Page 25 of This Marquess of Mine

It was a strange thought, imagining his mother with another husband, another man, but as beautiful and charming as she was, she would have had no trouble capturing another man’s heart. Many would say she should have.

“I thought about it, of course,” Lady Keswick said, smoothing her hands down the coverlet. Artemis tracked the motion with wide, interested eyes. “But I never could find a man who intrigued me like your father did. And if I was going to marry a second time, I was not going to settle for mere companionship or status. I wanted to love my husband, and I simply could not imagine how I could love another man like I loved your father.”

Griffin nodded his understanding. He remembered how his parents had been together, the obvious love and affection between them. It was hard to imagine his mother like that with another man. Not that he thought it would have been wrong, it was only that he couldn’t fathom another man deserving his mother’s love and devotion.

“And as much as I love you and your sister…” Her gaze drifted to the small portrait of Griffin’s father which hung on the wall beside the bed, and she smiled. “After your father died, I wasn’t really interested in trying for more children. Certainly not enough to marry again.”

Her gaze found Griffin’s again, and she gave his hand a squeeze. “It’s what I want for you, darling. It’s why I push so hard. I want you to be as happy as I was with your father.”

Griffin nodded, though he wasn’t sure it was possible. Their love had always seemed an unattainable standard. “I know, Mother. And I will be. When the time is right.”

Her brow crooked. “And when will that be, pray? Before or after I’m dead?”

Griff’s lips twitched at her peevish tone. “After I’ve met the right woman.”

“And what sort of woman is the right woman?”

Unbidden and wholly unwelcome, Olivia’s face appeared in his mind. He nearly choked on the curse that caught in his throat. Olivia Blakely was not right. She was all wrong. Shallow, spoiled, attention-seeking, title-grasping. Everything he did not want in a wife.

But she’s everything you want in your bed, isn’t she?

The thought had him raking a hand through his hair, discomfort settling in his chest like a boulder. How could he want a woman he didn’t even like?

He shoved the uncomfortable question—and Olivia—to the back of his mind where they belonged and gave his mother a smile. “The right sort of woman is beautiful, gracious, kind. Patient to a fault.” He winked at her. “She’s exactly like you, Mother.”

Lady Keswick shook her head, clearly battling a smile, and reached up to pat his cheek. “Impudent boy,” she murmured. “You do make it impossible for me to stay angry with you.”

“Good,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek before rising to his feet. “I’d best be off now. I’ll collect Artemis when I return.”

“Right, and do give your cat a kiss before you leave. She misses you terribly when you’re gone.”

Griffin blew out a breath. “She isn’t my—oh, never mind.” He scooped Artemis up and kissed her on the top of her head, ignoring his mother’s amused gaze.

She knew as well as he did that he was deluding himself. For some reason, Artemis had chosen him, and there was no sense in trying to resist her. They were stuck with each other now.

He left his mother’s chambers with a smile on his face.