Page 7 of How To Seduce A Wife

“Which means that you hope she’ll remain as faithful to you as you intend to remain to her.”

“I’ve never told you that.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? You’ve been married for almost a year now, and I’ve heard no rumors of you frequenting any brothels, setting up a mistress, or enjoying yourself at Madame Helene’s.”

“Is there something wrong with a man wanting to keep his marriage vows?”

David’s eyebrows rose. “Nothing at all. There’s no need to sound so belligerent. It’s actually quite refreshing.”

“I don’t intend to make a fool out of my wife. I intend to treat her with respect.”

“And I salute you for that.” David raised his glass and drank slowly. “But I’m sure such resolution brings its own problems.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Nick, I’ve known you since Harrow; you like sex, you like it a lot.”

“So?”

“So, going from your rakish ways to one woman and one woman alone must have provided you with some interesting challenges.”

Nicholas sat back in his chair and studied his old friend. He had the perfect opportunity to ask for advice from one of the few men he’d ever trusted, but at what price? Only his pride and he wasn’t that big a fool. “I find myself in a bit of a quandary.”

“In what way?”

Nicholas glanced around the room and leaned closer to David. “My wife is quite innocent.”

“I should imagine she is.” David nodded as if Nicholas made perfect sense. “Does she find you a little ‘overwhelming’?”

“She finds me boring enough that she’d rather read a gothic romance novel than entertain me in her bed.”

David simply stared at him, a peculiar expression on his face. “Boring? You? One of the most sexually experienced men I’ve ever met?”

“Apparently, I fail to measure up to the exacting standards of the pirate hero from the gothic novel she is currently reading.”

David started to laugh, his sea-blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t believe it.”

“It’s the truth. I think my manly pride has been hurt.”

“I should say it has.” David studied him. “But what have you done, or not done, to make her feel like that?”

Nicholas shifted in his seat. “I’ve tried to treat her with respect and restraint, as Iassumedone would treat the lady one has married.”

“Ah.”

Nicholas glowered at David. “Don’t say ‘ah’ again. It’s infuriating.”

“You assume that married ladies wish to be set on a shelf like a porcelain figurine and treated delicately, the way your father should’ve treated your mother. Am I right?”

Nicholas managed a nod.

“Women are not meant to be divided into categories, Nick. Wives can enjoy sex as well as mistresses.” David sat back and placed his glass on the table beside him.

Nicholas shoved a hand through his hair. “I’ve already worked that out for myself. Now I just have to think of a way to fix it.”

“Fix what?”

Nicholas looked at David with a quelling stare. “Never you mind. You’ve merely confirmed my own decisions.”

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