Page 33 of The Duchess in His Bed
“Are you all right?” Thornley asked.
Looking up at him, she knew no propositions would be coming from this man. It was no secret how much he adored his wife. “As all right as any woman can be on the day her husband is placed in the ground.”
“That was a rather thoughtless question on my part, although to be honest, I was referring to your encounter with Elverton. I know sometimes he can be a bit... uh—”
“Of an arse?”
He chuckled low. “Insensitive.”
“He can be that.” She decided to move the conversation away from the man who had unsettled her. “I’m sorry your duchess didn’t come. I would have welcomed her.”
“Gillie didn’t feel the circumstances were ideal for making your acquaintance. But she does send her condolences.”
“Are you happy with her, Thorne?”
“Happier than I have a right to be.”
“I look forward to meeting her someday.” Other duties had prevented her and Lushing from attending their wedding.
“I think you’ll like her.”
“I’m sure I will. I suppose you’ve come to know her siblings well.” Odd how she wanted him to reaffirm that her instincts regarding Aiden Trewlove were accurate, that in spite of his businesses, he was an honorable man. She knew her focus should be on Lushing this day, but he’d held a curiosity about the Trewloves, had even suggested she invite them to the ball they’d have hosted this Season. He’d been in favor of welcoming them into the aristocratic fold.
“It took them a while to accept me.”
She released a huff of surprise. “I’d have thought it would have been the other way around.”
“They are impressed with neither rank nor title. But there is a goodness to them that initially put me to shame. They look out for the poorest and weakest among us, looking for nothing in return. Lady Aslyn and Mick recently opened a home for unwed mothers, while Lady Lavinia and Finn are taking in orphans. My dear wife feeds the hungry.”
“With your assistance.”
He shook his head. “No, she was doing that long before I ever came along. I suspect Lushing would have supported all their various charitable works.”
“I’m sure he would have. He had an extremely generous nature.” She should stop there, and yet she seemed unable to do so. “There’s another Trewlove who’s recently opened... well, only ladies are supposed to know about it, and they were discussing it earlier, as inappropriate as that might be, but I imagine you know of it, being related by marriage.”
He nodded. “A club where ladies can raise a little hell. Aiden owns that.”
“Is it his intention to corrupt us all?”
He grinned. “You can never tell with Aiden.”
“That’s not very reassuring. Do you think women are unsafe with him?”
“He likes to have a jolly good time, but he’d never do it at another’s expense. He won’t take advantage of the ladies who come to his club, if that’s your concern.”
It was reassuring to hear voiced by another what she had already surmised. Not that she was going to confess to having gone there. “Some of the ladies sharing their experiences earlier are just so young. The older ladies were a bit appalled.”
“I suspect there are few places in London where a young lady is safer.”
“Perhaps my sisters and I will visit once we’re out of mourning.”
“It’ll serve as a nice distraction. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m most anxious to return to my wife.”
“Rumors are rife that she’s with child.”
Joy wreathed his face, and she regretted that Lushing had never had occasion to shine with such delight, to share in the elation of expectancy. “She is.”
“I’m so happy for you, for you both.”
