What that had to offer for the rest of their lives, she didn’t like tothink at all.
Beth’s resting period also liberated Lucien. Once his bride-to-be wasexcused from the endless round of socialization there was not much pointin his attending. He was not short of entertainment, for the Company ofRogues had assembled to bid farewell to Con and Dare, who were off to joinWellington’s army on the very day of the wedding. The focus of theCompany, as always, was the Delaney house in Lauriston Street. Nicholasand Eleanor had returned there after their family visit to Grattingley,and it was always open house for their friends.
Lucien spent most of his evenings there.
Three days before the wedding, Eleanor was bold enough to venture asaucy query. “Shouldn’t you perhaps stay home with Elizabeth, My LordMarquess?”
“Like Godric and Godgifu, sitting by the hearth?” he replied. “She’sresting, and anyway, it would be no fit pattern for our elevatedfuture.”
Eleanor frowned slightly at his tone and he repented of the bitterness.But before he could say anything she summoned Nicholas. “Who were Godricand Godgifu?” she demanded.
He looked intrigued but said, “King Henry I and his wife Matilda. Asomewhat sneering reference by the Normans to their domestic happiness andtheir attempts to Anglicize their court.” He looked over at Lucien andadded, “She refuses to buy an encyclopedia and just drags me aroundeverywhere.”
“I suppose a husband should be of some use,” Lucien said and grimacedas he again heard bitterness ring through.
“Just consider,” said Eleanor to Nicholas, smoothing over the moment,“if Miss Fitcham had been the kind of schoolmistress to actually teach herpupils something, I doubtless would have no use for you at all.”
“Do you think not?” he said lazily.
Eleanor colored and rose to her feet. “If you are going to be bold, I’mescaping while I can.” She turned and fired a parting shot at Lucien. “Ifit was good enough for the king of England, My Lord Marquess, I cannot seehow it is beneath you.”
“Broadsided, by God,” said Lucien with a laugh and gave her thevictory. He turned to Nicholas. “How do you live with a sharp-wittedwoman?”
“In constant delight. She is also warmhearted. Is Elizabeth cold?”
This was the attack direct. “I don’t know,” Lucien said at last.
“Luce,” said Nicholas, “you are rich, handsome, and the most skillful,the most outrageous, flirt in England. You even had Eleanor bedazzled infront of my very nose. How can you not know if your bride is warm orcold?”
Lucien realized he’d never flirted with Elizabeth Armitage. Assaultedher, yes, threatened and berated her. But flirted with her? No. It was nota matter he could discuss, even with Nicholas. “How can I not know?” herepeated lightly. “Because she’s a cactus and I’m an inflated bag of prideand consequence, and I’m afraid to get close enough to find out.”
Nicholas’s lips twitched. “There goes the de Vaux succession, Igather.”
“Oh,” said Lucien, “there’ll have to be an heir for de Vaux even if itleaves me limp and useless . . .” Hearing his own words he burst outlaughing.
“Perfectly natural,” agreed Nicholas with a grin, “if only in thetemporary sense. Don’t I recall you saying once that your minions inflateyour consequence with a foot pump every day? I’m gaining a whole newinsight into the bed manners of the great.”
“Have some reverence,” Lucien chided, still fighting laughter. “Notthat I’ve not always wondered about my parents ...”
“Don’t we all.”
Thought of his parents ? of his father who was not his father ?effectively sobered Lucien. “Do you ever feel grateful,” he asked, “not tohave the responsibility of carrying on a line?”
“As my brother is disinclined to marry, I probably have that duty. Idon’t find it unbearable,” Nicholas said with a grin, “but then I’m notall puffed up with pride.” He burst out laughing. “You know, I’ll never beable to hear that phrase again without lurid imaginings.” He shook hishead. “Eleanor renders me limp with satisfying regularity but leaves herspines at the bedroom door.”
“Eleanor has no spines.”
Eleanor’s devoted husband hooted with mirth. “Has she not, indeed! Yougot to know her when circumstances had her somewhat subdued. I tell herit’s no wonder she was whipped so often as a child. The remarkable thingis that it had so little effect.”
“How do you keep her in line, then?”
Nicholas grew serious in a way his friends had reason to know. “In whatline?”
It was a challenge and Lucien reacted by stiffening. “Within the lineof appropriate behavior.”
Nicholas’s warm brown eyes became remarkably cold. “I’ve never stayedwithin that line myself. Why should I try to impose it on anyoneelse?”
“She’s your wife, damn it.”
