Aidan chuckled. “Thy love has buried all others, nor has any woman after thee put sweet fetters upon my neck.”
Gwen sighed in raptured awe. “You put me to shame, husband. What need is there for my efforts if you translate with such poetic skill?”
He had been peering over her shoulder, and it was with such sweet loss that Gwen watched him move away to take the seat next to her. Her gentle lover from the night before had returned, and her heart was too tight to contain the happiness at his arrival. It threatened to burst with the overflowing feelings it must contain.
“I am naught but an ordinary man with a muse of great grace to lift my voice.” His gaze drew lovingly over her face, leaving no doubt to whom he referred.
Gwen blushed even as her smile spread wider to make the muscles of her cheeks ache. “You are home.”
His lips spread into a broad smile. “I am home.”
Gwen noted his coat was a different color from breakfast, and his white linen was pristine. He should smell like horse if he had been about Town on his mount, but he was fresh. He smelled like clean laundry and leather. “You changed?”
His smile slowly dissipated. “I thought it would be dinner soon, so I scrubbed Valor’s sweat from my skin so I may find you.”
Gwen leaned back in her chair and twisted her neck topeer at the casement clock in the corner. “I shall have to prepare for dinner myself, I suppose.”
“Or we can have a tray brought to your room?” His tone was suggestive, purred at a low volume as he reached out to gently caress the back of her hand, which was bare for writing.
“Truly?”
His eyes grazed over her appreciatively, lingering on the swell of her breasts. “Oh, yes.”
Gwen grinned, pushing her chair back and rising with enthusiasm. “Yes!”
Aidan made to rise, but then Gwen remembered the conversation she had planned.
“Oh, wait!” She plopped back down in her chair.
Aidan settled back, a quizzical expression crossing his face.
“Your mother paid me a visit.”
He blinked in surprise, not saying anything at her announcement.
“She informed me what happened with Lily.”
Aidan cocked his head, narrowing his eyes. “Lily?”
“She thought that as a new member of the family I should be aware of the attack on Lily by the footman.”
“Indeed?” His face did not alter, but Gwen sensed tension in the air.
“I was utterly horrified to hear that anyone could try to harm your sister. She is such a sweet and tiny thing. What kind of monster would attempt to hurt her?”
Aidan’s lips flickered into a smile, but it seemed forced somehow. “Lily is stronger than she looks. I am proud of how well she has handled herself.”
“Of course. When I met her, I would not have guessed that something so distressing had occurred recently. Still, it was a shock to learn of it.”
Her husband nodded, but an echo of the distraction he had displayed that morning had returned to his features. “Was there any more to the conversation?”
“Well … she seemed to believe that you blamed yourself for the scandal with Lily. The fact that she was forced to marry Lord Filminster, and she told me how Lily lied to provide him with an alibi.”
Aidan straightened in his chair. “Huh! That is quite a bit of family secrets to reveal in one afternoon.” He raked a hand through his hair, appearing quite unhappy. “You do understand that word cannot get out that Lily lied? Filminster was under tremendous suspicion, but he could not have done it. My sister witnessed his arrival and departure, so she did not exactly … lie. She simply … altered some of the specifics to ensure she was believed. I would hate for Filminster to be unfairly accused if word got out about what she had done. And if Lily were to be punished for perjuring herself … I dare not contemplate such horrors.”
“Her secret is safe with me. I do not like to gossip and I do not have anyone to tell, even if I wanted to. But was your mother correct? Do you blame yourself for Lily’s scandal?”
Aidan’s brown eyes stared at her, and he was obviously disconcerted by such a direct question, but Gwen truly did not know how to raise the subject other than directly.
