I am inviting myself, but I have always heard of the wonderful harvest festival you have at Glynwolde.”
“Of course you must come – assuming of course that we will be there.” Marguerite glanced at Tristan to be sure that she had not overstepped her place.
He gave no indication that she had. He stood and faced her. “I daresay that is where we will be. I try to oversee as much as I can myself, and I would like the child born at Glynwolde. I am not sure when it will become unsafe for you to travel. I expect we will take up residence at the end of the summer and stay through the winter. Is that agreeable to you?”
All the tension Marguerite had felt over that last day began to loosen. Tristan might not have expressed his feelings fully in words, but his actions were speaking for him. He was trying to resolve things with his mother and he was actually speaking as if they had a future with the baby. There was hope. Still, she could not make matters too easy for him, he had hurt her too deeply with careless, callous words the previous day. “I believe that sounds like a good plan, however we should discuss the details more fully.”
Tristan looked perplexed. She restrained a smile. He was not used to finding any obstacles in his path. She knew he wanted to say more, but this was not a discussion for company.
Marguerite turned to her guests. “I do look forward to your company over the coming months, but now I am afraid I grow fatigued. Will you promise to come and visit again soon? I know I still have much to learn from you both and I look forward to enjoying your companionship.”
“Oh, I had not considered how tired you must still be from yesterday’s events. Please forgive us. We must be on our way.” Felicity took Violet by the hand and prepared to depart. She hesitated and then walked to Tristan. She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He did not respond, but neither did he step away.
The ladies left.
Tristan turned to Marguerite as he shut the door to the parlor behind them. “Should I help you to your room? You do look a little pale.”
“Nonsense. I am tired, but I am sure sitting with my feet up will restore me. Perhaps if you could bring me a footstool . . .”
Tristan moved to follow her request and soon Marguerite was comfortable. She let her head fall back against the back of the chair. She truly was tired, but she was also unwilling to let further time pass without talking with her husband.
She closed her eyes, but spoke, “I trust you have no urgent plans that require either your attention or your presence.”
“No.” She heard him retake his seat on the couch. “I had planned on spending the day at home. I can attend to my accounts and some correspondence if you need quiet.”
“I will rest better after we have talked.”
“You make our discussion sound ominous.”
“I do not mean to do so.” She opened her eyes and lifted her head. “Do you debate that we have much to speak of?”
“You are, of course, correct. I actually tried to speak with you last evening, but you had fallen asleep.”
“I would apologize, but I am not sure that anything I said would have made sense. I must admit I found the day quite trying.”
Tristan leaned forward, resting his head in his hands, his elbows firmly planted on his knees. He grinned. “You sound as if you are having tea with Lady Smythe-Burke. I thought we had moved beyond such social politeness.”
“I did too, but after yesterday –-“
“Yesterday I was an ass. Is there more to say?”
“I believe there is a great deal more to say,” Marguerite snapped back. “We cannot pretend that yesterday did not happen.”
“Why not?”
“If you do not clean a cut it can fester. You wounded me yesterday and I cannot pretend that you did not. And while your actions this morning speak well of our future, they are not enough. I need words.”
“Words?”
“Yes, you have implied that your feelings have changed since yesterday in regards to the baby, your heir if a son. I need to understand how they have changed and why. I am not feeling particularly trusting.”
Tristan leaned back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. “I do not know exactly what you want.”