Page 53 of Only Scandal Will Do

She’d cut a glance at him, brows slanted sharply down over her nose. “I did. But you have not availed yourself of the invitation before now. So I did not expect you. I thought perhaps you forgot.”

“I have forgotten nothing about the day you agreed I might ride with you, Lady Dalbury.”

She’d blushed, and the bright color of her cheeks had fought that of her hair. “We had best be off, then, my lord,” she’d said, nodding toward the door that opened into the mews at the back of the townhouse’s stables. “We will miss the best part of the morning.” She led them out of the stable and they’d made their way side-by-side in silence until they were well into the park, jogging along the wide lane of Rotten Row. She’d watched everything around her avidly, drunk in the fresh sights and tranquil sounds of early morning.

“You enjoy the ride most this time of day, Lady Dalbury?”

She’d glanced at him with an almost-smile on her lips. “I do indeed, my lord. The air is clean, the birds are just beginning to trill, the park is all but deserted. If I close my eyes, I can almost believe I am riding the paths and meadows around Yorktown.”

“You miss Virginia very much.”

She’d pulled Stella to a halt and turned in her saddle to glare at him, a scornful gleam in her eyes. “I would almost be in Virginia now, Lord Dalbury, were it not for your interference.” She’d tapped Stella’s flank, and horse and rider shot away down the straight path.

With a muttered curse, he’d urged Saxon into pursuit and caught up to them only when Katarina slowed her mount for another party of riders to cross the path. She’d glared, daring him to censure her for her abrupt departure. He’d done no such thing, but fallen in again beside her. “I take that as an affirmation of my statement, Lady Dalbury,” he’d said as though a full ten minutes had not elapsed.

Her lips had twisted in a caricature of a smile. “Yes, I do miss Virginia, more than I can tell you. I feel exiled from the place that was home all my life.”

“Ah. I do know something of that feeling, my lady,” he said softly.

Her eyebrows rose. “Do you indeed?”

“I was all but exiled in Italy for most of last year. Self-exile to be sure, but I could not have returned home any sooner, though I longed for Dunham House and Juliet.”

Silent, she’d leaned over Stella, and made a show of adjusting the reins. Ignoring his words.

“I will take you to Virginia, my lady, if you so long to go there.” The unexpected offer surprised him as much as it must have startled her, for she jerked upright, and her eyes grew wide. He’d meant it as a peace offering, to show her the lengths to which he would go to gain her favor.

Ferocious indignation had flashed across her face, made her terrible to behold. One would have thought he’d asked her to strip naked in public rather than offered to take her to her beloved Virginia. He’d almost cringed when she’d leaned toward him.

“How dare you try to buy my affections, Lord Dalbury!” Outrage had fairly shimmered through her. “Just because you have bought everything else, including your wife, does not give you the right to think you can bribe me into sharing your bed if you dangle the promise of returning me to my homeland before my eyes. It will be a cold day in hell before I do any such thing.”

Appalled at her words, he’d scowled at her, all tender sentiments dashed. “Have I spoken any word whatsoever, madam, about sharing my bed? I offered to ease your obvious longing for

Virginia. I did not try to coerce you into my bedroom! Did I say a word about reciprocation?” Anyone within half a mile could have undoubtedly heard him, but he’d paid no mind. “No! In fact,” he’d continued, more quietly and through gritted teeth, “I have asked nothing of you since the day we married. You alone have dictated our relationship while I have tried, God knows why, to make our marriage work. And you have thwarted me at every turn. Well, I say to hell with you!”

During his tirade, Katarina’s eyes had assumed the proportions of china saucers. All the bitter weeks of her callous disregard of him had burst forth in his mind. He’d leaned toward her and she’d shrunk back on Stella.

“I may be married to you, Lady Dalbury, but if you persist in acting this way, I no longer choose to pursue any kind of association with you. Do not worry about any further amorous advances from me, my lady. In fact, I can easily arrange for you to see very little of me in the future. I am sure that is one thing I can do for you that will give you the greatest pleasure possible.”

He’d turned Saxon to head for home, his mind a seething turmoil of outrage, his breath pumping in and out of his lungs like a bellows.

She’d shot her slim hand out, gripping his wrist before he could put any distance between them. “Wait, my lord!”

He’d instinctively lifted the reins, which had caused Saxon to arch his neck sharply. He controlled the confused stallion, himself as bewildered and astonished as his mount. He’d raised his gaze to the blushing, anxious face of his wife. Openmouthed, she’d hesitated as though she did not quite know what to say.

“I am sorry, my lord, for my unkind words just now,” she’d blurted out. A moment, then she’d grinned at him. “That must be the most inadequate interpretation of the word ‘unkind’ in the history of the English language.”

He’d schooled his expression to be neutral, but held his breath.

Katarina had sighed, squeezed his wrist slightly, and released it. His heartbeat had pounded at the gesture and he’d hoped she could not hear it. She’d raised her eyes to him, true regret in her face. “I do apologize, for my malicious and unjust words. My brother will tell you I have a tendency to jump to conclusions and speak before I think. Two serious flaws that have gotten me into trouble before now.” Her face was a study in contrition and the next words came slowly, almost grudgingly. “I know you have tried very hard these past weeks to...make me feel welcome in your home.” She’d stared unflinching into his eyes. “You have been most considerate of me. I acknowledge that and thank you for your many kindnesses. To repay them with spite as I did just now is unworthy of me. I feel I must find a way to make amends.”

He’d taken her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it. “You just did.”

Blushing to the roots of her hair, she’d withdrawn her hand from his loose clasp. But hadn’t snatched it away. “I rather thought you might insist on a hair shirt or daily beatings.”

“But my lady,” he’d returned, affecting his own teasing air, “hair shirts are simply de trop these days. I don’t know where I might buy a single one.” He’d grinned and his voice had taken on a good-humored tone. “As for your other suggestion, you may recall your brother and I have yet to agree on who has the right to beat you since we’ve married. Until we can agree on who holds that privilege, I believe we shall have to forgo that particular method of vengeance.” He’d winked at her. “I suppose I must leave you in suspense as to your doom for a while longer.”

She’d laughed at his nonsense and, chatting amiably enough, they’d walked their horses home side by side. He was struck by the timing of her apology. She had not offered to apologize until he’d mentioned absenting himself from her. Perhaps it meant nothing, perhaps everything.