Page 39 of A Whisper of Desire
She pushed back to look into her brother’s face, cupping his cheek. “No. He would do anything to keep me safe because you are special to him. Me, he doesn’t really know.”
She turned away from Sebastian, lest he see her tears. She walked to the window overlooking the private back garden. Taking a moment to compose herself, she remembered how carefree she’d been only a few days ago when the world seemed filled with possibilities.
He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Give your marriage time. Beatrice and I started out on a rocky path, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”
She took a sharp breath and asked the question she dreaded the answer to. “Tell me about Priscilla, specifically about Maitland and Priscilla.”
The hands that only moments ago had been tenderly massaging the knotted muscles in her neck dropped from her body.
She slowly turned. “Priscilla arrived in London this afternoon.”
“Priscilla’s here? In London?” he asked incredulously.
“Why is that so strange? She is a duchess.”
“She hasn’t been to London since her marriage to the late Lord Lyttleton.” Sebastian moved to the sideboard and poured himself a drink. “You should talk to Maitland and get him to tell his story.”
“I tried to talk to him last night about Priscilla, but he told me that some stories were not his to tell, whatever that means.”
She heard her brother curse as she moved to a chair by the fire, trying to warm the cold dread seeping into her bones.
He swung to face her. “He is right. It isn’t only his story to tell. We all promised Priscilla—”
“I’m your sister. You owe it to me. If I’ve married a man still in love—”
“Love? Wait, no, Maitland is not in love with Priscilla. At least not anymore.” He bent to crouch at her feet. “Is that what you think? That they are in love? Let me tell you now that is not the case. If it were, he would have married her long ago.”
She let out the breath that was strangling her throat. She knew her brother. He was not lying.
“Then there is something he is not telling me. He…he is not what I expected.”
Sebastian rose to his feet and took the chair next to her. “I’m not sure I follow. He is a fine man. He would never do anything to dishonor or hurt you.”
“Iknowthat.” She felt her face heat, but Sebastian knew her husband well. “I know you were thought of as a rake before you married.” She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t deny it, I have heard the women talking.” She smiled and laughed. “And I really wish they hadn’t gone into such detail.”
Her brother looked as if he’d rather be at a spinster’s embroidery circle than having this conversation.
She took a breath and swallowed her pride. “I have never heard such stories about Maitland.”
She watched as Sebastian’s frown grew. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“That depends on why I have not heard any such tantalizing tales.”
“What on earth are you implying?”
She threw up her hands and rose to pace the floor. “I don’t know. Is there something wrong with him?” At his blank look she added, “In the bed-sport department.”
Sebastian half rose from his chair and looked appalled. “Wrong?” His voice rose. “What did he do to you?”
She pivoted on her foot and almost yelled, “Nothing. That’s the point.”
Sebastian sank back into his chair and looked slightly appeased. “He hasn’t—bedded you?”
She dropped her head into her hands, covering her face. “This is so embarrassing.”
“Perhaps you should talk with Beatrice.”
She shook her head. “He ‘bedded me’ the night of our wedding. But since then…”
