Belle couldn't imagine a more pleasing arrangement. Emma was her best friend, and after all the mischief they'd gotten into together, it was quite amusing to have her as a chaperone.
Belle breathed a sigh of relief as she rode up a hill and Westonbirt rose over the horizon. The massive building was really quite graceful, with long, narrow columns of windows marching across the facade. Belle was already starting to think of it as home. She headed into the stables, handed her mare over to a groom, and made a mad dash for the house, laughing as she tried to dodge the raindrops which had started to fall at a furious rate. She stumbled up the front steps but before she could push open the heavy door, the butler opened it with a flourish.
"Thank you, Norwood," she said. "You must have been watching for me."
Norwood inclined his head.
"Norwood, has Belle returned yet?"
The feminine voice floated through the air, and Belle heard her cousin's footsteps clattering along the floor of the hallway that led to the foyer.
"It's starting to get quite wet out there." Emma turned the corner into the hall. "Oh good! You're back."
"A little wet, but none the worse for the wear," Belle said cheerily.
"I told you it was going to rain."
"Do you feel responsible for me now that you're an old married matron?"
Emma made a face which told her exactly what she thought of that. "You look like a drowned rat," she said plainly.
Belle made an equally unpleasant face. "I'll change my clothes and come down for tea in a moment."
"In Alex's study," Emma advised. "He's joining us today."
"Oh, good. I'll be right down."
Belle headed up the stairs and through the labyrinth of hallways which led to her room. She quickly peeled off her sodden riding habit, changed into a soft blue dress, and headed back downstairs. The door to Alex's study was closed and she could hear giggling, so she wisely knocked before she entered. There was a moment of silence and then Emma called out, "Come in!"
Belle smiled to herself. She was learning more and more about this married love thing by the minute. Some chaperone Emma was turning out to be. She and Alex couldn't manage to keep their hands off each other whenever they thought no one was looking. Belle's smile grew wider. She wasn't exactly sure about the particulars of making babies, but she had a feeling all this touching had something to do with why Emma was already pregnant. Belle pushed open the door and walked into Alex's very large, very masculine study. "Good afternoon, Alex," she said. "How has your day been?"
"Drier than yours, I understand," he said, pouring some milk in his teacup and ignoring the tea entirely. "Your curls are still dripping."
Belle looked down at her shoulders. The fabric of her dress was damp from her hair. She shrugged. "Oh well, nothing to do about it, I suppose." She settled down on the sofa, and poured herself a cup of tea. "And how was your day, Emma?"
"Fairly uneventful. I've been going over various books and reports from some of our lands in Wales. It looks like there may be some sort of a problem. I'm thinking of heading out there to investigate."
"You are not," Alex growled.
"Oh really?" Emma countered.
"You aren't going anywhere for another six months," he added, glancing lovingly at his flame-haired, violet-eyed wife. "And probably not for another six after that."
"If you think I'm going to lay abed until the baby comes, you're mad in the head."
"And you have to learn who's in charge here."
"Well then, you-"
"Stop, stop," Belle laughed. "Enough." She shook her head. Two more stubborn people in this universe had yet to be found. They were perfect for each other. "Why don't I tell you how my day went?"
Emma and Alex both turned their faces to her expectantly.
Belle took another sip of her tea, letting it warm her up. "I met a rather odd man, actually."
"Oh, really?" Emma leaned forward.
Alex leaned back, his eyes glazing over with a bored expression.
"Yes. He lives near here. I think his land borders yours. His name is Lord John Blackwood. Do you know him?"
Alex shot forward. "Did you say John Blackwood?"
"It was John, Lord Blackwood, I think. Why, do you know him? John Blackwood is probably a fairly common name."
"Brown hair?"
Belle nodded.
"Brown eyes?"
She nodded again.
"About my height, medium build?"
"I guess so. He wasn't quite as broad in the shoulders as you are, but I think he was nearly as tall."
"Did he limp?"
"Yes!" Belle exclaimed.
"John Blackwood. I'll be damned," Alex shook his head in disbelief. "And a peer now. He must have been granted a title for military service."
"He fought in the war with you?" Emma asked.
When Alex finally responded, his green eyes were far away. "Yes," he said softly. "He commanded his own company, but we saw each other frequently. I always wondered what happened to him. Don't know why I didn't try to look him up. I suppose I was afraid I'd find out he was dead."
That certainly caught Belle's attention. "What do you mean?"
"It was strange," Alex said slowly. "He was an excellent soldier. There was no one you could depend on more. He was absolutely selfless. Constantly putting himself in danger to save others."
"Why is that strange?" Emma asked. "He sounds like quite an honorable man."