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“Good.Good.I should turn in, as should you.”
“Why?It’s not that late.”
“Madam, it is two o’clock in the morning.”
“We will be awake until about six o’clock in the morning for the gala.I hope you show more fortitude tomorrow night than what you are demonstrating now.”
“Fortitude has never been my problem.”One brow rose, though he didn’t act upon the implied offer.Did he think he was saving her the effort of a quick tryst?
She smoothed her hand down the lapel of his jacket.“Have we resolved our disagreement, Matthew?I do hope so.Those sorts of misunderstandings tend to be reflected in the lines of my face and I do want to look my best for the gala.”
“If tonight was any indication, I don’t know how you could possibly look any better.”
She laughed.“I will be but a wilted flower compared to the bedecked women who will arrive at Highwood tomorrow night.You know, there is a certain vicious logic in how a woman dresses for an important occasion.”
“The Highwood Gala is important now?”
“Lady Jersey will see to that.I’ve made sure that everything I’ve done is at least better than anything they’ve experienced this season.And because no countess, marchioness or duchesses will be able to live with the notion that I, a simple missus, would outshine them, they will don their absolute finest.You can count on it.”
“But none of them will have the Isis Diamonds.”
“True.”She tilted her head and asked, “What will you do when you come face-to-face with your brother?”
Matthew hesitated.“People see what they wish to see.Never will he know unless I tell him.When they return home, his wife will likely— To be sure, they will forget all about Matthew Hardy.”
“Which begs the question, when will you tell him?”
“After my brother Archibald is back from America.There is no reason for me to go alone now, even though I’ve tried.And it does make a different point when three of Welliver’s sons show up compared to one.I don’t wish to discuss it further, Rose.”
“There is no need.I can only imagine a little boy wishing for his entire life to belong to the duke’s family then at some point realizing you were meant to be the duke.There is a natural resentment that would build, I would assume.”She ran her hands over his chest.
“Is there a natural resentment for you, having married quite below your station?”he asked.
“I had a choice.Have I shown resentment?If you think so, then shame on me.You’ve been very generous.Tell me the truth, Matthew.What was your plan in agreeing to marrying me?Did you think it would make a difference to theton?Was it always about acceptance and notice?Or did you have loftier, impossible goals?”
“Like attending the Crestview Ball?”he asked.
“That was an afterthought and obviously not impossible.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead.“Wife, this conversation is too weighty, considering the big day tomorrow.Do you need me to relieve you of your gown since you allowed Eunice to slip away?”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“You are going downstairs, aren’t you?”
“Oh, don’t be upset.”She wrapped her arms about him and met his questioning gaze.“There is so much I must do.I promise I won’t be long.”
“Turn around.”He grabbed her shoulders and twirled her.She pretended to pout.
“But—”
“No buts.You are going to sleep.”He started working on the lacings down the back of her dress, her skirts dropping to the floor, the bodice and sleeves following.She arched, feeling the relief of escaping her tight dress.
“Eunice should be worried that I will hire a new lady’s maid,” she said over her shoulder.
“Just to clarify, I am only interested in removing your clothes.”He turned her again, then backed her toward the bed.
“You believe I am too tired to spend an hour completing final preparations for our party but not too tired to service my husband?”
