Chapter 40

Eden managed to keep her composure until dinner. 

Ian must have given Jackson some instructions, because the service was very formal, even though there were only two of them at the table. 

The omega sensed that her husband was trying to perfect her education gradually, in small groups, so that her learning of etiquette would be painless.

Only their two seats had been left, all the others removed. Glasses and silverware were laid out as if on parade, on an immaculate tablecloth.

It seemed to Eden that the dishes were intentionally varied, so that she was forced to choose the right place setting each time.

Ian, for his part, kept up a lively conversation on subjects Eden had little grasp of. She was struggling to deal with his aspic, which was trembling dangerously on her plate, while finding something clever to say about the local elections due to be held next month.

Then, as Eden was trying to deal with a saddle of lamb and some very elusive little white onions, which were rolling around like marbles on her plate, she was asked to give his opinion on Napoleon's abdication.

“I confess I don't know if Elba is the best place, milord,” Eden confessed. “This lamb is excellent. Is it from... your flocks?”

“Yes, Eden. It's from our flock, right.”

Eden got the impression that Ian appreciated her interest in his farm.

“As for me, I think it would be wiser to assign him a residence elsewhere. Elba is a little too close to France for my taste.”

“Do you think he could escape and return to the war? Eden asked. It was an alarming thought, after only a few weeks of peace”

“Perhaps wisdom will prevail, and we'll send him further afield.”

“ -It's possible.”

Ian went on to talk about the government's opinion of all this. He seemed very interested in politics. 

Eden also suspected he was trying to distract her from her apprehension, to make her forget what was going to happen a little later, in the bedroom. 

If Eden wanted to make a good impression at the dinner parties they were about to host, she'd have to read the newspapers carefully.

After dessert, Eden remembered that it was customary to retire to let the alphas enjoy a glass of port. So Eden returned to the living room and took a seat in an armchair, waiting for Ian to join her and impose yet another hour of polite, informed conversation.

“Lady Hadleigh?” Ian called in the direction of the living room. 

“-Milord?” Eden replied.

No doubt Ian was going to talk to her about how Eden had rebuffed him this afternoon, or the events with Madame Colin, or what he expected of her in bed later. 

Eden sat very straight in her chair and plastered an air of polite interest on her face.

“You presided over dinner with great grace tonight, my dear,” he said.

“M... thank you, that's very kind of you.”

Thank God, Ian didn't want to talk to her about the night ahead, at least not yet.

Besides, she just really pleased him, and Eden bit her lip to keep from flashing a big smile, unworthy of a lady.

“That's such a relief! I can see you're making an effort to familiarize me with etiquette.” Ian sat down, crossed his legs and looked thoughtfully at her.

“I hope I've been helpful... I know it's not very pleasant to receive these kinds of lessons.”

“I confess I didn't realize the implications of marrying a viscount.”

“-No, I suppose you didn't,” Ian murmured thoughtfully, before changing the subject.

“Why don't we invite the Westwoods to spend a day here?”  he proposed.

“ If the weather's nice, I can go horseback riding with Jasper. I'd like to show him a piece of forest and ask his opinion. You, on the other hand, could enjoy Iris’s company.”

“Oh, yes! What a great idea!”

The prospect of getting advice from an omega who'd had pups was exciting.

“Thank you, Ian, for all your concern…”

“Not at all, on that matter.You see, I'm beginning to see the good side of marriage…”

Which Eden had no idea. For the time being, Eden had had the impression that she was causing him nothing but trouble. 

Maybe Ian was thinking about what was going to happen later? His slightly naughty smile alarmed her.

“You'll have to let me know when you want to go to Worcester to do some more shopping: clothes, furniture... Perhaps you'd even like to go with Iris?”

“I'm not sure these extra expenses are one of the good things about marriage,” Eden replied with a smile.

“Well, you'll have to make your own nest here, and that comes at a cost, I'm resigned to it…” His smile showed no resignation.

“Besides, this old building has to be repaired and fitted out! I don't think there's a wooden door in here that isn't swollen with dampness.”

“If you put it that way... What do you think of modern bathrooms?” Ian’s eyes widened, but he couldn't stop smiling.

“You'd like to install one here? But how would we get the water, you ask?”

Eden proudly returned the new knowledge she'd acquired from reading brochures, and by the time coffee was served, they were engaged in considerations of cisterns, pipes and ventilation.

“I wonder what Lucas would say if he could hear us,” Ian commented as Eden filled the cups, a little nervous about the fragility of the porcelain service.

“He already found us quite unromantic, I can imagine his comments if he heard us talking about pipes on our honeymoon.”

“-I wouldn't dare broach the subject if other people were present,” Eden hastily replied. 

“I'm well aware that, normally, a noble omega shouldn't talk about certain things. But with you, I feel I can talk about anything.”

Ian smiled wryly.

“That's a very romantic remark, my Lady Hadleigh.”  Ian replied.