Page 64 of Impeccable
Gregory laughed, and she realized she’d missed that as much as lying with him. He sobered rather quickly. “It has made me think…I know you typically use a sponge when we are together, but not every time, such as the party at Witney Court and tonight. You aren’t concerned with conception?”
“Not particularly. I know how to take care of that should it happen.”
He blinked at her. “What do you mean?”
“There are herbs a woman can take if she’s not equipped to be a mother.”
“Have you done that?” He shook his head. “Never mind. You’ve only been with your husband and now me.”
“That’s not true. I have had other lovers. And yes, I’ve had to use that before. It wouldn’t do to have a child when unwed.”
He was quiet, his brow creasing and relaxing, then creasing again. “While I can’t argue with your logic, I wonder how you might have felt about it.”
“I felt it was the right thing to do. I am aware of my courses, and they are typically reliable. It’s possible a child may not even have come, but I wanted to make sure. Can you imagine how that would have been for the child, a bastard?”
“You’re very careful.”
“I try to be. It is challenging to be a woman.”
“Yes. But you make it look magnificent.” He scooted closer to her and kissed her. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“Including about the lovers?”
He closed one eye and smiled. “I can’t say I’m not envious of the time any man has spent with you, but you’re with me now, and that’s all that matters.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being understanding.” He was unlike any man she’d ever known. Most wouldn’t have even asked about conception. Of her protectors, only Lucien had sought to have the conversation. Evie had just always taken it upon herself to ensure she was guarded. To be with a man who shared her burden meant more than he could know. “For supporting me.” She kissed him back, wriggling against him. “And for not being angry with me about Ash.”
“I could never. We are all human. We do our very best every day. Don’t we?”
That was all Evie had done. She’d done her best to survive. Until she’d been allowed to do more than that. Now, she did her best to make the most of every day, to feel joy and contentment.
“Now we can sleep,” she said, closing her eyes, suddenly exhausted.
Gregory made her feel both joyandcontentment. And that scared her more than anything.
Chapter13
Gregory couldn’t help feeling a tinge of awe as he stepped into the Palace of Westminster. He was shown to a chamber that resembled a sitting room with two seating areas. One was around a table, while the other was a pair of settees and four chairs assembled in a conversational style.
Not knowing where to sit as he waited for Lord Hargrove, Gregory lingered between the two areas. Instead of contemplating the interview ahead, he couldn’t help thinking of last night, the second he’d spent in Evie’s bed. Having stolen into her garden through the back alley, he’d departed the same way just before dawn this morning. This time, however, he’d left Ash at home.
A smile threatened, but he worked to keep his face sober. He felt giddy, and it wouldn’t do to display that when Hargrove entered. That didn’t stop him from continuing to recall the bliss of Evie’s embrace until Hargrove at last entered the chamber.
“Afternoon, Lord Gregory,” Hargrove greeted, offering his hand.
Gregory pumped the man’s arm before releasing him. “Afternoon, Hargrove. Thank you for meeting with me.”
“Happy to.” Hargrove moved to the seating area and deposited his average-sized frame into a chair. His head was bare, revealing a thinning patch of light brown hair. His gray-blue eyes were sharp, while the blunt edge of his slightly upturned nose gave him a boyish look despite the fact that he was in his early fifties. “I had great respect for your father, and I’m delighted to help his offspring, if I may. So terribly sad that he’s gone from us. Far too soon.” He lowered his gaze for a moment.
Taking a seat on the settee nearest Hargrove’s chair, Gregory angled himself toward the older man. “I appreciate your kind words,” Gregory murmured. “He would be pleased to hear them.”
Hargrove’s head snapped up as he refocused on Gregory. “Would he be pleased that you are seeking this appointment? I’d thought he was eager for you to be ordained and follow the path to becoming a bishop. Indeed, he made no secret of that.”
“I’d like to think he’d support me in whatever I choose.” Which wasn’t to say that Gregory believed he actually would. No, he feared his father would be disappointed. Gregory would have tried to explain to his father that he was doing what felt right and true to him. In the end, he hoped his father would support his choices because they were his—and he’d trusted Gregory, hadn’t he? “I find I am more drawn to the law than ecclesiastical matters. If I do not work in the government, I plan to become a barrister.”
