All she had experienced was the lovemaking of a man well versed in giving a woman pleasure, a man who’d learnt those skills by having many, many lovers before her. There was nothing special about her, and nothing special about what had happened between her and Jacob.
She was still just that wallflower Jacob had been forced to marry because she had kissed him. Their lovemaking had meant nothing. She had been the one to instigate it, and even though he had made her feel desired and beautiful, as unlike a wallflower as it was possible to feel, he did that with every woman he took to his bed.
The Baroness had opened her eyes to what deep down she’d known to be true but had been trying to deny. She meant nothing to Jacob, just as he had told the Earl after that weekend party. Or, rather, she now meant no more than any of his other lovers, possibly less than some.
She really was a delusional fool. She had tried to ignore the way he’d ensured they would never have children, but that was surely proof that he saw her as just another woman in the long line of women he had no commitment to.
And if she needed even further proof that their time together in Northumberland meant nothing to him, the way he’d changed the moment he was back with his friends had provided it. He had closed down, become withdrawn. She knew he was not a bad man, far from it, so he was probably trying to think of the kindest way of reminding her of their arrangement, so he could return to the way he preferred to live his life, unencumbered by his wife. Well, thank goodness she’d got in first and was able to retain a shred of dignity.
‘Miss, we’re here,’ the driver said, breaking in on her thoughts.
Her mind still awhirl, she gave the man some coins, his delighted expression making it clear she had overpaid him, and walked up to Primrose’s front door.
A footman opened the door, followed by her friend, so she waved the cab driver off.
‘Maggie, dear, what a delightful surprise!’ Primrose said.
Her friend was carrying a hedgehog wrapped in a towel. With anyone else that would raise questions, but not with Primrose.
‘Do you have room for another waif and stray?’ she asked, tears pricking at her eyes.
‘Always. Come in, come in.’
Primrose led her down the hallway towards the drawing room, followed by the footman. ‘Gloriana is unwell and off her food. That’s why she’s getting special attention tonight.’
Margaret nodded and was saved from having to make any comment on the state of the hedgehog’s health when Alice came walking down the hallway, her arms outstretched.
‘I thought I heard your voice!’ she said. ‘It’s so lovely to see you.’
Her expression quickly changed from one of welcome to concern and she rushed towards Margaret. ‘What’s wrong? You look so stricken. Come in and tell us all about it.’
‘He doesn’t love me,’ she blurted out and was instantly enfolded in her friend’s arms and led into the drawing room as if she were an invalid.
‘Didn’t you know that when you married him?’ Primrose asked, placing Gloriana into a box lined with a woollen shawl.
Alice sent a frown in Primrose’s direction as they took their seats.
‘Yes, I did know that,’ Margaret replied, still fighting back tears. ‘But I let myself forget that until tonight, when I received a painful reminder.’
Alice signalled to the footman as Primrose was still distracted by the hedgehog’s needs, and asked him to bring another pot of tea and an extra cup.
‘I think I might need something a bit stronger than that,’ Margaret said, looking towards the sideboard, which in most houses would hold decanters of brandy, cognac and whisky. It was empty. Primrose lived on her own and presumably did not drink.
‘Would you like an alcoholic drink?’ Primrose asked, following Margaret’s gaze. ‘I believe there is some brandy somewhere in the house. I had to buy a bottle when Lady Penelope was having trouble with her nerves. Mixing some alcohol in her food was the only thing that would calm her down. Jasper, please bring the brandy and three glasses.’
Margaret did not bother to ask who Lady Penelope was, assuming she was probably a pig, a pony, a goat or some other abandoned animal Primrose had taken in.
The footman promptly returned with the bottle and three glasses and placed them in front of Primrose. She frowned at the bottle, which was almost empty. ‘The servants must have been treating some of the other poor animals with the brandy. I am sure this bottle was almost full.’
Margaret and Alice exchanged looks but made no comment on how delightfully trusting their friend was.
‘So, tell us what happened,’ Alice said when the footman departed and Primrose had served the drinks.
‘Baroness Winterborne…’ she stated, barely able to say Jacob’s ex-lover’s name.
‘I wouldn’t listen to a thing that woman has to say,’ Alice said, anger rising in her voice. ‘She’ll just be troublemaking.’
‘She actually complimented me on my appearance and said I was obviously very happy.’
