A Headstrong Woman(110)
“What would your brother think?” Alexandria asked with a frown.
“Doesn’t matter, this is our private business.”
“I…I don’t think I care for others knowing the state of our marriage,” she admitted.
“I can either sleep in a room of my own if you wish or…” he attempted a smile, it came out more closely resembling a smirk, “keep my hands to myself.”
Alexandria looked at him dubiously. From the conversations she’d had with her mother and a couple of her married friends that sounded improbable, unless of course he wasn’t attracted to her. The thought made Alexandria feel physically sick.
“I…” she paused to swallow hard. Before she could form an answer, Ted spilled into the parlor.
“I nearly forgot that I’d brought some of your things,” Ted informed his brother. “Want me to bring them in?”
“First, I need to bring in the things I already had with me,” Jonathon admitted.
“I’ll help,” Ted offered and followed his brother to the bunkhouse. A few moments later, the two men, their arms laden, returned.
Jonathon, his gaze direct, looked to his wife.
“Lead the way, Alexandria,” he left the decision of where he was to sleep to her.
Alexandria turned on shaky legs and entered the house to climb the stairs. A million fractured thoughts raced through Alexandria’s head as she made the short climb to the top of the stairs, she would have been hard pressed, however, to make sense out of a single one of them.
She paused momentarily at the top of the stairs, her eyes going from her own room to the room that had been Elijah’s. She squared her shoulders and marched into her room. Her gaze fell on her bed and she swallowed hard. Alexandria shook her head and hurried to make room for her husband’s things; she avoided his gaze as she did so. Ted turned to go for the things he had brought as soon as he had emptied his arms.
Jonathon turned to his wife and smiled at her. Her trust was touching; her wide eyes were disconcerting. He wanted to kiss her; that seemed foolish, however, when he considered the pact he had just made with her. Impulsively, he leaned forward and brushed a light kiss across her lips before leaving the room.
Alexandria bit her lower lip and frowned after her husband. They weren’t off to a great start on this business of him keeping his hands to himself, she thought darkly. No, he hadn’t touched her, he had kissed her, technically he had kept his word; her frown deepened. This could get very sticky, she realized.
Jonathon followed his brother into the barn where Ted had left the trunks in the rented wagon he’d brought from town. He was wondering what his wife thought of his kissing her. He hoped that she liked it because while he wouldn’t press her into anything she wasn’t ready for, he intended to show her that he cared for her. Not only in being kind to her, but affectionately as well. It had only taken him minuets with her and her family to realize that she came from an affectionate family and he couldn’t help but wonder how she had survived a loveless marriage to Eli.
“Jonathon, I had no idea my timing would prove to be so bad. I’m going to get a room in town tonight,” Ted informed his brother as they each lifted a trunk from the wagon.
“That is completely unnecessary I assure you Ted. It would make me and Alexandria feel terrible if you did.”
“Know her that well already?” Ted teased.
“Actually, pretty well,” Jonathon informed his brother.
“Jonathon it’s your wedding night no woman wants…”
“Ted listen I…don’t let Alexandria know you know this but our marriage is one of convenience. I love her, make no mistake about that but she married me to keep from losing this place.”
“Are you crazy? Do you know how many girls at home have shed buckets of tears over you leaving?”
“I love her, Ted.”
“You’re crazy,” Ted was shaking his head as they started back into the house.
“Maybe,” Jonathon conceded with a wide smile. He’d always welcomed a challenge but this might well prove to be more of a challenge than he was up to. After placing his trunks in a corner, Jonathon helped Alexandria get Lilly to bed and saw his brother settled into his room.
***
Alexandria pulled the hair combs from her hair and with trembling hands began brushing her long locks. She had changed into her nightgown and dressing gown while Jonathon was seeing his brother settled and now anxiously awaited his return. This would have been a lot easier if she’d had more time to prepare herself, she mused. No, on second thought less time to ruminate the matter was better, she decided. A light knock sounded on the door and Alexandria stood to open it.