As her eyelids drew open Sybrina was momentarily dazed by the unfamiliar surroundings. She sprung up and searched around the room and found she was alone, all alone. The other side of the huge bed was unused. She strained her ear to listen for noises through the interconnecting door. Silence.

The sun was up. Sybrina could tell it was later than six, the time she normally arose. She could hardly remember what time she'd finally dozed off, for she'd been lying awake till the wee hours. She was loathe to get up and face Alexander this morning, not after the way, he'd angrily stormed out.

The door opened, Sybrina quickly dived under the sheets, pulling the covers up to her neck, even though she was fully clothed .

'Good morning, Countess,' Harriet beamed, 'I've brought you some hot chocolate my lady.'

'Thank you Harriet,' Sybrina looked anywhere but at Harriet.

'You don't have to clutch the sheets so my lady,' Harriet blushed, 'I understand the ways between a man and a women.'

Oh dear! She thinks I'm naked under the sheets. She thinks Alexander and I __

'Where is Lord Cavendish?' Sybrina asked.

'Missing him already?' Harriet grinned happily. 'Should I inform the Earl that you require him?'

'No! I mean it is okay.'

'Shall I bring up your breakfast Countess?'

'Harriet!'

'Yes my lady?'

'Don't call me "Countess."

'But when we go to the Cavendish Estate, everybody will be addressing you that way.'

Sybrina cringed, annoyed at the use of that title. It had never bothered her previously, but now when she heard the word countess, she expected the dowager to spring up behind her.

'Fine,' I will meet everybody downstairs in twenty minutes Harriet.'

Sybrina wondered what kind of mood her new husband would be in, as she dipped the wash cloth into the basin and soaped her face. Would he ignore her and give her the cold shoulder? She ran the cloth over her neck, behind her ears. She cleaned her teeth, then brushed her hair down and tied it with a ribbon. She was just about to exit the room, when the door opened and in walked her husband.

He does not even have the damn courtesy to knock. Thank heavens I'm fully clothed.

Alexander turned his head to study his wife. She was dressed in a beautiful long carriage dress, pale, like the colour of lemons. It looked beautiful on her slender figure. His fingers itched to remove the ribbon from her hair, and allow those velvet strands to cascade over her shoulders. An irrepressible urge rose in him to wrap her in his arms. He shoved his hands behind him.

'My lady good morning,' he smiled courteously. 'Did you sleep well.'

No. I stayed up half the night. It was all your fault!

'Er__good morning. Yes I slept well,' she lied, avoiding his eyes.

He took two steps and closed the distance between them. He was looking into her face, but Sybrina refused to look up and fidgeted with her fingers nervously.

'My lady,' he murmured.

'Yes,' she whispered.

'Everybody expects that you and I have indulged in a pleasurable night together.'

Sybrina's face turned crimson just at the thought of Alexander and her lying naked in the same bed.

'I have come to escort my wife downstairs, as will be expected if we've shared a passionate night together,' he extended his arm to her.

Sybrina lowered her head, feeling the heat flushing her face. The room was too hot, she needed fresh air. She placed her arm lightly over his and hastened to leave the room.

''We've all broken fast already,' he smiled conversationally, 'and the horses are ready.'

'I don't need breakfast my lord. We may leave.'

'My wife is expected to have a ravenous appetite this morning my lady,' his eyes glinted with amusement.

Why is he constantly doing this to me?

Sybrina prayed for reprieve from the ease with which Alexander was able to make her face turn scarlet. As they entered the breakfast room, she observed all their staff around a table sipping coffee, their breakfast complete. She knew what they were thinking. Alexander had ravished her last night, all through the night. Every pair of eyes was trained on her. Not critical, but admiring the radiant looking bride with the flushed face. She kept her head lowered and smiled shyly. They all stood to attention as she walked in on the arm of her husband.

'Please can__can we not take a food hamper,' Sybrina whispered. 'I don't want to keep them waiting any longer.

'Take a seat and have a coffee at least, whilst I send them ahead to saddle up.'

'Okay,' Sybrina accepted, and slid into the chair Alexander held for her.

'My lady we are going to ride hard,' his fingers feathered her cheek. 'I want to get to Bath before supper time,' Alexander murmured.

She knew his touch was just for show, because Harriet and his grooms were there, but her body reacted crazily to his touch. Every instinct inside her, craved to angle her face into his palm.

'Go on inside,' he spoke guiding her into the phaeton. 'Here is a hamper of food for you and Harriet.'

Bleakness filled her eyes, but immediately she admonished it. Everything inside her sank with disappointment that he was not going to be in the coach with her. Obviously he was not going to waste his time sitting next to her when he was not able to exercise his conjugal rights.

'We will make a very short stop in a few hours for lunch and to rest the horses my lady,' he tipped his hat.

'Thank you my lord,' Sybrina briefly smiled, accepting the basket of food.

Sybrina gazed out the window, the scenery flashed past at high speed. Harriet was speaking but thankfully, nothing she said required a response. She was merely making observations about the weather, and how beautiful the Earl's coach was. Harriet was looking forward to the trip to coastal Bath. She'd also never been to a beach in her entire teenage life. Sybrina was thankful then that she had travelled there on two previous occasions. She wondered what the Earl's seaside estate looked like. Did he have lots of servants? Was she going to be scrutinized there as she was at Cavendish castle? Sybrina hoped there were no servants and no hired help at the Bath estate. Things were uncomfortable enough between her and Alexander, she did not want the hired help to witness that as well.

'My lady welcome to our Bath Estate,' Alexander helped Sybrina out.

He did not release her once she alighted, but had his arm draped around her waist. When Sybrina looked up, a sea of faces greeted her with polite smiling faces.

Now I know why your arm is still around me.

She was introduced to the butler, the cook and three house servants who maintained the upkeep of the estate. It was more a cottage, not as big as Cavendish Castle. It had about five bedrooms, beautiful, garden. Again no expenses were spared. It was lavish and tastefully decorated, just like the castle and the London home. Their luggage was taken straight to the master bedroom. Supper was to be served in thirty minutes.

'You will want a bath after the long journey my lady,' Alexander suggested.

'I'd love one,' Sybrina smiled.

'So would I,' he marched her upstairs still with his arm around her.

Sybrina panicked, was he going to bath with her? Surely a bath could not accommodate two people simultaneously. Perhaps she should have called Harriet to accompany them, but then Alexander had whisked her upstairs without warning.

'You have a beautiful place here my lord,' she spoke to quell her anxiety.

'It is ours now,' he lowered his head, and smiled.

Sybrina looked away, not wanting to become entrapped by those mesmerising eyes.

He opened the bedroom door and allowed her to precede him. Nervously Sybrina took two steps in and waited.

'You like it?' he probed.

'Yes,' Sybrina spoke without looking around.

'You would like it more if you actually checked it out.' She could tell he was smiling, without looking at him.

Sybrina lifted her head, and studied the room. Her eyes were drawn to the big bed. If she thought the Inn's bed was huge, this one was like twice that size. A beautiful looking glass was at a corner, where it attracted the morning sun. Plush velvet curtains covered the windows. The blazing fire place filled the room with warmth. They weren't even touching and Sybrina could feel the heat between her and Alexander, They definitely did not need the blazing fire.

'It's beautiful my lord,' Sybrina repeated.

'Shall I show you the wash room?' Alexander cupped her elbow.

'Er__you use it first my lord. I can wait.'

Alexander eye's trailed over her lazily. He looked amused. Something was funny for him.

What! Have I got spinach stuck in my teeth?

Wait he can't even see my teeth. Perhaps there is soot on my cheek! Oh, but I've not been anywhere near soot.

'Sybrina.'

'Yes.'

'This is your washroom. The one behind that door is mine.'

'Oh.'

'That's another bedroom then?' Sybrina could not resist asking.

'Yes, the one I'll be using. This will be yours during our stay here.'

'Thank you my lord,' she shifted uncomfortably.

'Now I'd love to take a bath and remove all this sand and grit from my body,' he smiled, 'unless you want to help scrub me down,' he added mischievously.

'I think I'll take my bath,' Sybrina dashed into her washroom, and heard Alexander laugh softly behind her.

- end chapter twelve-