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She glanced down briefly at his arm before she reluctantly placed her hand on his sleeve. He led her towards the rear of the townhouse and out the back door.
Once they stepped onto the gravel footpath, Emmeline withdrew her arm and clasped her hands together.
“Did you have a good evening?” he asked.
Emmeline nodded. “Your family was truly kind to me.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
“How was your evening?” she asked, tripping over her own words.
Oliver placed a hand on her sleeve and turned her to face him. “I was out at the gambling hell last night with my friends, and I’m afraid that I lost track of time.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“But I want to.”
Emmeline glanced up at him with an expectant look on her face. “Then please proceed.”
“I want you to know that I meant what I said before,” he asserted. “I intend to be faithful to you.”
“I am happy to hear that.”
Oliver could hear the relief in her tone, causing him to press forward. “There will be times that I won’t come home for the night, but it won’t have anything to do with another woman. I can promise you that.”
“Why do you need to stay out all night?”
“You do not need to concern yourself with that.” His words sounded much harsher than he had intended.
A line between her brows appeared as she said, “But I am your wife.”
“I informed you before we were wed that I have secrets, and I have no intention of revealing them to anyone. Not even to you.”
Lowering her gaze to the lapels of his jacket, Emmeline said, “I know our marriage isn’t conventional, but I was hoping that we would always be honest with one another.”
Oliver reached for her hand as he pledged, “I promise that I will return home tonight after my meeting.”
“What meeting do you have?” she asked, bringing her gaze up.
He brought her gloved hand up to his lips. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.”
“What can you tell me?”
“I am not doing anything illegal,” he said with a smile.
“I should hope not!”
Oliver lowered her hand but didn’t relinquish his hold on it. “You will just need to trust me.”
“Trust goes both ways,” Emmeline argued.
Nodding, he replied, “That it does.”
Emmeline shifted her gaze towards the rose bushes that lined the footpath, then said, “My lady’s maid told me the most peculiar thing today.”
“Which was?”
“She overheard my uncle speaking to my father’s solicitor about my dowry.”
