“Seymour Fleming, the former Lady Worsley—Lady Harrington’s sister. Her escapades landed her with the moniker the Sinner.”
“Molly said Lady Harrington is considered a paragon, while her sister seems to enjoy shocking society. She didn’t tell me about the nickname or her mother-in-law.”
“Molly is too young to remember Lady Caroline—the countess’ mother-in-law. She died several years ago, but her scandalous reputation lives on in the Ton. She had so many affairs—with women as well as men—that she was actually thrown out of the Female Coterie.”
“And that is?”
“A club whose members are high-ranking ladies in society. Lady Caroline reacted to the insult by forming her own club—theNewFemale Coterie.”
“Not the most original name.”
“No, but its members were quite original. She invited demi-reps, courtesans, and ladies of Quality who were considered ‘fallen women’ like herself into the club.”
“And your aunt looks atmelike I’ve crawled out from the sewer,” she muttered, shaking her head. “How did her husband take it?”
“Lord Worsley was as promiscuous as his wife. Caroline bore him seven children—whether they were all his children is debatable, but he did claim them all—and he seemed happy enough in the marriage. He was a frequent visitor to the brothel at King’s Place in St. James, which, ironically, was where his wife’s club met. Are you shocked, darling?”
“I’m . . . I don’t know what I am,” she admitted. “I guess Lord and Lady Westford’s open marriage is more common than I realized.”
“It’s common enough. Though there are plenty of husbands and wives who are devoted to each other. The King and Queen, despite their recent trials, have never strayed from their union, even though the King, in his madness, became lovestruck with a few ladies. My own mother and father were unified in their love. And our own Duke . . .”
He didn’t need to remind her how devoted the Duke had been to his wife, Arabella. And there was Dr. Thornton. Kendra could clearly see how much he’d loved his wife.
Alec asked, “What about your parents?”
Kendra blinked, surprised. “My parents?”
“Yes. You’ve told me the reasons they married, as an experiment—”
“Iwas the experiment, to prove their theory that positive eugenics could create a better world. I failed, and so did their marriage.”
“You didn’t fail, my sweet. Your parents failed, by not seeing what a precious gift they were given. But I digress. Did your mother or father have any dalliances outside of their marriage?”
“Ew. I can’t imagine them having a dallianceinsidetheir marriage!”
Alec laughed. “They must have, for you to be born.”
“In my time, there are ways . . .” She shook her head. She really didn’t want to imagineanythingwith her parents. “My parents didn’t have a traditional marriage, but I can’t imagine them having affairs. They were too focused on their experiment. And, like I said, once I failed, their marriage was pointless. My parents never did anything that was pointless.”
She paused, thinking back. “They never argued. I’m sure it was all very civilized when they dissolved the marriage and moved on with their lives. Last I heard, my mother was working for CERN in Switzerland, and my father had remarried. He has two more children—new experiments. God help them.”
Alec eyed her. “So, your parents had a business arrangement, like many of the marriages formed in the ton. I told you, sweet, we have much more in common than you realize.”
“I keep realizing that human beings don’t really change.”
“In the broader sense, perhaps. But individuals can change. I knew I would have to marry one day and hoped to form an amicable arrangement. Once the line was secure, we could go our separate ways.”
Kendra stared at her husband. “You actually considered an open marriage?”
“I never thought of it as an open marriage, but definitely a business alliance. Then a beautiful, mysterious American came into my life, and I was changed forever.”
“So, no open marriage in our future?”
“I shall call out any man who dares lure you away.”
“I’ll do the same with any woman. And I’m an excellent shot.” She grinned. “You’re right. We do have a lot in common. I think we make an excellent team.”
He patted his lap. “Why don’t you come over here and prove it.”
