Beauty for Ashes

“I said—I dislike having my bride address me as sir.” He gave her a level look. “You did agree to call me by my given name.”

“So I did.” She managed a shaky smile. “Please forgive me. I forgot.”

“Forgot what? My name? That you agreed? Or that we are married?”

“That I agreed.” Elizabeth couldn’t keep the touch of asperity out of her voice. Justin Randolph had an irritating habit of ignoring small politenesses, such as apologies. “I could hardly forget about our…our…”

“Marriage?”

“Yes.” Why couldn’t she say the word? Embarrassed color warmed Elizabeth’s cheeks. She stopped shivering.

“Perhaps, under the circumstances, Elizabeth, it would not be outside the realm of propriety for me to tell you that your blush is most becoming.”

“Thank you.” Fear coiled in her stomach. Maybe she wasn’t safe! She stared at Justin, taken aback by the personal remark, then leaned forward to tuck the lap robe more closely around her cold feet. Tears stung her eyes at the memory of her father taking her boots and shoes with him when he left her room. She blinked the tears away, straightened, and leaned her head back against the padded seat. That was in the past—it was the present she must concern herself with now. She stared at a small, repaired rent in the fabric of the carriage wall opposite her as she considered the circumstances that had been thrust upon her. Everything was so strange and troublesome. On the one hand, every mile they traveled brought tremendous relief for it was a mile farther away from the danger and painful memories she desired to leave behind. But it was also a mile closer to the new life she was beginning as wife to this man—as his partner in this marriage of convenience.

Elizabeth sighed. What would her role be? What would he expect of her? And what of the children the judge had mentioned? Would she be responsible for their care? Oh, dear Lord, help! I have no experience at rearing children. I—

“Elizabeth?”

She started and glanced over at Justin. “Yes?”

“If I may intrude upon your thoughts—we have many matters to discuss concerning our relationship.”

“Yes, of course.” The implied rebuke stung. Elizabeth lifted her chin. “But I assure you, Mr. Randolph, it is no intrusion. It is the very thing I was pondering.”

“How fortunate. Please be more specific.”

“Very well.” Elizabeth ignored his sarcastic, disbelieving tone. “I was wondering—as I am unfamiliar with relationships of this nature—what my position will be.”

“I suspect it will be as you expected.”

The coldness in his voice could have frozen a pond. There was open dislike in his eyes. Elizabeth relaxed a little.

“I am a wealthy man. And, as such, I hold positions of importance in the social and business communities. As my wife you will, of course, share in those positions.”

“I understand.” Elizabeth struggled to maintain her poise in the face of Justin Randolph’s seeming animosity. “I shall endeavor to be a credit to you—in society, and with your business associates.” She fingered the ring making a bulge in her kid glove. “And as to my position and duties in your home?”

“In my home, it will be as the paper you signed stated. You will perform as my wife, caring for my home and the children, fulfilling social obligations, seeing to my needs as any wife is expected to do, except—” the harshly spoken word made Elizabeth flinch “—for those of a personal nature. There will be no personal involvement between us. However—” He held up a hand as she started to speak. “I expect you to play to perfection the part of a loving bride and doting wife in front of others. The truth of our relationship is to remain confidential. You are to tell no one!” He gave her a cool, distant smile and Elizabeth cringed. It was not pleasant to be so completely and coldly rejected. “It will, of course, be to your advantage to play your role well. As the ‘loving’ and ‘loved’ wife of a wealthy man there is little that will be denied you. But—” his voice took on an ominous tone “—as the faithless wife of a wealthy and powerful man, there is little that could save you.”

A flame of resentment kindled in Elizabeth. How dare he speak to her as if she were a harlot! Yet, what else would a man think of a woman that married someone under these conditions? What else could he think? Elizabeth’s honesty smothered the flaring indignation as her thoughts raced on. She could not tell him what had happened—she could never tell anyone that—but she had to try to make him understand that she was not what he thought her to be. She drew a deep breath and plunged into speech.

“Mr. Randolph, I realize that you know nothing of me. You know nothing of my character, or of the—the circumstances that placed me here. I know, also, that you spoke out of that ignorance.” She lifted her head and met Justin Randolph’s shocked, angry gaze head-on. “I’m sorry I’ve made such a poor impression you felt it necessary to speak as you did. But I assure you, sir, you have no need to bribe—”

Justin’s straight brown eyebrows shot skyward, then lowered in a deep scowl.

Elizabeth faltered, gathered her courage and finished. “Or to threaten me. I am aware of the seriousness of the vows I made to you before God, and I intend to fulfill them all—within the conditions set forth in our agreement, of course.” She gave him a small, polite smile as cool and distant as the one he had given her. “It will be easier now that I know exactly what you require of me. I am determined, sir, that you shall not be sorry for our…our…alliance.”

A heavy silence descended when she finished speaking. Had she gone too far? She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. Something flashed in the depths of Justin’s eyes, but before she could identify it, he dipped his dark, handsome head in a small, mocking bow.

“A very pretty speech, madam.” Sarcasm tainted his every word. His gaze locked on hers. “However, I put little faith in a woman’s words.”

“Nor I in a man’s, sir!” Tears sprang into Elizabeth’s eyes. She turned her head aside and blinked them away.

With child…with child…with child… The words rang through Justin’s head in time with the steady, rhythmic clop of the horse’s hoofs against the hard, cold earth. He raked his hand through his hair, then leaned back in his seat and studied the young woman he had married. So she had no faith in a man’s words. Obviously, the doctor was wrong. It sounded as if some man had sweet-talked her into an immoral liaison and then reneged on his word. It happened. His facial muscles tightened as he lowered his gaze to Elizabeth’s swollen, discolored jaw. Probably her father had lost his temper when he learned of her dishonor. Yes, that would explain the bruises. It would also explain why someone of her obvious breeding would be forced to marry under the conditions he had offered. He slid his gaze down the expensive cloak draping Elizabeth’s shoulders and rested it on the fur robe that covered her lap. There would be the need for haste if she was not to be branded a loose woman—if the child she carried was to have a name. He knit his brows in a deep frown. And then there was the money. There would be no chance for a good marriage in her future.

Justin closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat. He had been prepared to accept a woman that openly married him for his money and the comforts he could provide—but he had wanted honesty in return. What he had received was this deception! She was the same as the others. And he had made it so easy for her. He curved his lips in a small, cynical smile. Only a few little lies in the letter she had written in reply to his article and—

Justin jerked upright and stared hard at Elizabeth. That’s what had been nagging at him—her letter! There was something about her letter. But what?

Silence prevailed. The weather continued to deteriorate until the fur robe that covered Elizabeth’s lap could not keep out the biting, frigid air. Every lurch or jolt of the carriage caused shivers to run down her spine. Small gray clouds of warmth burst from her nostrils into the confined space of the carriage as she breathed. Her teeth began to chatter. Her feet burned with the cold. She wiggled her toes, biting back a moan at the prickles that shot through them. Thank heaven she was not still walking!

Justin pulled up the collar of his great coat, rubbed his hands together, and glanced over at Elizabeth. “I’m sorry for the discomfort. These hired carriages leave much to be desired. I hope you are not too uncomfortable.”

Elizabeth shook her head, then quickly readjusted her hood as the cold nipped at her ears. “In truth, I was thinking how fortunate I am to be in this carriage protected from the freezing rain and howling wind.” She gave him a small, grateful smile. If not for him she might well be out in the cold, wet storm. “You have provided everything possible for comfort, Mr. Ran—Justin.” She looked down at the smooth, dark fur that covered her lap to avoid his suddenly intent gaze. “And, of course, you are not responsible for the weather.”

“That’s true. Yet, I know some who would hold me accountable nonetheless. And they would feel no reluctance in telling me so—especially now.” He reached over and pulled aside the curtain covering the window at her side. “It’s beginning to snow.”

Elizabeth glanced out the window, then over at the dark, closed face of the man she had married. Would he ever relax that air of wary suspicion with which he regarded her? “I like snow.”

“As do I.” Justin let the curtain fall back in place, sacrificing the dim, gray light of the late afternoon to its scant protection from the cold air. “But not when I am traveling in the company of a young woman. Red noses are very unattractive.”

“Oh!” Elizabeth clapped a cold hand over her nose.

Justin laughed. “Not your nose, Elizabeth—mine! You have a most attractive nose—red, or otherwise.”

Elizabeth looked at him over the top of the covering hand. He had a nice laugh. It made him seem almost human! “I’m certain there is more gallantry than truth in that statement, sir. However, under the circumstances, I shall accept it at face value.”

“Face value?” Justin stared at her a moment, then, again, burst into laughter. “An excellent pun, Elizabeth—excellent!” He leaned back in his seat and studied her. “So, you have a sense of humor.” The laughter lent warmth to his voice. “A quick mind, and a sense of humor. I find that a pleasing combination.”

“Thank you.” The sudden praise was disconcerting—she did not want any personal observations from this man. Still…it pleased her that she had made him laugh when he seemed so cold and somber. Elizabeth pushed the window curtain open a tiny crack and watched the large, fluffy, white snowflakes dance their way to the ground. Perhaps she had something to offer this strange relationship after all. The thought was comforting to dwell on.

Chapter Seven

T he hour was late when they arrived at their lodging place for the evening. Large, fluffy snowflakes fell from the dark night sky, each one touched by the shimmering radiance of silver moonlight that caused them to sparkle like diamonds. With careless largesse they piled their lustrous splendor against fences and walls, clustered in glittering brilliance on trees, buildings, and bushes. Elizabeth gave a soft exclamation of pleasure at the beauty of it all as Justin opened the door and stepped down from the carriage. Steeling herself against his touch, she took his politely offered hand, stretched her foot forward and ducked through the door.

“What is that?”

Elizabeth jerked to a stop on the carriage step and dropped her gaze from the beauty of the snow-covered landscape to Justin’s dark, scowling face. He was staring at the cream-colored satin slipper no longer hidden by her long skirts. “My shoe?”

“That may be a shoe in a ballroom—in this snow it is a piece of nonsense!”

Elizabeth winced at the disgust in his voice and pulled her foot back to hide the offending shoe under her skirt.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

“Wh-what?”

“Put your arms around my neck! You cannot walk through this snow in those shoes. I shall have to carry you.”