Page 38 of The Lord Next Door
David barely listened to the dressmaker’s last instructions, so consumed was he with the need to leave. He was feeling overly warm, almost smothered in the shop’s confined quarters. To make matters worse, they had to thread through new customers as they headed for the street, and he stood out as the only man there.
Whatever had possessed him to come? Victoria probably would have spent much less of his money and done fine without him. He couldn’t fault her sense of style at all. But it was so hard to trust anyone, when everything concerned with his railway plans had to be perfect.
After he got into the carriage beside his wife, he tried not to study her so obviously, but he found that she wouldn’t leave his thoughts. There was such a calmness about Victoria, a feeling of capability. He knew that she was the one who had kept her family together in the trying times of the last year.
Who had taken care of her?
He had plenty of money to spend on his wife. Had anyone ever done so? Hell, she’d obeyed him and gone to the dressmaker, but she had never even looked at the ribbons on display. He would talk to his steward about her pin money.
He inhaled a hint of perfume, a warmth of woman, and just like that he forgot the rest of the day’s plans. He looked down at her hands loosely clasped together, and wondered what she would do if he took her hand by daylight instead of waiting for the night.
She tilted her head and looked up at him, giving him a glimpse of her magnificent eyes.
“So how do you know so much about the latest fashions, my lord?” she asked.
He found himself wanting to smile down at her. There was strand of hair across her forehead that needed brushing back. Yet he resisted. “I will admit that it has been a while since I studied them.”
“You do have another chance. We could accept Lady Augusta’s invitation to breakfast.”
“You already know my answer to that,” he said dryly.
“My lord, surely as a member of Parliament, you have to attend certain social functions.”
“It is not even worth subjecting ourselves to people like her.”
“So it is not just Lady Augusta?”
He frowned down at her. “What do you mean?”
“I saw the stack of invitations, and your father told me that you never attend any of the ton’s events.”
“So my father decided to leave his room to harass you, did he?”
“It is his home. He can go anywhere he pleases. But you are attempting to distract me by using your father.”
“If I was attempting to distract you,” he said in a low voice, “you would notice.”
They stared into each other’s eyes. Hers were the deepest color of violets, reminding him of the scent of flowers about her. He glimpsed bravery and determination in her. He could tell that she wanted him to talk to her as he used to. But he didn’t want someone knowing such details about him. Sharing personal feelings left one vulnerable, and he wasn’t that trusting boy anymore.
“My lord, we were discussing your social engagements.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
And he only wanted to think about kissing her again. Instead he turned away and flicked the reins. “I don’t need worrying over, Victoria,” he said mildly.
~oOo~
At luncheon with her husband and mother, Victoria watched Lord Thurlow eat, and wondered about their conversation that morning. She admitted to herself that she wanted to know him again, to understand him. She knew the taint on his family name bothered him, but he had withdrawn from society rather than confront it. And since she didn’t know what the scandal was, she didn’t know what to do to help.
And he needed her help.
“Mama, I am so thankful you joined us today,” Victoria said. “I miss you when you take so many meals in your room.”
“You are newly married, my dear,” Mama said, not looking at the viscount. “You don’t need your mother intruding.”
To Victoria’s surprise, Lord Thurlow looked up at them. “Mrs. Shelby, I am seldom able to be home for luncheon. I’m sure Victoria would appreciate your company.”
Her mother leaned over her plate, but her soft words could be heard clearly. “If you want my daughter to be at ease, then perhaps you should speak to your father.”
Victoria coughed and took a gulp of her wine, which only made her cough more. The two footmen retreated from the room and shut the door behind them.
