Chapter Twenty-Two: Bittersweet invitations

Wendy smiled and waved as the carriage holding Lord Baxter, Grace, and all of their children, rolled away from Thornberg and soon out of sight, she sighed longingly, she was going to miss them. They brought a sense of life and energy into the days she normally went about with little conversation and interaction from any one besides the servants, and there was a limit to how much she would allow herself to bother the busy people.

Rhys stood next to her as they waved his family farewell and Wendy hesitated for a moment, should she invite him for tea in her sitting room? Foolish! She instantly scolded herself, it's his sitting room, if he wanted to have tea in it he would. She should leave him be to do whatever tasks he had planned for the day.

Rhys felt every muscle in his body tense as Wendy turned towards him, she paused for a moment as emotions played across her face, longing, anxiety, and finally a crestfallen look settled on her sweet face. Then slowly she walked past him and back through the grand doorway of their estate, he wanted to reach out to her, his sisters words echoed in his mind "I hope you are not sullying this opportunity, Rhys" a low rumble moved through his chest as he turned to follow his wife.

"I have penned a letter to your father." His words startled Wendy to turn back to look at him, she felt all the blood rush from her face. He was unsatisfied with their marriage? He was sending her back to her father? Was it because of what she had said about love? Maybe he was unhappy after sharing a bed with her? He had not visited her in the night nor asked for her to visit him since that night two weeks since.

"I've asked them to visit here," He said as he saw her face pale, he cursed his sister, had she not said this would be a good idea?! Now here his wife was looking as though he had told her she would die before the day was over "I have asked him to bring your sisters to visit you. I had planned, at first, for it to only be them but your parents were quite insistent upon accompanying them."

Wendy felt her breathing begin to even out and her shoulders relax, Bianca and her father may be coming but she was not under their ruling any longer, she would not be required to listen to them as she had before. She knew they were going to try and convince her or more likely bully her into taking Rhys' money for their debts but she was determined she would not do it. She stared at her husband unthinkingly, would he protect her from her parents wrath?

"Thank you, Your Grace." She smiled at him and her dimples flashed for a moment. "I have been anxious to see my sisters. You are too kind to invite them here for my sake." Rhys wanted to ask her if she was being honest or not. Grace had told him this would be a good idea but he could not tell from his wife's reaction whether she had been correct or not.

"Think nothing of it, Wendy." He sighed out as he walked past her heading to his study "Please, do not hesitate to purchase anything you might need to prepare and tell cook whatever you wish the menu to be while they visit."

Wendy dipped into a thankful curtsy as he passed her and Rhys paused by her, his hand tipped her head up and he looked into her eyes as she lifted to a standing position again "Not to me, Wendy." His thumb stroked across her cheek "You and I are of the same status on this estate." Before he could think to stop himself he bent and brushed his lips against the soft skin of her cheek, walking into his study as her gasp echoed in his mind and set his chest on fire.

Rhys stood in front of his fireplace, the roaring fire keeping the biting cold of the day outside. He tipped his head back as he swallowed the bitter golden liquid in his glass. He did not know why he was torturing himself like this, racking his mind trying to please his wife whom he could not read. He couldn't tell if her sisters visiting outweighed her parents accompanying them or if she would rather they all stay away.

He knew that he'd rather her parents never step foot in Thornberg estate but he'd do whatever he could to please Wendy, even if she did not love him back he knew now that he could no longer deny he loved her. He wished he could have her next to him at all points in time, especially at night, the last two weeks he had laid in his bed unable to sleep, watching the sun rise every morning and rising with it.

An idea struck him and he made his way to his study door before flinging it open with abandon "Faron!" He did not have to wait more than a moment and his trusted butler was in front of him, bending at the waist and offering his services "Tell the maids to move the Duchesses things to my room."

Faron raised a brow before he simply bowed and moved to do his master's bidding.

Rhys smiled to himself, if he had to see his wife's horrid parents, he might as well make the most of it.