Page 74 of The Theory of Earls
“What do you imagine you saw?” Maggie didn’t trust him. Expected, but still painful.
“You werekissingLady Isley.” A muffled sound came from her.
“I wasnot. The lady in question kissed me.” It wounded him that Maggie thought him unfaithful.
“Were you flirting as you…tend to do?”
“Flirting with heras I do? What the bloody hell does that mean?” He took off his hat and tossed it across the carriage. “No, I did not flirt with Lady Isley, nor encourage her.”
Maggie’s entire body shrank back a bit more. “Your reputation precedes you, my lord. Is she your mistress? I would know now, Welles.”
Tony fell back against the squabs, for the first time trulyashamedof the sexual exploits he was well known for within theton.Maggie knew of his reputation. Christ, everyone did. There was no hiding all the immoral, improper things he’d done; for God’s sake, he owned Elysium. But he’d never considered how his past might hurt his wife someday, mainly because he’d never planned on having one.
“Lady Isley is not my mistress.” He took a deep breath, knowing Maggie would sense immediately whether he left something out. “She and I shared an encounter or two at Elysium long ago. Well before our marriage.” Truthfully, he’d not touched another woman since asking Maggie to play the piano for him in her chemise.
“In the private rooms on the second floor?”
“Yes.” His wife made a small sound of pain. “Butnothingmore. She wished to…rekindle our previous association, which I declined. Maggie,” he said, trying to draw her against him, “it will be hard to attend virtually any event in London without running into one of my previous lovers. You know of my reputation. My past. I can’t change it.”
Margaret turned her head to the window again.
“The street outside is more interesting than I am?” He slid across the squabs until she was trapped between the wall and his body.
“I have not been unfaithful to you,” he said. He pressed a kiss to the delicate skin beneath her ear. “Not in mind or body.” Nor did he intend to, which was surprising. “It’s rather shameful, I admit, to be brought to my knees by a woman half my size who is terrible with names no matter the number of times you are introduced to a person.”
“Untrue.” She slid a little closer to him.
“You can’t remember any of the names of our staff. You referred to Peckam earlier tonight as Peachum.”
“I know Fenwick’s name.” She sniffed.
“I hope so. He’s our butler and runs our household.” Welles wrapped an arm around her. “And you eat all the currant scones, no matter how many Cook makeseventhoughyou are aware currant is alsomyfavorite. I’m left with crumbs and nothing but insubstantial tea sandwiches.”
“I wasn’t aware you liked them so much. I’ll try to leave you one or two in the future.”
“My forgetful, scone-eating wife who,” he kissed the corner of his mouth, “begged me only last night to turn her in such a way that—”
“Enough, my lord.” She finally turned in his direction and grabbed the edge of his coat before one slender hand rubbed absently up and down his thigh.
“You’re quite wanton, Lady Welles.”
“I’ve been corrupted,” she murmured into the folds of his coat. “I was merely a young lady avoiding marriage to a waddling pear when you came upon me.” Her head fell to his chest. “You paid Winthrop to go away, didn’t you?”
Tony took her hands and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I did. He kept flinging about having a verbal agreement with your aunt and alluded to a contract, though I could find no evidence they’d actually agreed on one. Winthrop is greedy. But I understand now why you were so determined to have Carstairs. He would never have delved into your finances or taken control from you. No wonder you wanted an unintelligent husband.”
“I failed miserably at that. You meet none of my parameters.”
“I don’t suppose I do.” He held her tightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Winthrop, but my mind was elsewhere. Quite frankly, I’d forgotten all about him and his stupid shoes until tonight.”
Tony had been trying to come to terms with the emotional turmoil caused by his marriage. But he’d made sure, against his solicitor’s recommendations, that no matter what happened, Maggie was to be given what was hers.
“There is a bit more, I’m afraid. Your aunt, in return for throwing her support behind Winthrop to overturn that portion of your father’s will, was to receive a large chunk of your dowry. Did you know your father supported your aunt for years? Probably out of guilt for the scandal he created when he married your mother. And Lord Dobson left her in dire straits when he died. I suppose she felt she had no choice.”
Maggie grew very still. “Everyone has a choice. No wonder she wanted me to marry him.”
“I took care of Winthrop. And I settled a sum on your aunt, with the condition that she never contact you again. You may change the terms if you wish.”
“No. I don’t wish.” She snuggled closer. “Thank you, Welles.”
