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CHAPTER10
The breath had left Owen’s lungs when he had seen Selena. She was sensuality incarnate in her red dress. The waist was cinched tight, thanks to her corset, and was accentuated by the fullness of her skirts. Her cleavage was on display for his perusal, and he had taken a second to appreciate the view. It had taken all his willpower not to pounce on her. She’d looked like a siren intent on seduction.
The last two weeks of not being with his wife had been torturous. After their episode in the garden shed, Owen realized that he didn’t really know how to properly make love to his wife. Their only coupling had been urgent, filled with the need to be together. Instinct had been his guiding force, but he felt as if there should have been more. There had been no tender words, no soft caresses, only the mating of two bodies. While he had slaked his carnal hunger, his emotional need to be close to Selena had been lacking. So Owen had decided that he would not go to her until he had learned more about what it took to satisfy a woman in the bedroom. The only problem was he didn’t know how to go about learning it. Perhaps he would ask Bran for his opinion.
Bran Hughes had proved invaluable since Owen’s return home. The men were the best of friends. Bran had accompanied Owen on several business meetings, helping him muddle his way through his new life. If there was anyone Owen could confide in, it was him.
The couple descended the stairs and went into the drawing room to await their guests. After everyone was present and introductions made, they entered the dining room.
Owen and Selena sat on opposite ends of the long dining room table. To his left was Mrs. Higgins. She was a middle-aged woman, nearing sixty, with graying hair and a walking stick. From the brief conversation Owen had had with her in the drawing room, she had a sharp mind and did not mince words. To his right was Charles Gaul. Owen had met the fellow a time or two already. The gentleman was a widower with two children. Mr. Gaul had thinning black hair and a nervous habit of fidgeting with his collar every few minutes.
The first course was served, and everyone settled into the soup. Owen asked Mrs. Higgins about the health of her family. The matron started on a long-winded description of each of her children and their accompanying offspring. By the time she finished, the soup bowls had been removed.
After the footmen had set the salad course in front of everyone, Owen stood. Everyone quieted, all eyes on him. Owen thought it prudent to address his guests.
“I wanted to thank you all for coming, and especially to thank Lady Fernsby, who planned this event.” He saluted Selena with his glass. “The point of this evening, besides enjoying everyone’s company, is for me to remember my past, with your help. I hope you will all share with me any memories, good or bad, so that I may try to recall the man I once was.”
Owen took his seat. He chanced a glance at Selena. Her lips were pursed, and she had a strained smile as she addressed Captain Higgins, who sat on her left. Even though she did not like the idea of Owen regaining his memories, he was grateful that Selena had aided him in this endeavor. He knew that if there was a chance of them having a life together, he had to face his past.
“I recall my husband saying that you were an upstanding officer, Lord Fernsby,” Mrs. Higgins stated. “Isn’t that right, dear?”
Captain Higgins nodded. “Quite right. You were under my command when you received your first commission. Your father was proud of you. I visited him here a few times before his death. He said when you made major, his heart swelled with pride.”
“Did he say anything else?” One thing Owen hated the most was that he did not remember his family.
“He confided in me that he wanted you to find peace in your life.”
“What do you think he meant by that?”
The older man cleared his throat, clearly not comfortable.
“Please, Captain.”
He glanced between Owen and Selena. “Your father wanted you to settle down and start a family. He said you were always in London while your wife stayed here. He didn’t think it was right and believed you needed to be with your wife.”
A wave of nausea threatened, but he tamped down the feeling. So, he had been a good for nothing. His own father had known it. Evidently, he had done little to keep his escapades a secret.
“Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your honesty.”
The footmen cleared the plates. An awkward silence fell over the group. Owen had known that tonight would not be easy and might cast him in an unpleasant light.
“Bran, didn’t you tell me a story once about you and Lord Fernsby putting bees in your classroom?” Sarah’s cheerful voice broke through the tension.
“I had forgotten about that.” Bran smiled, then turned his attention toward the group. “I believe Lord Fernsby and I were about twelve. We were in school in London. We had a teacher, Mr. Wilson. He was our history instructor. Boring as sin. So, one day we decided to liven up the lecture. We snuck in a bees' nest and poured honey on his chair. The honey was Owen’s idea.” He looked at his friend.
Owen waited for him to continue.
“We hid the nest in his desk drawer. Mr. Wilson sat in the honey, and within a few minutes, the bees were swarming around him. The poor man had no clue what was happening. Eventually, he had to dismiss the class and went running out of the room, with the bees following.”
“Did you get caught?” Selena asked.
“No. Owen and I were smart about it. No one ever suspected. There were quite a few pranks we got away with back in those days.”
“Do you remember any others?” Owen wanted cheerful memories to cling to.
Through the next two courses, Bran regaled the group with pranks and adventures that he and Owen had had while growing up. It seemed that Owen had had a normal childhood filled with mischief and adventures.
During Bran’s storytelling, Owen would glance at Selena. She seemed more relaxed. No doubt thankful the conversation had taken a pleasant turn. The remainder of the meal passed, after which the ladies went into the drawing room while the men stayed behind.
