A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

―The stagecoach driver said she left an hour ago. He momentarily closed his eyes so he wouldn't scream in frustration. When he opened them, he calmly asked, ―Did she mention where she was going?

―No. He doubted she would go to the beach house if she was upset. Naturally, she would be upset if she left without him. She must have gone back home. ―Thank you. I will be leaving as well. He didn't waste any time in getting out of there.

***

Jessica paced back and forth in the entryway, thinking of what she would tell Leo. She'd heard a buggy pull up in front of the house while she was trying to read in the parlor, so she ran to the door, ready to give him a piece of her mind.

She had the entire lecture planned out and ready to go. She stopped pacing, put her hands on her h.i.p.s and got ready for a fight as soon as he entered the house. He took his hat off and placed it on the hat rack before he set his luggage down.

Giving her a pleading look, he began, ―I-―How dare you to leave me all day so I had to fend for myself at Mrs. Davidson's house! You promised you would be back at two, and I waited for you but you never showed up!―I can explain. He glanced at his dirty clothes and sighed.

―I better take these things off first.―Are you trying to get out of an argument, because I'm not letting you off the hook.―I don't expect you to. I just don't want to explain everything while I feel filthier than a pig in the pigpen. She angrily followed him up the stairs. Since she had to lift the lower half of her dress so she wouldn't trip on it, she couldn't catch up with him.

It was unfair that women couldn't wear pants. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, he was in his bedroom, taking off his shirt. If he thought she was going to be easily deterred, he had another thing coming. She didn't care if he had his shirt on or not.

―I'm really upset, Mr. Monroe.―I know. He dumped the dirty shirt in his hamper and gathered some nightclothes from the drawer. Slipping off his shoes, he continued, ―I don't blame you for being upset. I would be too if it happened to me. Some of her anger dissipated.

―So, what happened? Did you want to stay out all day with them? He went to the bathroom so she followed him. ―No. I didn't want to be out there at all. He placed his nightclothes on the shelf and turned on the bathwater.

―Harrison told me that we would be back at two, but Mr. Davidson had told Harrison that we were supposed to be back at sunset. I didn't realize that Harrison lied to me. He started to unbutton his pants. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks.

He wasn't going to completely undress in front of her, was he? He was going to wait until they were done with this conversation and she was out of this bathroom...right? To her surprise, he walked over to her and shut the bathroom door.

―I don't want anyone seeing me n.a.k.e.d. Her eyes grew wide. Oh goodness! Did he intend to undress in front of her...with the lights on and everything? He stopped in front of her. ―I kept asking Mr. Davidson to take me back, but he'd find some excuse not to. I tried to get back without asking him for directions but I kept getting lost in the forest.

I finally had Mr. Davidson tell me how to get back to the house when I realized he had no intention of returning until nine. Even then, I got lost a couple of times. Jessica, I'm sorry. I feel awful for leaving you alone all day.―I worry it'll happen again, she admitted.

―It won't, he whispered before he turned back to the tub and took off his pants. He got into the tub, turned off the water, and took the washcloth and soap to start cleaning himself. ―I haven't been very comforting to you about that, have I?

You must be afraid I'll be like your uncle. She fought the urge to stare at him, to note the male part of him that intrigued her, and turned her attention to the wall. She needed to focus on what he was saying.

This conversation was too important to get sidetracked, though he should have realized that if he started bathing in front of her, then she'd have a tough time listening to him. After all, the male body was one she hadn't seen before. Naturally, it interested her. ―I just don't want to go through another incident like today, she finally said.

―Sometimes I wish you didn't have the job you do.―What if I never went on another business trip like that? I do have the ability to set down such boundaries with my clients. If they don't like it, then they can take their business somewhere else.

―Is that an option? What about the Grants?―They aren't worth our marriage. He washed his hair. ―My uncle is reasonable.

I can make sure that I only work during regular business hours, but I will have to go to dinner parties and host dinner parties. She thought it over and looked at him. ―Really? He nodded. She released her breath, relieved.