She realized the simple questions were meaningful. They were nothing to do with the physical, except in it being intensely pleasurable. In that heat they’d forged an unexpected connection. She couldn’t call it love, whatever that was, but it was like wrought iron, folded and beaten together until it became unbreakable. He might not have expected that. Would it change anything?
The inevitable problem had slid back into her mind. They wouldn’t spend many nights together. Best not to mention it, but that wasn’t her way.
“I’ll miss you when we’re apart.”
“And I you.” He kissed her shoulder.
She turned to face him. “You needn’t spend so much time in London.”
“Perhaps not, but what would I do with myself at the Abbey?”
Make love to me,she thought. But she said, “Sort papers.”
He nipped at her ear, and she obliged with a squeak.
“Many men seem to enjoy country living,” she argued. “In addition to running their estate, they hunt, shoot, and fish. Meet other country gentlemen...”
“To talk about hunting, shooting, and fishing. And crop yields and the diseases of cattle and sheep.”
“Discussions on the improvements in agriculture. Exploration of mining and local industries.”
“You can do that for me.”
“I doubt a woman would be allowed.”
“And it’s not your interest, either, is it?”
A tricky subject.“I’ll keep to our agreement.”
He kissed her. “I want your happiness.”
She kissed him back. “I wantourhappiness, but we can’t leave the Abbey estate to the dowager. You’d never be happy if things went awry there.”
“You give me too much credit.”
“Do I?”
He sighed. “No.” He rolled onto his back. “It should be easy for me to simply spend more time there with you, but there are serious matters in play, Kitty, all centered on London, and I can be useful.”
“Can’t others do those tasks as well?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. The truth is, it’s my life.”
“You did similar things in the war,” she said.
“Yes. Looking at the larger picture, holding more in my mind than most and finding the patterns. And the keys. And strengthening small alliances. Remembering details helps there, too. Family histories and rivalries, small misdemeanors and desires, careless words...”
She moved over him. “Thus we are as we are. For now at least. Circumstances might change.”
“You hope Britain will become more orderly, peaceful, and just? I don’t expect it soon.”
“I wasn’t being so visionary. Perhaps once we have everything in order at the Abbey, I can spend more time in London.”
“Optimistic visionary! But you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s what we’re discussing.”
He brushed hair off her face. “I mean that it’s not just me. London’s in your blood.”
