Ellen didn’t know how she felt about that. “I’m leaving. Can you tell him not to wait for me?”
“Why shouldn’t I wait for you?” Mark appeared from behind the curtain separating the dispensary from the stairs to Amelia’s living quarters.
All the nerves in Ellen’s body lit up—she didn’t know if she was nervous or aroused. She turned to face her husband. “I’m going to my home visits. I’ll probably run late today, so pleasedon’t wait here. I’ll also need to get my things from my parents’ home, so please don’t wait for me tonight.”
“I can pick up your things.”
Ellen narrowed her eyes.He’s being too nice.“They’re not packed yet.” She was nervous, her body decided.
“I can get a maid to help me.” He glanced around. “If your home visits are anything like this, you’ll need the evening to rest, not pack.”
When he put it like that, Ellen couldn’t disagree. She still didn’t trust it, though. “Fine.”
Mark gave her an easy smile—it was so easy it made her angry. How dare he act like things could be normal between them! Then he turned and went back upstairs for his last box.
“You be careful, lady,” Mrs. Daugherty told her as she reached for a rubber nipple in the drawer beside her.
Ellen darted a glance. “You think he’s trouble?”
“I know hewastrouble. He broke your heart and now he’s here again, scheming how to get in bed with you.”
Ellen flushed. “He is not!”
Mrs. Daugherty nodded sagely. “I've seen that look in a man's eye plenty. It's as old as time, and he wants you.”
“But he will not have me.” Ellen bristled. “We may legally be married, but as far as I’m concerned our relationship ended when he joined the Navy and didn't tell me until his luggage was by the front door.”
Mrs. Daugherty made an unconvinced sound.
Ellen huffed, spinning on her heels, and hurried out the door. She had too many things to do to stand around and gossip about her husband.
Chapter Seven
When Mark finished moving the boxes for the dispensary secretary, he bid her goodbye and told her to pass along his farewell to the doctor, who was busy in her examining room. He strolled back to New Oxford Street, hailed a cab, and went to his parents-in-law’s home.
Mr. Hanson wasn’t home, and Mark hadn’t expected him to be. Mr. Hanson was a gentleman who’d made his fortune in the city, and then wanted his daughter to marry up into aristocracy. The man, despite his gentle origins, stayed heavily involved in his businesses.
Mrs. Hanson, however, was at home. And surprised to see him.
“Ellen visited me this morning,” he told her cheerfully, “and we’ve decided to open our home again. She’s moving in with me today.”
Mrs. Hanson blinked. “Are you certain?”
“Completely.” Mark grinned. “It’s high time we started acting like husband and wife, do you not agree?” He imagined cozying up to her in the evening, reading and listening to the fire crackle and pop, and his heart panged. Ellen, in the same room with him. It was such a comforting thought it nearly hurt.
She opened and closed her mouth several times. “Well, yes, I suppose so, but I thought...you haven’t exactly been very demonstrative of the bond of marriage.”
Mark’s smile slipped. “I admit that.”Why on earth did you let your daughter marry me? Isn’t it a parent’s job to protect their children?“She’s graciously decided to give me another chance.”Oh, if only that were true.
“Good for you,” Mrs. Hanson said faintly. She was clearly not convinced, but she couldn’t exactly forbid Mark from living with his wife. She went to the door of the drawing room and opened it.
“Madam?” A footman immediately appeared.
“Tell one of the maids to pack my daughter’s things, and when they’re ready send them over to her new home.”
Mark offered the address to the footman. He stood, bowing to his mother-in-law. “Thank you for your time.”
“Oh, Mr. Glenfall, I may know what has precipitated my daughter’s sudden change of heart,” she burst out.