‘W__Where is Lord Cavendish? Sybrina enquired of the dowager.

‘Did you expect he’d be at home to hold your hand the whole day countess?' The dowager emphasised with a satisfied gleam in her eyes.

Tired after the long journey back home, Sybrina had overslept this morning. It was almost nine in the morning, three hours later than she normally rose. She’d hoped Alexander would knock on the interleading door that adjoined their bedrooms and escort her downstairs to breakfast. Sybrina had dressed waited, and when more than enough time had passed, she’d knocked on his bedroom door and entered, only to find his room empty.

When Sybrina had not responded to the dowager, she continued her diatribe. ‘For some reason Alexander left instructions that you are not to be disturbed, until you are properly rested,’ the dowager thought she guessed the reason why.

It’s not what you think, but yet for some reason Sybrina could not prevent the rush of blood that tinged her cheeks. Gosh she’s now a married woman, she should get over the embarrassment when the mere hint of what happens between a man and a woman in bed was mentioned.

‘Well, I’m pleased you’re satisfying my son,’ she glared at Sybrina, ‘I trust I will not have to wait long for you to produce an heir for my Alexander,’ the dowager demanded.

‘Did Lord Cavendish say when he will return?’ Sybrina ignored the question that was none of the dowager’s business, which did not go unnoticed by her as she reluctantly dragged out a response. ‘He’s attending to some matters with the tenants, and a meeting in the village. He should be back after lunch.’

‘Is there any task that I should do?’ Sybrina enquired.

‘You need to meet with Cook to plan the meals for the week. I’ve also asked Mr Charles, the butler to take you through everything that pertains to running of the castle, as it is your responsibility now. You need to sit with him and learn to manage the books, as well as how to order and replenish all the stocks and supplies that is needed in running the castle. Mr Charles will be available to you the entire day, after you have taken breakfast.’

Sybrina spent the morning with Mr Charles. She could feel a severe headache coming along. He was as hostile and cold as the dowager. He smiled and bowed politely like the polite butler that he was meant to be, but his eyes were cold, calculating and unwelcoming. He resented Sybrina taking over his chores. He showed her the books and talked down to her as if she was less than ten years old. Sybrina chose not to inform the condescending butler that she was au fait with matters of running a house and the books, after all she’d done those chores exceptionally well at her father’s estate and the orphanage.

‘The Earl has letters of credit at the general dealer, the butcher, the green grocer and all the other fine stores you may wish to make purchases from countess.’

Sybrina nodded, Alexander had already told her to take advantage of that and purchase anything her heart desired.

‘On a Friday we visit the market countess, and make all the purchases we need for the week and replenish all items that are needed in the castle. Here is the ledger,’ he flicked the pages rather quickly, before her eye could even register anything on a single page. ‘I shall take you through it over the course of this week, so you may familiarise yourself with the entries.’

Sybrina reached out her palm to stop him flicking the pages, ‘I shall take this to my bed chamber tonight to study it,’ she smiled politely.

‘As you wish countess,’ his eyes reflected as if she would not be able to make head or tail of the accounts.

Sybrina wondered why there was such as huge bill at the green grocer, when the Earl’s estate was large enough to grow its own stock of vegetables. In fact it could make a lucrative income of supplying the market, she thought as the butler guided her back to the dining room.

‘My lord you’re back!’ Sybrina rushed to greet Alexander. Her eyes lit up, a big smile reflected on her face. She was so thrilled to see a familiar face that treated her like a human being, unlike the cold reception she’d had from the dowager and Alexander’s staff.

‘Had I known you’d miss me this much, I would not have stayed away for so long,’ his eyes teased, as his fingers gently touched her elbows.

Sybrina knew the way he was looking at her so adoringly was for show. At the corner of her eye, Sybrina could feel the dowager piercing her with one of her cold looks. She was sincerely happy to have Alexander home, it reflected plainly in her eyes, as she smiled at him. Alexander sensed she needed to talk to him privately.

‘It’s such a beautiful afternoon my lady, would you like to go riding with me?’

‘Yes,’ Sybrina enthused, ‘I’d love to my lord.’

‘I think I’ll join you too,’ the dowager added.

Alexander saw the disappointment in Sybrina’s eyes. Her smile faded a little as she said, ‘I’ll just get my hat and a cardigan my lord.

‘So how have you enjoyed the morning my lady?’ Alexander asked, as a footman held the door open for them.

‘Mr Charles has been kind enough to show me the books and the run of the castle,’ she smiled, not indicating any of the cold hostility she’d received.

‘Good, has Mr Charles told you we have letters of credit with every store, so you may order or buy anything you wish my lady?’

‘Yes he has, and thank you for your generosity my lord.’

‘We should have a gala dinner Alexander,’ the dowager suggested, ‘to celebrate your wedding.'

‘The thought did occur to me my lady,’ Alexander spoke, as the carriage took them around his estate. ‘Do you feel comfortable to host a dinner?’ He smiled at Sybrina.

Sybrina liked that he took the initiative to ask her instead of telling her about it.

‘How many people shall we invite my lord?’ she smiled brightly up at him, even though she resented the dowager suggesting it.

‘We will have to open up the ballroom, he smiled. ‘We could entertain as many as fifty people in there.’

‘I’m looking forward to it my lord,’ Sybrina was determined to please her husband. ‘May I invite Father Tim and Mother Agnes?

‘I will leave you to make out the guest list and invite whomever you choose,’ he touched her arm politely.

‘Off course we must invite the Duke and Duchess of York,’ the dowager smiled acidly.

No! No! No!

‘Please extend an invitation to the Marquis as well my lady,’ Alexander requested, oblivious of his mother’s shenanigans. ‘Is it too big a task? Should I get Mr Charles to oversee this first ball?’ Alexander asked when he saw the light go off in her eyes.

‘I can manage it perfectly,’ Sybrina forced a smile, raising her chin defiantly.

‘I know,’ Alexander grinned, his palm covered her hand on her lap. ‘I have the greatest faith in you.'

‘Thank you,’ Sybrina smiled and laid her other palm over his hand on her wrist. She rejoiced inwardly when Alexander found it difficult to draw his eyes away. His fingers curled into hers for a moment, squeezed her for comfort, before he lifted his hand and looked out the window of the carriage.

Saints of heaven, why the hell is mamma here? I want to take Sybrina into my arms and pound my lips over hers. I want to feel her tongue in my mouth and I want to crush her bosom against my body and ravish__

‘When shall we have the dinner my lord?’

‘Will two weeks from today be too early?’ he replied.

‘That should give us enough time to send out invitations and receive responses back,’ the dowager added.

‘Yes that is fine,’ Sybrina offered him a smile. ‘I would like to prepare a special menu for you my lord. What would be your favourite?’

‘Oh I’m keen on pheasant, and grilled lamb, and I have a sweet tooth,’ he grinned.

‘I’m surprised it does not show,’ Sybrina teased him back, deliberately ignoring the dowager.

‘I make sure to get enough exercise to keep slim and trim,’ he flirted with her unashamedly.

Sybrina lowered her eyes not feeling bold enough to flirt with her husband in front of the dowager.

‘Will I get to sample your famous grilled lamb my lord?’

‘Oh, I’m going to have words with Ralph,’ Alexander laughed, ‘but for you my lady, I will make you an exceptional grilled leg of lamb,’ he promised, his eyes continued to flirt dangerously. ‘This was most enjoyable my lady. We shall have another ride tomorrow,’ he assisted her from the carriage.

‘Oh yes,’ Sybrina smiled, ‘I love to ride early in the morning my lord, when it’s still crisp and fresh,’ she suggested.

‘Shall we ride the horses tomorrow morning?’

‘You’ll have to show me which horse I may ride.’

‘I’ll do better than that my lady. I have a spirited mare with your name on it.’

‘Oh really! I will have my own horse?’

‘Yes,’ he smiled into her eyes, ‘it’s my gift to you,’ he murmured.

‘Thank you my lord,’ Sybrina spontaneously hugged him, but her spirits were quickly dampened when the dowager coughed behind them. Sybrina quickly stepped away from Alexander.

‘I wish to change the furniture in our bed chamber my lady,’ Alexander tugged Sybrina’s arm into his. ‘Can we have a look at that?’ he led his wife upstairs.

Sybrina glanced at the dowager before Alexander could whisk her away. She regretted directing her gaze at the dowager for the glacial glare she gave Sybrina was frightening enough to make skeletons shiver in their graves.

‘Sybrina,’ Alexander wrapped his arms around her waist.

‘Yes my lord.’

‘I do not really have any interest in changing the decor,’ he smiled.

‘You do not?’

‘Not unless it displeases you, then I will.’

Sybrina cast a critical eye around the room. ‘It all looks fairly new, and I like mahogany my lord.’

‘Good. It is fairly new,’ he grinned, ‘I had a moment of anxiety that you may want to have pink, or purple, or red furniture,’ a relieved look covered his face.

‘So why did you bring me up here?’ her cheeks flustered, she avoided his eyes.

He placed his thumb under her chin and raised her face so he could look into her eyes.

‘My lord we should go downstairs. Your mother__, the servants__.’

‘I think they all know what goes on in the bedroom of a newly married couple,’ his eyes teased her mercilessly.

Sybrina bit on her lower lip, and shifted uncomfortably, that only seemed to heighten his desire. He grunted and pulled her against his chest, as his mouth cosed over hers. It was not slow, or gentle, or experimental. It was a ravaging kiss that forced her lips apart, as his tongue entered her mouth. Sybrina was too shocked by his arousal and passion. Her fingers held onto his shoulders nervously. Alexander was whispering in her ear. He was pleading for her to wrap her arms around his neck. His hands were sliding up and down her body, when a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Alexander lifted his head, his breathing was ragged. His eyes were dark with desire. His body was aroused. Sybrina remained in his arms. Very slowly, she took gentle breaths to right her breathing. She allowed her hands to drop from around his neck.

‘I’ll get that,’ he replied, his voice still not calm, as he opened the door.

‘The dowager would like to discuss an urgent matter with you my lord,’ his valet relayed.

For once, Sybrina was pleased for the interruption. Alexander had almost been out of control.

In the next week, Sybrina got into a comfortable routine. Every morning she and Alexander rode their horses. Sometimes he would be called out, so she’d ride alone. After breakfast, she had discussions with Cook about their lunch and the dinner menus. Cook seemed to be very influenced by Mr Charles, and treated Sybrina with the same cool reserve. Besides Alexander, Harriet was the only other person that bothered to show her any courtesy. The grooms in the stables showed Sybrina the same respect as Harriet did.

Sybrina had broached the subject with Alexander about using a piece of the land to start producing their own vegetables. At first Alexander was adamant that his wife would not be working like a labourer in the garden, but when he saw her enthusiasm and then her disappointment at him denying her the opportunity, he relented. He’d hired four additional staff just to assist her. She was instructed to supervise them and oversee the gardening. Under no circumstances was she to be tilling the ground, or manning the equipment to plough the land.

Alexander was pleased that he had relented, when he saw how radiant she became each evening when she proudly relayed to him her achievements each day. He had taken her one morning to the market to get a variety of seeds of corn, green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, cabbages, lettuce, carrots, spinach, beetroot and chillies.

Sybrina raided Alexander’s library, found gardening books and devoured the information for her project. Every morning after breakfast, she would rush out to the garden to study how her four apprentices were faring. She had even proudly taken Alexander on a tour, to view their progress. He had been so pleased and impressed, that he spontaneously offered her more land, which delighted Sybrina to no end. The kitchen staff were rather impressed with their first fruits of labour, and Sybrina was sure there was a slight thawing in the temperament of Cook. Mr Charles’ temperament was still as glacial as the dowager’s who found every opportunity to separate Alexander and Sybrina.

Every morning during breakfast Alexander checked with Sybrina about preparations for the ball. He was supportive and helped wherever she requested his assistance. He had also instructed her to get two new gowns. Sybrina had declined, insisting she still had gowns, she had not yet worn, but Alexander had ordered that he did not want anybody outshining his wife and that he wanted her in a brand new gown, to which she eventually relented.

‘Are we all ready for tonight?’ Alexander enquired.

‘Yes. The menus are all set. Cook and the staff have been busy preparing pastries and little treats the entire week. The room has been cleaned out. All the best dinnerware has been washed and set__’

‘You have not shown me your new gown.’

‘You will see it tonight my lord. It is rather glamorous,’ she smiled shyly.

‘I can not wait to see you in it,’ his eyes danced with mischief.

‘Some of the guests will start arriving after lunch,’ Sybrina informed him.

‘The Marquis?’ Alexander asked.

The smile disappeared off Sybrina’s face, she became restless.

‘Sybrina?’

‘Yes my lord?’

‘You are my wife. You have my protection. I will not allow the Marquis to say or do anything that will upset you. I give you my word.’

‘Thank you my lord,’ she offered him a smile.

Mr Charles cleared his throat behind Alexander.

‘Yes?’ Alexander prompted.

‘The Duke and Duchess of York have arrived my lord.’

‘They are early,’ Alexander exclaimed. ‘Shall we?’ Alexander extend his arm to Sybrina.

‘Alex darling! It’s been so long,’ the duchess threw her arms around Alexander.

‘Your grace,’ Alexander greeted. He then greeted the duke.

‘Sybrina,’ the duchess grinned. ‘I do say marriage suits you well. You look radiant.’

‘Your grace. Thank you.’

‘Your grace, you look lovely,’ the dowager serenaded.

‘Darling how are you?’ the duchess greeted the dowager warmly.

‘Countess how are you?’ the duke touched Sybrina’s shoulder.

‘Your grace, how are you?’ Sybrina smiled politely, but her eye was on the duchess who wasted no time in sinking her claws into Alex. The dowager seemed ecstatic to see the duchess and Alex together. Infact she seemed to relish it.

About an hour later Ralph and Claudia arrived. Sybrina was pleased for the diversion.

‘Sy you look positively blissful,’ Claudia observed.

‘I concur. Marriage is doing you good,’ Ralph grinned.

‘Oh, can I show you two my handiwork in the garden,’ Sybrina enthused.

‘Oh you could not wait to get your hands dirty,’ Ralph grinned, an avid gardener himself.

Sybrina needed a diversion, she needed to get away from seeing the duchess’s claws around Alex.

‘You did all this?’ Ralph questioned.

‘No,’ she laughed, ‘Alexander hired me four helpers, with strict instructions about my role, or my non participation,’ she smiled.

‘You’ve done an amazing job,’ Claudia beamed.

‘You know how I love__’

‘Ah I was just bringing the duchess to show her Sybrina’s marvellous project,’ Alex informed everybody.

If it’s my project, why the hell are you showing it to her? And is she really interested in how vegetables are grown?

Sybrina looked at the duchess’s hand possessively tucked in Alex’s arm, but the duchess had no qualms about it, as she just laughed loudly and made stupid comments that had the men laughing supportively. Even Mr Charles was enamoured by the duchess. He gave her the widest grin Sybrina had ever seen lighting up his face.

‘Excuse me, I am just going to check on dinner,’ Sybrina escaped. She tried to make eye contact with Alex, but he seemed to have eyes only for the duchess. Sybrina delayed as much as she possibly could in the kitchen. She checked the dinner. She checked on dessert. She walked to the dinner table and checked on the table setting for the third time, before she finally dragged herself back to the drawing room, where everybody had reconvened.

‘You are very quiet Sy,’ Claudia smiled.

‘I am okay,’ Sybrina lied, ‘how are things with you and Ralph?’

‘I am with child,’ Claudia whispered.

‘Oh I am so happy to hear it Claudia. Congratulations.’

‘Ralph does not want it announced tonight, seeing it is your big evening,’ she grinned.

I wish everybody else will realize it is MY big evening.

At dinner, Alex was at the head of the table. Sybrina was very far down the line at the foot of the table. Annoyingly, the duchess was seated at Alex’s right. The duke was somewhere down the middle. Sybrina was pleased that Father Tim and Mother Agnes had arrived. Her father had also arrived. She was not pleased about that but treated him politely. Alex had insisted on keeping the Marquis seated at his left side, far away from Sybrina. Father Tim was somewhere near Alex. Mother Agnes sat to Sybrina’s right.

‘What ails you child. You eyes look troubled.’

Automatically Sybrina’s eyes travelled to the duchess whispering something in Alex’s ear.

You always knew me too well Mother!

‘Ah, the mystery is unravelled,’ Mother Agnes smiled, following Sybrina’s eyes.

Sybrina looked away embarrassedly, not replying to Mother Agnes.

‘It’s normal to be jealous about the man you love, especially when the duchess is such a beautiful woman.

What! I don’t love him. I don’t.

‘I am not jealous,’ Sybrina denied.

Mother Agnes just smiled and concentrated on doing justice to her meal, whilst Sybrina just toyed with hers. The main course was served. Sybrina had not tasted Alex’s famous grilled lamb. She was now close to having an explosive anxiety attack as Alex and the duchess left the table to dance.

I thought my husband and I would open the dancing.