Page 86 of The Lord Next Door
“You want me to tell him?” she said in astonishment. “Meriel, Louisa, and I swore to you that we would keep this silent forever.”
“I did not say tell the world—just your husband. Do you trust him to share your secret?”
Tears stung Victoria’s eyes. “I—I don’t know. I would have thought…after last night…but this morning—” She broke off, knowing she was making no sense.
“I saw your smile this morning, Victoria,” she said gently. “You are a woman in love.”
“But is he in love, Mama? He looked at me today like—like—”
“Like a man who doesn’t know what to do with his emotions, like a man taking the safe way out. And that won’t make a successful marriage, not in the end. Trust me, passion itself is not enough.”
“But what should I do? Do you think he senses that I’m not telling him everything?”
“I don’t know, my dear, but if the secret is bothering you, can you live the rest of your life with it between you and your husband?”
Victoria slumped, and felt grateful when her mother gently slid her arm about her shoulders. “Oh, Mama, this is all so complicated.”
“Yes, it is. But you can make it work, Victoria. Look at all you’ve accomplished already. I’m so proud of you.”
Victoria hugged her mother, finally letting her tears ago. “Thank you, Mama.”
~oOo~
Victoria approached the evening with a new determination. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about her terrible family secret, but she knew she couldn’t take David’s empty politeness for the rest of her life. She would force him to acknowledge her with other emotions. She would be a part of his life, and not live separately, as her parents had done in the end. She would prove to David that she was worth trusting—worth loving.
In the carriage on the way from the prime minister’s dinner to the masquerade, she watched David, looking so serene and inscrutable. Then she leaned over, her hand on his knee, and kissed him.
There was no hesitation as he kissed her back with passion and heat and promise. Physically, they had no problems staying connected.
“Maybe we don’t have to attend this one,” David murmured as he kissed his way down to her neckline.
She groaned as he licked down her cleavage. “We accepted, so we’re attending. Now help me put my costume on.”
“Is that what was in the bag?”
From a satchel Victoria pulled out a fan of tall multi-colored feathers. “Anna made it for me. Here, attach this to the little buttons she sewed on the back of my bodice.”
She turned until her back was to the lantern, then waited patiently while David struggled.
“She could have made the buttons larger,” he grumbled.
“And then they would have been seen by everyone at dinner. Such a scandal,” she added teasingly.
He pinched her waist, and she squirmed and giggled.
“So what are you?” he asked.
“Can’t you tell?” She turned back to face him, holding an elaborate mask up to her face. Feathers curled everywhere.
“A bird?” he said.
“A peacock! Really David, you didn’t try very hard.”
“Sorry.”
His smile could surely cause winter to become spring, and she basked for a moment in its warmth.
“What are you going to be?” she asked.
