Page 77 of A Bloom for a Blacksmith

“I do hope it’s nothing you ate?” Stella guessed. Perhaps Mrs. Crabbe wasn’t the only cook who despised her employer.

“Oh, it’s not that,” she replied. “I’m merely feeling sorry for myself.” She took an unsteady breath. “You no doubt noticed my husband appears far younger than me—”

“Oh, mayhap a year or two,” Stella replied, lifting a shoulder.

Sarah sniffled. “The difference in our ages has become far more apparent of late. I feel I’m an embarrassment to him—”

“He adores you,” Stella stated.

Her hostess gave a start, and for a moment, it looked as if the simple words were enough to settle her. “He’s hardly aged since we wed,” she whispered.

“Well, some men have all the luck,” Stella said, waving a hand dismissively. “And then, they age ten years overnight,” she added.

“I fear at any moment, I’ll learn he has taken a mistress.”

Stella straightened on the settee. “I rather doubt that.” When she saw Sarah’s sorrowful expression, she added, “When I met him at the shop last week, he spoke of you with such pride,” she said. “I think he feels quite fortunate to have married you.”

“If only that extended to our…” she stopped speaking and took a shuddering breath, “marriage bed.”

Dipping her head—Stella felt the heat of a blush and a bit of panic at trying to decide how best to respond—she realized two things were certain: Lord Woodhurst was an Immortal.

And: He hadn’t told his wife.

“I… I miss his visits to my bedchamber,” Sarah blurted.

Stella angled her head to one side. “Perhaps it’s time you made a visit to his,” she suggested, waggling her brows.

Sarah’s watery eyes rounded. “You mean, me… go to him?”

Lifting a shoulder, Stella allowed an impish grin. “Why not? It’s not as if he’s going to turn down the opportunity to…” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “to have you make love to him.”

Blinking several times, Sarah inhaled softly. “You don’t think so?” she whispered.

Angling her head first to the one side and then the other, Stella said, “He’ll welcome you with open arms,” she assured her. “I find men are rather simple creatures. You merely have to feed them. Water them. And remind them on occasion why it is they chose you to be their wife.”

Despite her despair, Sarah began chuckling, her sniffles sounding at odds with her sudden humor. “Oh, dear, I do believe you have the right of it,” she said, nodding. “I suppose you do that… on occasion?”

Stella once again felt the heat of a blush but decided she could tell on herself. “I find myself in my husband’s bed more often than in my own. Conversation betwixt us is easier in the dark, and he sleeps more soundly if I’m there. I probably would, too, if he didn’t snore on occasion, but I do adore the warmth he provides on a long winter night.” She paused before adding in a quieter voice, “If we’re together every night, then I am assured he has no mistress. No need of a mistress.” She arched a reddish-blonde brow to emphasize her point.

Sarah sniffled again, but a wan smile showed on her face. “Capital reasoning,” she said, her gaze going to the door.

The gentlemen appeared on the threshold and bowed while Stella and Sarah both stood and curtsied.

“I didn’t expect you up here so soon,” Sarah said, lifting her cheek when James bent to kiss it.

“We find we cannot be parted long from our favorite women in the world,” James said. “And it’s growing rather late.”

“I must be at the bookshop in the morning,” Stella said. “I have painters coming to do the second floor.”

“And I’ve a reverse drive shaft to make,” Darius remarked. “Thank you both for a wonderful evening.”

“It was my pleasure, truly,” Sarah replied, her gaze going to Stella. “I shall be trying your… approach… this very evening,” she added.

Stella gave her a wink and placed her hand on Darius’s proffered arm. “Great minds think alike, my lady,” she said. “My lord,” she added, giving him a deep curtsy.

With that, the Agremons took their leave of the parlor and of Woodhurst House.

They could barely contain themselves as they made their way out the door and into the town coach—their reasons entirely different.