Gillian gave her a look. “Please. You don’t have to lie to me. I know how it is with Seger and all the women who want him. But you were very good last night. You’re just the kind of wife he needs.”
Clara tried not to choke on her tea. “Gillian—”
“I’m not sure I could do what you do,” she continued, “especially being an American. I’ve heard you people have different expectations about marriage, that a man who strays is frowned upon.” She returned to her breakfast.
“Gillian, I don’t like what you are insinuating.”
Gillian stopped chewing and stared at her. “Oh, my goodness. Itdoesbother you, doesn’t it. I’m so sorry. I can be so tactless sometimes.”
Clara swallowed over the agitation rising up within her. “Nothing bothers me, because there is nothing going on. Seger was very apologetic about Mrs. Thomas’s behavior.”
“Of course he was. Pretend I didn’t say anything.” Gillian watched Clara pick up her newspaper but did not take the hint. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all. I see how you look at him.”
Clara set down her paper again. “I’m not going to get hurt.”
“I just know how I would feel ifIwere his wife. He is such a handsome man. It would be difficult not to be possessive.”
Clara felt like she was going to blow a gasket.
“Permit me to offer you some advice,” Gillian said. “You must try to remember that you are an Englishwoman now, and English wives look the other way when their husbands take lovers. If he weremyhusband, that’s what I would do. I wouldn’t think twice about it and I’d be the perfect wife for him because he’s worth it. Not only is he a marquess, but he is handsome and charming as well.”
By this time, Clara’s blood was boiling in her head. “You’re telling me it wouldn’t bother you if he was unfaithful?”
Gillian sipped her tea and tossed her head. “No. I’d be happy that he chose me as his wife above all the rest—especially when no one thought he wouldevermarry, because of Daphne. He loved her very deeply. If only you could have seen them together…. I thought they were made for each other. They were kindred spirits, the best of friends. Some say that kind of love comes along only once in a lifetime.”
Everything—from the tabletop to Gillian’s mouth moving clownishly as she chewed—turned Clara’s vision red. She had not expected this from Gillian, who had been very sweet up until this moment. Why in the world was she saying these cruel, hurtful things, and reminding Clara that she was not the great love of Seger’s life?
Then it dawned on Clara, like a gaslight exploding brightly inside her head.
Gillian was in love with Seger.
Chapter 17
That night, while waiting forSeger to come to her, Clara couldn’t stop thinking about what Gillian had said to her that morning. She tried to tell herself that she was jumping to conclusions about the young woman’s feelings, but it did no good. She couldn’t get over how Gillian had suggested that she would be the perfect wife for Seger because she would turn a blind eye to his philandering.
Clara wasn’t angry with Seger. The rational part of her brain knew that he had done nothing wrong, at least not that she knew of. She was angry with Gillian for saying those things, and she was angry with Mrs. Thomas and Lady Cleveland for reminding her that her husband was coveted by other women, and that he would face temptation every day for the rest of his life.
Women would offer themselves to him. Desperate, lonely women who knew how skillful he was in the bedroom. Beautiful women, who wanted nothing more than a few casual hours with an expert lover—a man who knew by instinct exactly what they wanted.
A chill cooled Clara’s skin at the thought of all the women her husband had made love to, but she was sensible and knew better than to dwell on that. It was in the past.
Later, after Seger had entered her bedroom and made love to her, he rolled onto his back and sighed. “I like being a married man.”
Clara tried to smile. “More than being a bachelor?”
He turned his head on the pillow and looked at her. “With you as my wife, definitely.”
She considered that for a moment. “But what if I were sick for a month? What would become of our marriage if there was no sex? Would you wish for a different wife then?”
He rolled to face her and rested his cheek on his hand. “I told you before that I desire no one but you.”
Desire, yes, but love? Will you ever love me like you loved Daphne?
“You’ve asked me that question before,” he said, “and I’ve answered you, yet here you are asking again. Is it because of what happened at the assembly last night?”
Clara realized how foolish she was sounding. He was right. She had asked this question before and he kept giving her the same answer. She had to try to accept it.
“I’m sorry, I’m asking silly questions. I think it’s because of the conversation I had with Gillian this morning. She said some things….”
