Lewis was so lost in thought that he started at the address. George stood just a few feet away, watching him with a bemused expression.
Lewis sighed. “Morington, join me. I can tell you all about the woe that is in marriage.”
Unlike his grandmother, who was convinced that Bridget had met with some great misfortune, Morington would listen to reason; he would agree with Lewis and be a sympathetic ear.
“I can scarcely imagine what woes might arise from being joined to such a lovely wife as yours,” Morington said, dropping into the chair beside him.
“You do not know her well,” Lewis said dryly. “We have quarreled, and now, she is avoiding me. And my grandmother is convinced that Bridget can do no wrong.”
Speaking with Morington was much more freeing than conversing with his grandmother. Lewis did not feel the need to soften his words, for fear of upsetting his friend.
Morington’s lips twitched in amusement. “Your wife is too well-liked.”
“Evidently.”
“I cannot say that I am surprised. Before the scandals, your wife was one of the most desirable women of theton,” Morington said.
“Well, I have gotten more than I promised.”
Morington frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
Lewis considered his friend for a long moment. Then, he downed the rest of his brandy in a long gulp. The spirit burned his throat and filled his chest with warmth. “I like her more than I am comfortable with.”
Morington raised an eyebrow. “Oh.”
“It is disastrous,” Lewis said. “A flight of fancy, nothing more than that.”
“If it was a flight of fancy, you would not be here looking so morose,” Morington said. “When you say that youlikeher, do you really mean something else?”
“Careful,” Lewis said.
Morington slowly nodded. “Well, my friend. Most men would be delighted to learn that they love their brides of convenience.”
“I did not say I loved her.”
“I know.”
Lewis rubbed his jaw and shook his head. “I do not,” he insisted. “And even if I did, it would be the worst possible outcome for the both of us.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Lewis trailed off. “Because I cannot love someone like that. Bridget is unpredictable and spirited, and—and what if I could not love her forever? She would be devastated.”
Morington stared incredulously at him. “Do you love her now, though?”
Lewis worked his jaw for a moment, trying to find a neat way to evade the question. When he found none, he conceded with a helpless shrug. “I do not know. I am fonder of her than I anticipated being, but that does not mean I love her. I have never loved anyone before, and I have no intention of starting with Bridget.”
Morington laughed. “Bold of you, my friend, to assume that you have any control over who you love.”
“Don’t I?”
“You do not,” Morington said. “No one does. And if you want my thoughts on the matter, I think you should be open to whatever it is you are feeling. You deserve something wonderful in life, and if you have a chance to find true love, you should take it.”
CHAPTER 36
Soft moonlight flitted through the windows of Lewis’s study. He sat by the fire with a glass of brandy held in his hand. Since leaving the club, he had done little except sit in his study, drink, and think about Bridget. If she was only angry with him, she would have returned already, right? Her anger could not be so great that it kept her away for an entire day.
What if something had happened to Bridget? What if she had been hurt, while he spent the better part of the day assuming that she was scheming against him? Lewis jolted to his feet. It was time to look for her.
