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“How does married life suit you?” asked Minette brightly, once the older ladies had spoken at length on the grandeur of her new home and the smart china setting. “Have you quite settled in?”
Aurelia didn’t know what “quite settling in” signified, but she replied just as brightly, “Yes, I am very settled in.” When the ladies looked at her as if she ought to say more, she added, “Marriage is an interesting thing. There is so much to learn about the other person.”
Minette made a face. “Don’t learn too much about Lord Townsend. You might not like what you—”
“Minette!” her aunt said.
“I was only teasing. Anyway, everyone knows men are—”
“Minette, you are not old enough to know what men are.” The dowager scolded in earnest now, and Minette fell silent to take a sip of tea.
“I know exactly what you mean about getting to know the other person,” Georgina said kindly. “I’ve been married to Brendan for a year now and I still learn things that surprise me. Lovely things, of course. Why, just yesterday both of us learned a wonderful surprise.” Her sister-in-law went pink and looked at the duchess.
The older women caught on more quickly than Aurelia or Minette. “You are increasing? Do say it’s true, Georgina. What does Severin think?”
“Oh, he’s ecstatic. We both are,” she said, placing a hand over her still-flat waistline. “Our child will arrive around Christmas.”
“A blessed gift indeed,” said the dowager countess, then her gaze skimmed to Aurelia. “Soon you’ll be in the same condition, and you will be a grandmama twice over, Emmeline.”
Her mother flushed with pleasure. “I hope so.”
Aurelia flushed too, but not with pleasure. More like fear, anxiety, dread.
“Now I’ve got to get Warren wed and set up in a happy home,” the dowager said in a tone of forbearance. “It’s difficult to find quality prospects these days. The ladies throw themselves at my nephew, quite blatantly begging for his hand, but few of them are up to snuff.”
“He is such a handsome young man, like his father.” The duchess clucked in sympathy for her friend and began to list some possible candidates for Lord Warren. Aurelia sat very still, trying not to upend the tea tray in a fury of despair.
“But our matchmaking cannot be interesting to the younger ladies,” the dowager said when Aurelia’s spoon rattled against her cup.
“Aurelia, why not take your friends for a walk in the garden?” suggested her mother. “And Lady Overbrook and I will plan our social machinations over tea.”
“Social machinations sound fun,” said Georgina with a grin, “but a walk outside sounds better. What do you think? Minette? Aurelia?”
Aurelia stood and agreed with a sigh of relief. She would lose her mind if she had to sit and listen to Lord Warren being paired with this lady or that. Minette was a ball of energy and had already crossed to the door.
“Minette,” the dowager said, wagging a finger. “Do not be a nuisance to Lady Townsend and Lady Severin.”
Aurelia envied Minette her mischievous spirit. Lord Warren also laughed often and had a twinkle to his eyes. Aurelia had curried Minette’s friendship to try to catch the attention of her brother, and while it had been in vain, she hoped they would stay friends.
And Georgina, soon to make Brendan a father! Her sister-in-law chattered on about pregnancy and babies as they strolled in the gardens. It was warm, but not unpleasantly so. When they came to a shady area with oak benches they agreed that Georgina must rest. As they sat shoulder to shoulder, Georgina turned to her in confidence.
“You must be honest now, Aurelia. How are things with you and the marquess?”
“They’re fine,” she hedged. “Really, everything is perfectly fine.”
Georgina glanced at Minette, then back at Aurelia. “The wedding night was...?”
She could not, could not, meet their eyes. “I’m not sure it’s proper to discuss it. Minette is unmarried.”
“But I won’t be for long,” she protested. “Please discuss it. How else will I know what goes on?”
“Why don’t you say what goes on, Georgina?” Aurelia gestured toward the woman’s waist. “In your case, things seem to have worked.”
“Aren’t they working in your case?” Her sister-in-law seemed concerned.
Aurelia forced a smile. “Everything worked. I can certainly tell you that. I’m just not sure that... Well... He... Things are still a bit awkward between us.”
“Oh, dear.” Georgina rubbed the back of her hand and then squeezed it. “It takes time to become used to it, it’s true.”
“Used to what?” Minette asked in frustration.
“Used to being in bed with your husband,” said Georgina. “You’ll see what we mean in a year or two.” She turned back to Aurelia with a thoughtful expression. “The marriage bed can seem strange, even frightening at first, but that will change.”
“But you loved Brendan,” Aurelia blurted out. “You loved him when you married him. Lord Townsend is a stranger to me. It’s very disconcerting.”
Georgina nodded in sympathy. “I know he wasn’t your first choice of husband, but he’s been kind, hasn’t he?”
Aside from spanking me and forbidding me to resist his attentions...yes.
“I’m sure in a month or two all of it will seem very comfortable,” said her sister-in-law. “Everything will be absolutely well.”
Aurelia smiled and nodded, because she knew it was expected, and that Georgina and Minette would be put out if she continued to fuss about her marriage. What Aurelia really wanted to do was fall into her mother’s arms and beg her to take her home.
Which was probably why the duchess had sent the three of them outside.
“I’m sure everything will be very well a few months from now,” Aurelia said with a conviction she didn’t feel. “And perhaps your baby will have a cousin on the way. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“I would like more tea cakes,” said Minette with a pout. “If you’re just going to talk in these vague generalities, let’s go back.”
*** *** ***
Hunter struggled with the decision to return to his former erotic haunts. Well, struggled for a minute or so. Honestly, she’d practically begged him to slake his lusts elsewhere. That was what considerate husbands did.
He believed he’d demonstrated admirable patience, waiting an entire week before he stepped out, and he made sure to leave after she had already retired to her rooms. It was his right, of course, to do whatever he wanted, but she was so naive... She might raise questions he didn’t want to answer. It had been a week now, a week of bedding her while she shivered and shrank away. He needed to indulge in some raucous, cathartic sex before he lost his mind.
He and his friends gave most of their custom to Pearl’s, a well-appointed and well-managed sex parlor catering to a menagerie of tastes. It helped that it was on the right side of town, so gentlemen who went there preserved a certain dignity in the exchange. Hunter approached the brothel’s artfully concealed back door and performed the appropriate three-part knock. A bruiser of a working man thrust his head out. “Good evenin’, milord. How can I help ye?”
“Good evening, Fletcher. You can help me by letting me in.”
“One moment, please.” The burly man disappeared, leaving Hunter on the step to twirl his hat in his hands. This was odd. He was normally admitted as soon as he knocked. Perhaps Pearl was cross that he’d stayed away nearly three weeks. He would just explain the situation, his recent betrothal and marriage. Pearl understood married men and how the world worked.
Within a couple of minutes, the portly matron stuck her head out the door and then propped it open upon one of her ample hips. “Oh, milord. Fancy seeing ye here. I thought you got married last week. ”
“I did, Pearl. I am being perfectly honest when I say I’m here with my wife’s permission. Her urging, even.”
The old woman laughed, though he wasn’t joking. For s
ome reason, she still didn’t let him in.
“See, the thing is, milord, I hate to tell you, but...”
“Tell me.”
“The Duke of Lansing says I’m not to admit you anymore. He says you belong at home with yer wife and you’re not to come here.”
“What?” It took Hunter a moment to realize he was being had. He threw his head back and laughed. “Pearl, you’ve always had a hellish sense of humor.”
“I wish I was jestin’ with you, luv. Believe me, I wish it were a joke but it ain’t. The duke says yer not to come here.”
