Page 29 of Never Tempt a Widow

Chapter Fifteen

Curled tightly around his wife, his lust sated—at least for now—Rowland promised himself that Lavinia would not have minded. It was all too easy to feel guilt at having switched his allegiance so quickly, but sometimes, things just happened naturally.

And sometimes Fate forced them upon one. The eruption of his feelings for Fina had felt like a lightning storm. He didn’t love her—he could only ever love Lavinia, his childhood sweetheart—but he cared for Fina, wanted her, needed her. She was essential to his happiness. Damn it, she was essential to him.

Thus, it was with great reluctance that he allowed her to be separated from him in the morning and given into the care of her maid to be made presentable. Curse it. If the house weren’t draughty and full of servants, he’d be much happier to have her walk around naked, and he would do the same. But then, of course, no one would get anything practical done. Except, perhaps, the conception of a child.

Rowland stood and bowed when Fina came to join him for breakfast. Then he forgot to eat, entranced by the way the morning sunlight silvered her hair. Had he got her with child last night? He’d felt a vigorous potency like he’d never felt before—doubtless the result of all these months of celibacy. And they’d fitted together so well, two pieces of a puzzle made by a superlative craftsman.

Even now, their new family could be forming. He didn’t know what expression he had on his face, but whatever it was, it made Fina blush furiously and choke on her cold gammon.

Happiness. That was it. She made him happy.

A servant bustled into the room, but instead of offering to produce more coffee or chocolate, he bowed low and presented a note to Fina. She unfolded it.

Her fork clattered to the floor, and the blood leached out of her face.

“My darling.” He was at her side in an instant, holding her up. “What is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all. I’m just a little weary this morning.” She tucked the slip of paper down between her creamy breasts. The smile she gave him was so convincing, he allowed himself to be distracted by the view. Damn those constraining laces across her stomach! He pushed away a sinful thought which involved a sharp pair of grape scissors.

She cleared her throat. “What are your plans for today, sir?”

Going back to bed sounded like a good idea. But after all the effort she’d made to get dressed, it might be considered unfair. “I need to make some notes on what Hanley told me yesterday, then mayhap go over and do a bit of surveying on his land. I prefer to do these things personally before I buy. Would you like to ride over with me? You could take Saxon.”

The idea of riding out with this beauty thrilled him. Since when had he decided she was beautiful? Since last night, evidently. A surge of joy built up in him so suddenly that he thought he might burst.

She looked down at her plate. “Alas, no. I have a long list of tasks to do around the house.”

Was that entirely true? Or was it that note that was going to occupy her? Come to think of it, who was sending her notes, anyway? No one, save the villagers in Hadham, even knew she was here. And if the note was from one of the local gentry wishing to get acquainted with the new Lady Cavendish, wouldn’t they have sent a visiting card?

An evil worm of suspicion slithered through him. He’d been temporarily blinded by last night’s passion. Were there more secrets she had to divulge? Were further nasty revelations heading his way?

Her fingers drummed nervously on the edge of her chocolate cup. “I had better see how Edgar is.”

He leaped to his feet. “Of course. And I should get myself ready. Jacob, ask Cook to cut me a slice of pie and fill up a flask for me, as I mean to be out all morning.”

As he assisted Fina to her feet, he couldn’t resist stealing a taste of her tantalising lips, despite the uncertainty roiling inside him. Her cool response to his kiss showed that something was most certainly amiss, something she meant to keep from him. Well, if she wouldn’t tell him, he’d damn well find out for himself.

Once he’d finished his breakfast and was ready to execute his espionage, he discovered that spying on one’s wife in one’s own household was well-nigh impossible. There seemed to be a servant around every corner, eager to greet him in the loudest of voices. Fina could have mapped his progress with pinpoint accuracy had she wanted to.

He gave up and wandered out to the stables, where he lurked, pretending to get Saxon ready for his journey and absentmindedly sipping from the flask—even though he’d only just had breakfast.

Finally, Fina emerged from the house. Was she going to take a horse? The thrill of being the hunter coursed through his veins. Until he recalled it was utterly deplorable to spy upon one’s own family.

Wait—where had she gone? He’d barely taken his eyes off her for a second. Hurtling out of hiding, he strode across the cobbles to the corner and peeped around, just in time to see her broad skirts swish past the laurels at the end of the box hedge. The thick greenery obscured one of the doors into the walled garden, but he heard the squeak of a hinge, followed by the click of the latch.

Well, if this wasn’t a tryst, he didn’t know what was. His blood fired, and he fought to keep a cool head. Should he follow now, or wait and see what transpired? He didn’t want to be caught out in the open by Fina’s secret admirer—or blackmailer—or whoever they were.

But then again, this was his house, and he was entitled to walk around it. An inspection of the vegetable garden’s outside wall would not go amiss—maybe some of the mortar needed replacing. Keeping silent, he moved around, gazing at the brickwork and occasionally prodding it until he heard voices on the other side.

“I cannot believe you would think so ill of me!” A man’s voice, light-toned, sounding deeply offended.

“What else was I to think?” Fina’s voice came in short bursts.

“You little fool! As if I would turn my back on my babe and my wife-to-be. I have spent the past nine months in an agony of unknowing. I’ve searched for you everywhere. Won’t you let me embrace you?”

“No!”