Eloping with the Princess (Brotherhood of the Sword #3)(34)

He didn’t particularly want to see his wife now. He’d left her in an appalling way earlier, and he had no notion of what to say to her. He knew his behavior toward her must be confusing. One moment he wanted her, and the next he shoved her away. But he couldn’t very well explain his bastardy to her. He needed to keep his distance. Perhaps once the ball was over, he could be sent on assignment somewhere. He would make certain she was well protected, and he would be far from temptation.

Jason nodded his head at his valet. “You wait here. I shouldn’t be long.”

Ricks, who was more friend than servant, nodded.

Jason followed his housekeeper down the winding staircase. He wanted to further chastise the woman for not handling the situation herself. If Isabel wasn’t injured, then why was he required to manage whatever problem the girl had? Or could his mother not take care of things?

He was being ridiculous. He couldn’t hide from his wife. Most men would beg to be saddled with a woman they desired. He was the worst sort of fool.

The housekeeper led him down the main corridor that led to the bedchambers, where he found Isabel on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor.

“You see, my lord, why you had to come?” his housekeeper whispered.

Isabel’s hair was wound on top of her head and a scarf was tied around it to keep it in place. Or perhaps it was to keep perspiration out of her eyes. Either way, she looked far more the part of scullery maid than viscountess.

“Thank you,” Jason said. “I’ll handle matters from here.”

The housekeeper waited a moment before bobbing into a curtsy and walking away.

Jason stood in place for a few breaths, simply watching Isabel as she scrubbed the floor. He gingerly moved forward.

“Isabel?”

She started, then looked up at him. “Good afternoon.”

“Indeed. May I inquire as to what you’re doing?”

She frowned. “I should think it would be rather obvious, but I am cleaning the floors.”

“Yes, but why?”

“Because I am able-bodied,” she said.

He squatted so he could be at her eye level. “Isabel, we have servants. If they are not cleaning to your standards, you need only address it with them. Or with me, if you feel more comfortable.”

She shook her head. “Am I not allowed to clean the floors? I am a perfectly capable person, and I see no reason why I can’t perform a simple task.”

“That is not what I meant.”

She closed her eyes. “This isn’t what a princess would do, is it?” She dropped the rag onto the floor, then sat back on her heels.

“No, nor a viscountess.” He stood and helped her to her feet.

“It’s only that I’m used to leading a more physical lifestyle.” She wiped her hands against her skirts as she spoke. “I asked about taking a walk the other day, but was told I could not do so alone.” She shook her head. “This is simply not how I imagined my life would be. I expected to be surrounded by children and running about. At school when I was frustrated or angry, I would clean. The work—”

“Took your mind off things, allowed you to concentrate on only the movement of your muscles,” he said. He watched her eyes widen. He’d been so selfish thinking only of himself and how this impromptu marriage was affecting and testing him.

She took a step closer. “Yes,” she said, her voice faint with awe. “That’s it precisely, but how did you…” She shook her head as her words faded.

“I do the same.” He knew that he wasn’t alone in such a process, but he’d not expected it from a woman. He also recognized that this was his fault. He’d put her in a position where frustration ate at her so much that she’d resorted to scrubbing the floors. Few people had seen his private retreat. Normally he did not share his sanctuary with anyone save his closest of friends, and he’d certainly not intended to share it with her. But considering his options, it was the lesser of two bad scenarios. He couldn’t make love to her, but he could invite her into his private sanctum. It seemed that, as his wife, she certainly had a right to know more about his life.

“Come, I want to show you something.”

They did not speak as they climbed the stairs. Isabel, impressively enough, did not seem the least bit winded when they reached the top floor. This room had been nothing but a large storage space when he’d inherited the house. He’d begun work on the area almost immediately, and now he affectionately referred to it as his strategy room. His valet, Ricks, walked over to them.

“Will you be needing anything else, my lord?”

“No, that will be all, Ricks, thank you.”

Ricks said nothing, but he gave Jason a look that said plenty. Only Ricks would recognize the weight of Jason sharing this room with someone outside of the Brotherhood or his staff. Jason knew that he’d likely pay for this in the future, but for now he shoved off the thought. She required a physical outlet, and this would provide her one that wouldn’t have the staff interrupting him every hour of the day.

“What is this place?”

“My duties with the Brotherhood require a certain amount of agility and athleticism. I prefer to work on such things here in my own home,” he said. “Although plenty of gentlemen do the same sorts of things in their clubs. Boxing and fencing and the like.”