the conveyance came to a halt, several grooms and footmen leapt to assist. As Lord Coldhurst helped Beatrice alight from the carriage, she made sure her hair was properly tucked in underneath her bonnet.
A man similar to Sebastian in height, but fair of hair, came out to greet them as they walked up the limestone steps. “Sebastian, my man, how wonderful to see you. With guest?” A flicker of puzzlement crossed his features when he took in Beatrice standing beside Sebastian.
“Lord Hadley Fullerton, may I present my wife, Beatrice Hennessey, Marchioness Coldhurst.”
It was the first time Sebastian had ever seen Hadley Fullerton at a loss for words. He quickly hid his shock. “I see we do have a lot to catch up on.” But hestepped forward and took Beatrice’s hand and raised it to his lips, bowing over it slightly.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Coldhurst. You are a very lucky woman to have captured Sebastian’s heart.”
Beatrice merely smiled and acknowledged his greeting. “Please, as a dear friend of my husband’s, call me Beatrice.”
Sebastian escorted her up the enormous steps and through the imposing doors into the
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