Forbidden, as such.
There were bad things, and then there wereverybad things.
Lusting over one’s chum’s sister was firmly in the latter.
Fortunately, he had exemplary restraint.
“And I have missed you also, Duchess,” he gallantly told Riverdale’s wife, who had joined him and Lady Verity for their little tête-à-tête.
“You are looking well,” the duchess returned primly.
He knew he was. His toilette had been chosen with infinite care today, as always.
King inclined his head. “Thank you. Tell me, how is a dunderhead like Riverdale fortunate enough to surround himself with such beauty?”
“Because I am deuced lucky,” Riverdale announced blithely as he breezed into the drawing room.
“Old chum,” he greeted his friend.
They exchanged pleasantries and took tea together. It was a boring call, almost unremarkable, really. Until Riverdale and the duchess left the drawing room with the promise that they would soon return in a few minutes’ time, and Lady Verity turned to him with an expectant look.
“I have already told everyone our happy news,” she said, smiling.
“Happy news?” he repeated, thoroughly confused.
“That we are engaged to be married,” she said brightly.
King’s teacup slipped from his fingers and crashed to the floor.
“Let’stake a turn in the gardens whilst King and Verity have their chat,” Everett suggested as he escorted Sybil away from the drawing room.
She was surprised.
“But it’s rather chilly and damp out today, isn’t it?” she protested. “Besides, I thought you wanted to remain nearby in case Kingham decided to be anything less than a gentleman with Verity.”
“There’s something I would like to show you there,” her husband said, a small smile flirting with his lips as he guided them to the door leading into the small garden. “I’ve just had a new garden bench installed on account of how much you enjoy sitting in the garden in fair weather, and I want to see what you think of it.”
“I do enjoy the gardens,” she admitted, charmed despite the suspicions rising within her. “I hadn’t thought you noticed.”
“I notice everything about you, my darling wife.”
Warmth suffused her. Everett had become an incredibly attentive husband since the fire. Now that there were no more secrets between them, everything had changed for the better.
“It is said that rakes make the best husbands,” she murmured, “and I am inclined to agree it’s true.”
“I’m hardly a rake any longer, now that I have you,” he pointed out, opening the door and gesturing for her to go ahead of him. “I haven’t had eyes for anyone else since I met you.”
“That is just as well, for if you did, I would be forced to dump another pitcher of water on your head,” she remarked slyly.
To think that their happiness had begun that day, when she had sought him out in hurt and anger, believing the worst of him, whilst unbeknownst to Sybil, he had also been believing the worst of her.
“I do believe I deserved the water pitcher that day,” he allowed, offering her his arm once more.
She took it, settling her hand into the crook of his elbow as they meandered down a gravel-lined path that led through the rosebushes. “You have made up for it, husband.”
“I do hope to make up for it just a bit more,” he said mysteriously.
They rounded a bend in the path, and Sybil instantly understood the hidden meaning in his words. It wasn’t just a new bench that had been installed in the gardens. It was her brother.
