Ravished by a Rake : Historical Fiction

Chapter 15

Sybrina kept her cool and continued to play her role as hostess with all the poise and grace she possessed.  She completely ignored her husband for the remainder of the evening.  After dinner, they moved to the drawing room for coffee.  Sybrina chatted with all the other guests.  So incensed was she with her husband, she even preferred the company of her estranged parent.  

The Marquis had praised her on her excellent choice of husband. 
Ha...if only. 
He also surprisingly complimented her on the superb dinner she had served.  In a rare moment of humour, he said he had thought that he produced the best wine in the ton and jokingly said he needed to get some tips from the Earl.  Sybrina did not comment. 

Tonight she thought nothing complimentary about her husband, not his skill as an exceptional host.  Nor his charming ability to ensure every single guest was comfortable, and she could not find a complimentary adjective to describe him, even as she stole a glance at his rugged, adorable, masculine, arresting frame that easily stood a handsome head above every other male in the room.  No there was not a single good thing to say about her husband.  As the guests continued to dance in the ball room, Sybrina assisted Cook and the kitchen staff in clearing away the remains of their sumptuous dinner.

‘Thank you Cook.  That was a successful dinner.’
Sybrina silently patted herself on her shoulder, for triumphantly executing her first major ball as the Countess Cavendish.

‘The pleasure was mine countess, especially with your valuable assistance.’  Sybrina could have sworn there was new found respect reflecting in Cook’s eyes.

‘I want you to have the weekend off next week Cook.  I will arrange for somebody to stand in for you.  I think you deserve a break,’ Sybrina smiled.

‘Oh thank you my lady.  I will appreciate the time to visit my grandchildren in Bath.  I have not seen the bairns in many months.’

Don’t mention Bath.

‘Enjoy it,’ Sybrina smiled.  ‘It is such a beautiful place.’  Sybrina found the colour flooding to her face, remembering Alex’s disturbing fingers helping to undress her at the baths.

‘The Earl has chosen well my lady,’ Cook shyly conceded.

‘Thank you Cook,’ Sybrina politely smiled, ‘let me get back to our guests.’

To add salt to her wound, Alex had invited the Yorks to stay over seeing it was late to travel back to London.  Fortunately there were enough additional rooms ready and available.  Sybrina used that as an excuse to leave the only remaining guests to see to rooms for them.  She requested the more than capable butler to personally serve the duke.  She assigned one of more senior maidens to serve the duchess’s needs. 

Sybrina chose the largest guest suite, which had a beautiful view of the flourishing flower gardens for the York’s use.  It was a suite, a little smaller than the master bed room, with twin bed chambers and twin wash rooms.  It was a beautiful room in soft pastel shades and a huge fire place.  If the dowager was surprised at Sybrina’s generosity, it hardly reflected on her face, for Sybrina saw the dowager’s signature frosty glare plastered on her face. 

Sybrina waited a painstakingly long time before the York’s retired to bed.  As Alex escorted them to their suite, Sybrina used the opportunity to escape to her bed chamber.  She had early asked a footman to carry a few jugs of hot water for her bath.  Hurriedly she undressed with Harriet’s assistance, who also helped to wash her hair.

‘I’m sorry to keep you up and waiting for so long Harriet.’

‘Oh Countess, you know I’ll do anything for you.  Don’t you go apologizing to me.’