Page 82 of Enticing the Devil
Chapter Twenty-eight
Lady Anne’s first dinner in her new home was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The Thomas children were already seated around the table when Anne came down. The sound of their overlapping voices and boisterous laughter could be heard through much of the house. They welcomed her to the dining room with wide smiles and happy greetings. The food was already on the table, filling the room with savory scents that made Anne’s mouth water. She later learned with no small bit of awe that their meal had been prepared entirely by Eirwyn.
When Anne found out Beynon would not be joining them as he’d already made himself a plate to eat in his study, she experienced a quick, sharp pang to her chest. But she refused to show her disappointment, especially once Glynnis entered the room. Though she was clearly still weak from her illness, the older woman’s cheeks were a lovely color and she insisted that she needed to be up and about more often if she were to fully regain her strength.
Anne was grateful to the woman for the obvious gesture at welcoming Anne to their table and their home and made a strict point of not worrying about Beynon’s choice to do the opposite.
Once she put Beynon firmly from her mind, Anne had a wonderful time. She’d never before experienced a meal where children were present. It was clear the Thomas children were all very close. So close they had absolutely no trouble teasing and taunting each other rather relentlessly. Though Glynnis expressed her apologies more than once for the somewhat disruptive atmosphere around the table, Anne honestly found it all fascinating.
And delightful.
Because although the children were often at odds with each other in some way or fashion, there was still an undeniable connection between them. And that made her wonder if the dynamic changed at all when Beynon was present. It was very difficult to imagine him interacting in the same manner—with robust laughter, ready smiles, and bold banter.
Of course, as soon as she thought of Beynon, a heaviness fell over her mood. She did her best to dispel it quickly but happened to glance toward her new mother-in-law before she’d completely managed the emotion.
Something in the older woman’s gaze had her wondering if she didn’t know exactly what had caused the dampening of Anne’s spirits.
Placing a wide smile on her lips, Anne did her best to counter whatever might have been detected as she turned to answer Carys’s very serious question as to whether Anne preferred peas or green beans with her roast lamb.
The small girl apparently abhorred both as they were both green and she absolutely didn’t like eating anything green.
After dinner, Anne lingered in the parlor as long as she could manage—long after her mother-in-law offered her apologies for retiring early and Eirwyn had taken the younger children up to bed.
She wasn’t specifically awaiting an appearance by Beynon, but she couldn’t help but glance to the doorway every time the old house made the slightest creak.
Even so, it was still rather early when she made her way up to the bedroom she’d been given. The days of travel and the intense anticipation leading up to her arrival today had been exhausting. Gratefully, someone had seen to keeping a low fire lit and a few candles flickered near the bed. She readied herself quickly and barely registered tucking herself beneath the covers before she was deeply asleep.
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THE NEXT MORNING, ANNE awoke with a start, feeling as though something had drawn her sharply from slumber. But as she blinked the sleep from her vision and glanced about the unfamiliar room, she didn’t see or hear anything that could have disturbed her.
No doubt, it was simply the discomfort of waking in a new place, she decided as she glanced around the cozy wood-paneled room. The windows faced the north, so the morning sunlight was soft and indirect. The air was fresh and only a bit cool, while the bedcovers kept her warm and contented. As she stretched her limbs and spine, she realized that even the unused side of the large bed held a hint of warmth.
After rising, she washed quickly and dressed in a simple day dress before pinning her hair into a neat bun at her nape. She’d promised to join Glynnis for breakfast and she didn’t wish to be late.
As soon as she stepped into the hallway outside her bedroom, she realized her habit of rising early was not an exception in this household. She could hear children’s shouts from somewhere below followed by the bark of a dog and running feet. Making her way down the corridor toward the corner room at the far end, she nearly collided with Carys as the small girl dashed out of a room to the right and practically flew down the stairs without ever once seeing Anne.
What on earth could have roused everyone to such a degree so early, she wondered as she reached her mother-in-law’s door. Though it was slightly ajar, Anne still knocked respectfully.
“Come in.”
Anne entered to see Beynon’s mother once again seated against the pillows in her bed. Today, she was fully dressed and sat atop the covers, though a woven blanket had been draped over her legs. Her black hair glinting with silver had been freshly washed and was twisted into a thick chignon.
“Bore da, Lady Anne,” her mother-in-law greeted warmly. “Please have a seat.” She indicated one of two chairs that had been positioned at a small table pulled up beside the bed.
“Good morning, ma’am. You appear well rested this morning,” Anne noted with a smile.