Royal Regard

Chapter Ten, Part 1

"Your Ladyship, Mr. Watts says there is a gentleman to see you."

Bella turned from the desk where she was adding up the household accounts, staring blankly at Peggy Wilson, the nursery-maid-with-aspirations-to-lady's-maid Charlotte had loaned from her house against Bella's objections. If Bella had ever really learned how to manage British servants, instead of being trained by her aunt to become one, she might have recourse, but to her dismay, Charlotte was both helpful and unbearable about it. Thankfully, Myron's previous butler, Watts, had been located and agreed to return as steward and valet, so there was finally a sensible man running things who could be counted on to do Bella's bidding, unlike Mrs. Jemison, who now preferred to take orders from Charlotte.

Nevertheless, her home life was smoothing out: enough proper staff to manage the house and garden with minimal input from her; an adventurous cook who agreed to use Bella's recipe box when designing Myron's menus; workmen finishing one room after another, with less commotion every day; a set schedule for meals, paying and receiving occasional calls, and attending functions to represent Seventh Sea Shipping. Outside her compulsory engagements, though, Bella had seemingly endless free time, most of which she spent with Charlotte and the Marloughe children.

The only thing not falling easily into place in this new life was her marriage.

During the earliest years of their union, Bella had been tasked by her husband—and the king—to smooth the rough edges of a perpetual sailor, giving him the polish of a gentleman with ties to the nobility. The resultant shipboard lessons in genteel manners and proper deportment, and his support for her as she learned to speak up for herself and become more daring, had created an uncommon closeness between them.

As well as acceptance of each other's strengths and weaknesses, close quarters on the frigate made for self-imposed intimacy, strengthened by the emotion of an oft-thwarted desire for an heir. They had never been in love, but they had been true, equal partners in pursuit of their business and diplomatic success, and had shared equally the pain of the loss of many children.

"Shall I attend you during the gentleman's call, my lady?"

"Of course," Bella agreed. There was no way she would be caught alone with a man, even in her own home. It would cause Myron such pain for anyone to suspect her of wrongdoing. It might even contribute to the situation she found so difficult to understand: after years of such caring friendship, why her husband had drawn so far away.

More often than not, he sent her to parties with Charlotte and Alexander, staying home in his study, doing business he kept from her, so late into the night he often slept on the chaise longue he had requested she install there. She enticed him to the occasional evening playing backgammon, but he didn't speak overly much, rather spending the games cogitating, thoughtlessly letting her win by both hairpins and tiles. She could see the troubles on his face, but knew better than to try to pierce his thoughts. When she tried to discuss her concerns, he waved them off with, "Whatever you think best, my dear."

Perhaps it was the fact of his work, so different now—more political than mercantile. More people with whom to speak, all of whom were more important, more meetings to be had, and no shipboard proximity and restlessness between destinations. Perhaps he was withdrawing so she might become accustomed to being without him, but she wished he would draw her closer to be a comfort, as they had been for each other so many times before.

This latest excuse to take him away from home—at least a fortnight traveling among his shipyards along the coast—had caused her to question everything about her marriage, including whether she had somehow furthered his inattention. If, perhaps, he had noticed the excessive regard of the Dukes of Malbourne and Wellbridge, and thought she meant to encourage them.