Page 14 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
“As a matter of fact, I am.” He escorted her from the dining room and along the hallway.
“I should like to go with you.”
“I’m staying late tonight.”
“With Mr. Trewlove? And before you deny it, I overheard you making arrangements last night.”
“Little scamp.”
Which wasn’t exactly a denial that she had the right of it. “Your parents won’t be pleased to discover you’re spending time in his company.”
“Which is the reason you won’t mention it to them.”
“If you take me with you.”
Coming to a stop in the foyer, he faced her, his features set in a determined mask. “We’re going to be engaged in activities inappropriate for women.”
“I could stand in the shadows. No one would notice me.”
He tucked a finger beneath her chin. “They would definitely notice you. Going with me tonight is absolutely out of the question.”
“Will you take me to the gardens again sometime? Very soon?”
“Not in the too near future,” he said with an exaggerated scowl, which she knew indicated he didn’t mean it. “I wouldn’t want you to get spoiled.”
But if he loved her, shouldn’t he want to spoil her? The unkind musing raced unbidden through her mind. She’d never before had a harsh thought toward him, but then she’d never before had anyone to compare him against, had never had any interest whatsoever in anyone other than him. She tried to convince herself that she still didn’t, but the little falsehood mocked her.
Trewlove. it was a name that sent ice skittering down his spine, even after all these years.
Gerard Lennox, Duke of Hedley, had received from the man a half-dozen letters seeking an audience with him. The words had been terse and to the point:I am your bastard. I want you to publicly acknowledge me.
He’d ignored them all, except for the first, as he had no intention of ever acknowledging the bastard. He’d given the Widow Trewlove extra coins so the child might have a fair start in life. Other than that, Hedley would take no responsibility for him.
“Darling?”
He glanced up at his wife, who sat in the plush chair opposite him, sipping her brandy, while the fire roared, comfortably warming her, yet causing him to sweat. “Yes, my sweet?”
“You seem miles away.”
Years away. Thirty-one to be exact. He’d been young, frightened and so afraid of losing the only woman he’d ever loved. Reckless in his actions, actions that haunted him every hour of every day. He’d been stupid, careless, not nearly as cautious as he should have been. All of his focus had been on doing what was best for his love. In spite of everything, that night had cost them both, and he’d lost her.
There were moments when he still searched for her, hoped to find her again.
“What were your thoughts?” his wife asked.
“I was just thinking that Kip is of an age where he needs more responsibilities. At twenty-eight he plays far too much.”
“Marriage will change all that. It did for you.”
Ah, yes, it had changed him, not necessarily for the better. Sipping his port, he stared at the fire. If he only knew then what he knew now. Hindsight was a curse.
“I always thought Kip and Aslyn would settle on each other,” Bella said. “But if he doesn’t ask her this Season . . . she’s all of twenty. He will see her on the shelf.”
“Don’t fret. I’ll have a word with him.”
She nodded. “He is a good lad. He will make a good husband.” She smiled softly, whimsically. “You’ve set a fine example.”
He had been a good husband, but he wasn’t altogether certain he’d been the best of men. Andthe bastardwas likely to make him pay for his error in judgment.
