![Adams, Eve - Patience is Their Virtue [Brides of Bachelor Bay 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.online/478386/thumbs/152x264/adams-eve-patience-is-their-virtue-brides-of-bachelor-bay-3-siren-publishing-menage-everlasting.jpg)
again, and I have certain obligations to my husband, obligations I intend to follow through with...
* * * *
Patience peeked her head out and looked up and down the hall before stepping out of her room and into the long, narrow hallway. Doors lined both walls and seemed to go on forever before meeting the giant window at the end of the hall. Her feet sank into the expensive red carpet lining the center of the hall, with shining hardwood floors flanking it.
Careful to keep her slippers from making any noise, she crept down the winding staircase and halted, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as the front door opened.
Adam walked in, followed by Raven. They both stared at her, and she stared back. She fumbled at the ties on the wrap she found in the wardrobe in her room.
“Good morning,” she said in a whisper.
Adam studied her with scrutiny. “Isn’t it a bit late to be walking around in your nightclothes?”
Heat slapped her cheeks. He spoke to her with such disregard and without a single hint of the desire that had thickened his voice last night. “I was just on my way to the study to retrieve my clothing.”
“Don’t you have any other dresses?”
The shame grew, and her entire face caught fire. “I do not.”
“Raven, see to it that Mrs. Steele has a new dress before the sun sets.” Adam walked past her without looking at her again. “I can’t have my wife parading around in rags. Patience, you will go to the mercantile and find material for a new wardrobe. I have an account there. Mr. Bartlett will be more than happy to fill it with your purchases. I’ll be in my office.”
Patience watched him go, disappointment attacking her in waves, crashing into her with every step of Adam’s boot as he walked away from her and slid the door to his office closed behind him.
“Is he always like that?” she asked Raven as she turned to him.
“Mr. Steele is in a mood today. It’s best if we do as he says and stay out of his way today.”
“Was it something I did?”
He shook his head. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Mrs. Steele.”
She looked at Raven. Even he seemed distant. He barely made eye contact with her., Instead he stared straight ahead.
“I’ve asked you to call me Patti.”
“That would not be appropriate,” he answered, his voice clipped, professional. “Mr. Steele is my employer. You are his wife.”
“Raven?” This was killing her. Why were they acting like this?
He finally looked at her and offered her a hint of a smile. “Would you like me to bring you breakfast?”
“Of course not. I can find my way around a kitchen. I don’t expect you to wait on me.”
Raven cleared his throat and stood even straighter. “It is my job to serve you.” His eyes then twinkled at the meaning behind that statement. “As Mr. Steele’s manservant, I am also yours. I’ve already talked with the staff and informed them that Mr. Steele has taken a wife, and that they are all to treat you as such.”
Comprehension sank in and melted the anxiety tightening around her like a vise. They had to keep their proper images in front of others. It didn’t explain Adam’s actions, but it did Raven’s.
“Breakfast sounds wonderful.”
“I’ll leave you to change. Will you be needing an escort to town?”
“No. I can find my way. Thank you.” Patience hurried into the study and quickly changed into the clothes she’d arrived in. She then hurried back up the stairs to replace the wrap in the wardrobe. She studied her reflection in the looking glass. She twisted her red waves into a chignon before focusing on her eyes. Her usually gray eyes had turned a cool shade of blue, which they always did whenever she was upset.
And then she glanced down at her attire. Embarrassment heated her cheeks. Adam was right. As the wife of the mayor, she couldn’t very well parade around in rags. But, since she didn’t have anything else, she lifted her head and let out a breath. This was as good as it
* * * *
Patience peeked her head out and looked up and down the hall before stepping out of her room and into the long, narrow hallway. Doors lined both walls and seemed to go on forever before meeting the giant window at the end of the hall. Her feet sank into the expensive red carpet lining the center of the hall, with shining hardwood floors flanking it.
Careful to keep her slippers from making any noise, she crept down the winding staircase and halted, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as the front door opened.
Adam walked in, followed by Raven. They both stared at her, and she stared back. She fumbled at the ties on the wrap she found in the wardrobe in her room.
“Good morning,” she said in a whisper.
Adam studied her with scrutiny. “Isn’t it a bit late to be walking around in your nightclothes?”
Heat slapped her cheeks. He spoke to her with such disregard and without a single hint of the desire that had thickened his voice last night. “I was just on my way to the study to retrieve my clothing.”
“Don’t you have any other dresses?”
The shame grew, and her entire face caught fire. “I do not.”
“Raven, see to it that Mrs. Steele has a new dress before the sun sets.” Adam walked past her without looking at her again. “I can’t have my wife parading around in rags. Patience, you will go to the mercantile and find material for a new wardrobe. I have an account there. Mr. Bartlett will be more than happy to fill it with your purchases. I’ll be in my office.”
Patience watched him go, disappointment attacking her in waves, crashing into her with every step of Adam’s boot as he walked away from her and slid the door to his office closed behind him.
“Is he always like that?” she asked Raven as she turned to him.
“Mr. Steele is in a mood today. It’s best if we do as he says and stay out of his way today.”
“Was it something I did?”
He shook his head. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Mrs. Steele.”
She looked at Raven. Even he seemed distant. He barely made eye contact with her., Instead he stared straight ahead.
“I’ve asked you to call me Patti.”
“That would not be appropriate,” he answered, his voice clipped, professional. “Mr. Steele is my employer. You are his wife.”
“Raven?” This was killing her. Why were they acting like this?
He finally looked at her and offered her a hint of a smile. “Would you like me to bring you breakfast?”
“Of course not. I can find my way around a kitchen. I don’t expect you to wait on me.”
Raven cleared his throat and stood even straighter. “It is my job to serve you.” His eyes then twinkled at the meaning behind that statement. “As Mr. Steele’s manservant, I am also yours. I’ve already talked with the staff and informed them that Mr. Steele has taken a wife, and that they are all to treat you as such.”
Comprehension sank in and melted the anxiety tightening around her like a vise. They had to keep their proper images in front of others. It didn’t explain Adam’s actions, but it did Raven’s.
“Breakfast sounds wonderful.”
“I’ll leave you to change. Will you be needing an escort to town?”
“No. I can find my way. Thank you.” Patience hurried into the study and quickly changed into the clothes she’d arrived in. She then hurried back up the stairs to replace the wrap in the wardrobe. She studied her reflection in the looking glass. She twisted her red waves into a chignon before focusing on her eyes. Her usually gray eyes had turned a cool shade of blue, which they always did whenever she was upset.
And then she glanced down at her attire. Embarrassment heated her cheeks. Adam was right. As the wife of the mayor, she couldn’t very well parade around in rags. But, since she didn’t have anything else, she lifted her head and let out a breath. This was as good as it
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