The Settling of Scores

Chapter 10

            "Wake up, sweetheart," Avery said smiling as he brought a tray full of food to the bedchamber, it was in the early afternoon and Priscilla was still asleep.

            Priscilla pulled the covers over her head and rolled onto her side. "Go away," she murmured.

            "What happened to that sweet natured woman I married yesterday?" Avery teased her as he sat the tray on the foot of their bed.

            "You kept her up all night," he heard the muffled reply from under the covers.

            "Come Priscilla," Avery told her as he threw back the covers. "We have places to go and people to see."

            "What?" she sat up, her sable hair sticking out in all directions, Priscilla tried to blow it away from the front of her face without success. She finally took a hand and brushed it aside as best she could. Avery thought she looked adorable in her ruffled state of undress. "Where do we have to go? I don't remember you telling me we were going anywhere today. This isn't one of those decisions you made without asking or telling me about, is it?"

            Avery chuckled. "We have a good many things to accomplish before we leave at the end of the month for California. We have to open you a bank account, order more gowns and dresses along with all the other million and one things you will need. Find a maid for you and a valet for me. Unwrapped all those wedding gifts and send out the thank you notes to the people who sent them. Purchase you a coach along with horses and find a driver, I'm thinking of giving you John.

            "Let's see I know that there is something I am forgetting. Oh yes, we have to decide how we want my study and the rest of the house redone. They can be working on it while we are gone. We have only two weeks to accomplish all of this, Priscilla, so hurry we don't have time to waste. Daisy will be up in thirty minutes to help you bathe and dress."

            Her eyes narrowed on him. "Avery, do not make me wish I would have stayed your housekeeper," she told him crossing her arms over her bare breasts, "and we've only been married a few hours."

            Avery chuckled. "But think of all the fringe benefits you would lose. Now what do you want to eat?"

            "Coffee first, please. What all did you bring?"

            "I came laden with eggs, ham, scones, cherry tarts, toast, orange marmalade, tea, coffee and hot chocolate."

            "One of each except the drinks, please," she told him and Avery filled a plate full of food.

            After handing Priscilla her plate he filled one for him and they both sat in quiet eating their breakfast. Both ate as if they had not had any thing to eat in days.

            Their all night activity had made them both famished.

            There were many benefits in marrying a widow, Avery learned last night, instead of some green girl just out of the schoolroom. Benefits he very much enjoyed, he thought as he woofed down his breakfast then refilled his plate.

                                                                *                   *                  *

            "Which coach do you like?" Avery asked her late that day. They had already been to the bank to open her account. The bank president attended their wedding last night and was surprised to see them today. They stopped by Mrs. Pointer's to order more gowns, keeping the one's he ordered on Saturday a secret from her, a print shop for thank you and calling cards. Now they were looking at several coaches and teams of horses.