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“Well—”
“No!Don’t explain it.That was rhetorical.I am insane and the world makes no sense whatsoever.”He swiped his face a second time, except with both hands, his fingers spiking through his hair and clasping the back of his neck.“You should have heard them, Rose.One, my cold-hearted grandmother, telling me she knew all along about Welliver’s misbehavior.And then my half-brother begging me to help, I don’t know, finance the return of the dukedom to its former prosperity.How could I have ever wanted to be a part of that family?And don’t answer that either,” he said.
“I had a very pleasant conversation with the duchess.”
“Did she ask about...you know?”
“Esther hinted, but I batted my not inconsequential eyelashes and dazed her by going on and on about the wonderful gala at Highwood.I think she was ready for me to leave, but she would never have been so rude to say so.”
“I just cannot believe I didn’t know Welliver was nearly bankrupt.Is nearly!”
“Why?How could you know that, when even I didn’t know?They maintain a respectable style.”
“Isn’t the gossip in London supposed to be so completely thorough that no one has secrets?”
“Real confidences, no.It’s just the embarrassing little indiscretions that get shared.Things we can laugh about behind our fans.”
“And behind peoples’ back?”
“Are you more upset that you couldn’t have a piece in theDaily Informer?”
“I don’t truck in gossip, only verifiable facts,” he said.
“They tell me the real secret to keeping secrets is to tell no one.”
“Which is why I have a rule to put nothing in writing.It’s like standing atop Tower Bridge and yelling it to people on both sides of the Thames.”
“There.I think you are feeling better about seeing the duke.”She smiled sweetly, tolerating his rant.
“Rose, I want your word that you will never discuss William with anyone, including your sister.How I felt thirteen years ago is not exactly how I feel today, and I don’t want Esther or William to be embarrassed because of my callousness.”
He turned to the window again.
There was no doubt in her mind that Matthew Hardy would have been an excellent duke, provided he could have had all the experiences in his life up to today.He was honed in a way no duke could appreciate but from which each of them in London could benefit.
“I can’t believe how wrong I was.All these years.”
Rose found the sulking Matthew Hardy difficult to comprehend given his desire to conquer the world.She had a hard time imaging that his purpose, his vengeance was easily toppled by a cranky old tabby like the dowager duchess.
Rose knew she could do something about lifting his spirits by lifting her skirts.She sprang across the carriage aisle and straddled his lap.
One brow rose, questioning him.“Are you not relieved to have it over with?You no longer have to wonder what will happen when they find out.”She reached between them and fingered the buttons of his trouser placket.
“A good shagging normally provides all the relief a man can handle, but I am disappointed that all the plotting and scheming I’ve done with my life has led to naught.Everything I was doing before today, I will still do tomorrow.Archie and Bobby will still know who their father is, but they will get no benefit from it.I really, truly wanted Welliver to pay for his sins.”
“Perhaps he will, just not in the way you planned.”
“And how in the hell can I truly justify helping Byron rebuild his lost empire?But how can I not?My son will be the one who suffers from a bankrupt dukedom.What a twist!They should all rot in hell.Especially that old woman.I cannot have been a product of such a harridan.”
“Shh,” Rose said, finding and fingering a limp cock.“We still have two miles before we are home.Let us find vengeance together by outdoing any happiness they might ever have found on their own.”
“Should you be riding me in this rough carriage in your advancing condition?”
“Should you be talking when you are distracting me from my purpose?”
He laughed, then turned serious.“It’s been a good two months, hasn’t it?”
“Why would you worry about that?Our marriage wasn’t tied to your confrontation with Welliver.”He was firming up in her hand and she worked him along her palm.She stopped stroking.“Oh, I should have known.You wanted a wife such as I precisely because of what it would mean in your family.I haven’t done much for your social position, though.You aren’t paying attention to me,” she said, taking his face between her hands and pressing a kiss to his lips, abandoning his cock for the moment.
