The Marriage Bargain by Diane Perkins Page A

take it.” She could not believe Reuben would be so heedless.
    “I must take more care,” he wailed. “‘He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.’”
    “That is all very well—” began Emma.
    “Proverbs, you know.” Reuben reached for her hand. “Tell me what you wish me to do about this and I will do whatever you bid, my dear lady. You have had trials enough without my adding to them.”
    She pulled her hand away. “There is no need to turn maudlin, Reuben. There is nothing for you to do.”
    “I shall confess the whole to my cousin,” he continued. “And beg for his forgiveness.”
    “You will do no such thing,” she scolded. “I will not have you telling Spence things that will only distress him.”
    His eyes widened in shock. “Do not tell me you have a
tendre
for him, after all that has transpired!”
    She certainly did not wish to discuss the cauldron of feelings she had for her husband with Reuben.
    She made herself give him a level gaze. “I have compassion for the sick, no matter who it might be.” There was only a twinge of guilt at lying to the vicar.
    He stared at her for long enough that she wished she could squirm. “If only . . . ,” he began, then cleared his throat. “I fear for my cousin and his companions. ‘Those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind,’ you know.”
    She could agree on that, but would do so secretly. She had made a point never to discuss her husband with his cousin. It seemed . . . disloyal.
    “You may go, Reuben. I am needed elsewhere. I just wanted to speak with you first.”
    He looked wounded. “I wish you would rest yourself. You work too hard, Emma, my dear. Shall I have Mr. Hale order us some tea?”
    She gave a little laugh. She did not even know if there was any more tea. “I am not tired, and I really must not tarry.”
    He gave up, bowed, and turned to walk out of the room.
    Before he reached the door, Emma said, “Come for dinner at the usual time, Reuben. It is kind of you to lend your company.”
    He smiled and departed with a happier step.

Chapter
SEVEN
    T hroughout the next week Spence grudgingly accepted the annoyance of everyone withholding information from him. Not knowing what caused Emma’s chill or Wolfe’s worry or Blake’s determined cheerfulness became another obstacle to surmount, like the weakness in his legs and the pain in his shoulder. He concentrated on getting his strength back.
    At Tolley’s recommendation and Wolfe’s insistence, Arjun took over Spence’s treatment. Tolley’s toothache had been miraculously cured from some sort of bark Arjun had given him to chew. During Tolley’s ministrations Spence heard every detail of the tooth treatment, including how Spence’s laudanum had given him nothing but the vomits.
    What Emma thought of Arjun’s doctoring, she never said, but then, Spence saw very little of her. Sometimes he lay awake at night thinking of calling out to her, but pride prevented him. He had once been Emma’s valiant, now he’d turned into her burden, and, for some plaguing unknown reason, she was furious at him. He had failed her, but he did not yet understand what had happened or why.
    The only way he could make the discovery was to recover; therefore, he threw himself wholeheartedly into Arjun’s odd regimen, refraining from meat, learning to sit still and think of nothing but one word, moving his muscles in gentle prescribed patterns. His balance improved, and using a cane Tolley unearthed from the attic, he soon navigated around the room by himself.
    That evening he asked Tolley to dress him and he braved the staircase to appear in the dining room for the first time. Mr. Hale hastily set a place for him at the head of the table. Little of the food served met Arjun’s strictures, but Spence was not that hungry. He did chuck Arjun’s rules out the window for one forbidden glass of wine. Emma had served a sauternes that must have predated