Page 86 of Notorious

“Do you believe me?” She held her breath while he stared at her—into her.

“Yes, I believe you.”

Drusilla dropped her head and closed her eyes, concentrating on breathing. She thought she might faint she was so relieved.

“I am glad you told me this, but I am also curious.” She looked up. “Would you have done so if I had not confronted you?”

Her face heated, but she wanted to be honest. “I would not have spoken of the matter.”

To her surprise, he gave a dry chuckle. “Well, at least you are truthful.”

“The reason I would not have told you is that I couldn’t believe you would credit such a story as true.” She laced her hands together and then unlaced them. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve allowed him to come to one last meeting.”

He shook his head, his eyes dark and serious, but his expression was no longer as hard as granite.

“And I want you to know that I have done as you said and have written a letter to Jenkins to explain about the work Mr. Rowland began in Birmingham and Leeds. He responded to say he would put one of his men on it immediately.” She exhaled a gusty sigh. “I should have done this from the beginning. But I was so excited about the notion of setting up more houses.”

He stood, closing the distance between them, holding out his hand and helping her to her feet.

“There is one more thing.”

“Oh?” He went still, as if he were girding himself.

“It is not more bad news. I just wanted to say I am pleased you will bring your son to live with us.”

His hand tightened almost painfully on hers, and she winced.

“I’m sorry.” He released her.

“You didn’t hurt me.” She forced herself to meet his eyes for her next words. “I told myself not to be insulted by what you said at breakfast—that you believed I would protest the fact you wished to be near your own child. I told myself you were thinking I possessed the sensibilities of a lady of the ton. But the truth is, you married a hardheaded woman of the merchant class. And also a woman who is concerned about the plight of the weak and dispossessed. What kind of a person would I be if I wished my husband to abandon his own flesh and blood?”

“You wish for him to live with us?”

Drusilla gave a small huff. “Of course I do, Gabriel. He is your son—conceived before we met—how could I be angry about such a thing?” She did not tell him she was jealous of the fact another woman had carried his child; there was no point. “I love children and I am eager to meet him.”

“Even though he is not legitimate?”

Drusilla gave him an arch look. “That’s hardly his fault, is it?”

He flushed under her critical stare but then surprised her by smiling. “No, it is not.” He offered her his arm. “Come,” he said, “the carriage is waiting.”

If Drusilla was hoping he would explain his son’s origins, she was to be disappointed. Still, she felt more optimistic about them—certainly about their ability to communicate when they both put their minds to it.

Perhaps they might learn to make something of their marriage, after all.

* * *

The truce between Gabriel and his wife was a delicate one but it strengthened over the coming days.

Like any ton couple, they went out every night, attending the mad whirl of routs and balls that occurred as the Season drew to an end. Unlike other ton couples, they attended many of the same functions. It was unusual for a husband and wife to socialize so often in each other’s company, but Gabriel knew his new wife did not have a broad social circle. Besides, he found that he enjoyed accompanying her. In addition to being a very clever woman, she also possessed a well-developed sense of humor and had a keen eye when it came to evaluating her fellow man.

They often returned home near dawn, said goodnight, and did not see one another until the following evening, when it was time to do it all over again.

During the day they lived almost separate lives.

Drusilla spent a great deal of her time with her aunt and paid a few calls. She sometimes went shopping, although he did not think she was in any way as profligate as his sisters and mother when it came to clothing.

Gabriel had considered offering to go shopping with her, himself. Her clothing was . . . well, it was not always flattering to her rather voluptuous figure.