Ben's traveling coach finally reached his Kendal estate just before dusk. Vivian had her head out the window gazing out at the gray stone mansion. He had informed her there were ten bedrooms, but from the front, it didn't look that large. Then he informed her they would fill his house with children in time.
As the carriage pulled to a stop, the doors to the manner opened and the butler stepped out giving orders to some of the male servants who hurried to collect their trunks.
Ben stepped down after the driver dropped the steps, then turned to lift Vivian down. When he offered his arm, cheers filled the air. "The staff is eagerly waiting to meet their new mistress. I have longed for the day I could bring you here."
Her eyes warmed at what he said. "I love you too, Benny. I'm thrilled to see my new home." She watched as more people came out and line the steps to the mansion. "There must be twenty-five maids," she said with awe. "Are all of them necessary?"
"To prepare the house for our arrival on short notice, I assume they hired more of the villagers to do so. The last time I arrived unannounced, the furniture was covered with sheets, not to mention how ill prepared they were for my meals. That is why I sent a rider ahead to inform them of our arrival today."
"Did you write a list?"
He gave her hand a pat. "I informed them I was bringing my bride to her new home and I expected her to be pleased. I also suggested they hire more help to see the job was seen to properly."
"You are always pleasing me, Benny." She reached up and felt her hair as they approached the servants. "I hope I'm not a mess. You were very insistent about experimenting with things you saw in our book."
"Didn't you enjoy it," he asked with a wink. When she giggled, he was pleased.
They grew silent as the approach the servants who curtsied. Those in charge of the household were introduced to her. When she spoke to the cook, she requested Earl Grey tea be prepared with a light repast. Ben suggested they be served in the library.
After the servants were dismissed, and Ben carried her over the threshold, he set her down in the foyer. The dark wood floors matched the spindled banisters and wide steps of the curved staircase. Tall windows beside the front entry allowed the setting sun to light the area. Two stories up, a crystal chandelier reflected light about the gold-colored cloth walls.
"This is lovely, Benny."
"I had hoped you would think so. Shall we tour the house, or would you like to freshen up? I could definitely use a bath," Ben told her. "The lack of rain made the roads dusty."
She leaned close to him to whisper, "I do hope the tub is big enough for me to join you."
"You will see that it is, and I will have a bath drawn while we enjoy our tea."
He led her down the hall to the library. A servant standing nearby quickly open the double doors. Ben nodded and gave him a dismissal as he led her inside the huge room. Bookshelves lined the walls to the ceiling two stories tall with a walkway circling halfway up. Each level had sliding ladders to reach the books on the top shelf.
"This should keep you occupied while I see to my paperwork."
She walked inside as if mesmerized at such a sight. "I thought my father's library was large. This is most impressive, Benny. I fear I will become lost in new studies. You must tell me if I ignore you for too long."
"I promise you that I shall. It pleases me that we will be sharing the same room. Tomorrow, there are some sights I wish to show you if the weather is pleasant. There is a pretty white mare with a golden mane and tail that I believe you will be most pleased with. Last year, I had a saddle tooled for you."
She walked across the room to wrap her arms around him. "Were you collecting gifts to give me?"
He gently cupped her face. "I thought of you every day. Whenever I saw something, I thought you would like, I bought it. I missed four of your birthdays, but I have the presents for each of them and the Christmases we missed as well.
"I knew I would not be permitted to see you, so I bought presents you would enjoy after we married."
She raised on her tiptoes to kiss him. "I wish Father had never taken you from me with his ideas as to what was best for me. We missed so much time together."
"He didn't understand that I would never think of you like a sister," he said with a teasing grin. "There is one present upstairs in our bedroom."
"What is it?" she asked with excitement.
"I will show you after our bath, but I will give you a hint. The color is blue."
She peppered his face with kisses. "Best you give it to me before our bath, we shall be busy after."
"Shall we have the tea brought to our chambers?"
"An excellent idea."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her out of the room. His butler stood within calling distance. "Alfred, have the tea served in our chamber and have a bath prepared."
Alfred bowed. "As you wish, Milord."
Together, Ben and Vivian climbed the stairs and went down a long hallway until it came to a door to a sitting room. A huge window flanked the entire wall. She walked across the room to look out at the view. The countryside had plowed fields and homes in the distance. Just below them, was a large fountain and nearby a greenhouse. On the opposite side, she saw a large stable and carriage house.
"I never dreamed this would be so beautiful. You don't live here so I assumed it would be simply a farming community with a basic house and grounds."
"Compared to Kensingdale, this is small, though far from plain. Our family house in London would qualify for that description, though it is quite large for the city. I always thought we would restore it. Money is not an obstacle."
"Nonsense. I enjoy the warmth of the home. We shall change that which is broken and perhaps paint when needed." She stepped beside him and took his hand. "Now show me our bedroom and bathing chamber."
He placed his hand on her lower back and waved his hand towards a closed door. They approached and he opened it. The bedroom was incredibly large and opulent. Wainscoting of dark wood reached halfway up the wall, while the top was blue printed wallpaper in a diamond design. Wide crown molding circled the top. A large canopy bed was centered against a wall blue and gold material dressing the sides and the spread. The curtains across the large windows matched.
In the corner, a delicate dressing table with gold trim embedded around the curvatures and the mirror drew her near. She sat upon the small bench touching the brush and mirror set in ivory.
"This is so beautiful. Did you buy this for me as well?"
"Another present I thought you would like."
"I do, Benny." She picked it up and felt the horsehair bristles. "Knowing that you thought of me in this way is very romantic." She stood and stepped in front of him so she could wrap her arms around his waist. "This room is so lovely. I feel as if you designed everything in the room while thinking of us together. When did you start this?"
He looked at the way she held her head back to look at him and leaned down to kiss her neck. "I had hopes we would marry after your sixteenth birthday since that is the legal age. I'm glad it pleases you."
Her breathing became heavy as his kisses brought her to a point of desire. He lightly bit her lobe. "Would you like to see the other room?" he asked. "I fear our time shall be interrupted soon."
"Could they not serve the tea in the sitting room and leave?"
He smiled, kissed her lips, and stepped back. "Allow me to show you what I have done. I find I grown impatient to give you another gift."
"Because your hint said the gift was blue, I assumed it was this room."
His eyes lit with humor as he shook his head. "The room is blue because you always favored the color, and mine is gold. Thus it represents the two of us. This room..." he said opening the door, "is green."
The design of the room was the same, including the window. He had merely changed the color to green and a lighter gold. However, the walls were lined with tall wardrobes.
"Did you imagine me to have such an amount of clothes?"
"I believe in practicality," he said defending his decisions. "There are four seasons. One wardrobe for each. The two extra are for your riding clothes and one for shoes." He crossed the room and opened the doors to show her the shelves for her shoes.
"I considered the idea of preparing this room as a nursery. The third story has rooms for such. However, my parents kept their new infant in a room close to them."
"I trust you will help guide me when that time comes."
He stepped beside her and kissed her hand. "With your eagerness to learn, you will study the topic I am sure. My mother will also help answer your questions."
"I am most anxious to meet her. I hope we will come here often and visit your parents."
"We shall. There are repairs to be done to the homes provided for the farmers and new equipment. This is what I plan to examine while we are here." He stepped over to the dresser and opened a drawer, and then pulled a small box out. "This is my wedding gift to you."
Excitement glistened in her eyes as she hurried to his side to see. "Show me."
He opened the box and held it out for her to see. A blue sapphire stone surrounded by diamonds hung from a tiny platinum chain. "It is delicate befitting you. I could not see you in heavy jewelry." He took it out and fastened it about her neck.
She went to the mirror to see her reflection. "It is exquisite, Benny." She turned, lifting her hands to his shoulders and stretched onto her toes to kiss him.
"Do you wish to see the gift I purchased for your sixteenth birthday?" He pulled another small box from the same drawer and handed it to her.
She pulled the ribbon free and opened the box. She gasped at the sight of the beautiful earrings that matched the necklace. She took them out of the box and held it up into the light. Pleased with the sparkle, she stepped to the mirror to clasp them to her earlobe. Once they were on, she turned her head this way and that admiring them. "These are magnificent, Benny. Wherever shall I wear them?"
"You can also wear them to bed," he said with a devilish grin. "I wouldn't mind seeing you wear them while I make love to you."
She giggled as she turned to go into his arms. "I dare not argue with such sound reasoning," she said snuggling up to him.
A knock sounded on the door to the sitting room. "Good, the tea has arrived. I need the energy for my plans tonight."
She giggled and followed him into the next room with her hand touching the necklace. Few women had such a thoughtful husband.
We closed the day with Ben and Vivian as she visits her new home. I will work on the next chapter and have it up as quickly as I can. Of course, we have to see what happens as Radley tries to sneak Charlotte into her house. LOL
Thank you for reading the new chapter. Hope you liked it.
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