“What are you most passionate about?” It was something she ought to know about him.
He halted, leaned against the brocaded wall, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. And then he waggled his brows.
“Do be serious. I’ve known you for years, but I don’t really know you at all.” Bethany clasped her hands behind her back and waited for an answer.
“But I’ve a reputation for being a rake.”
And yet, he’d not once mourned the loss of his independence as she’d expected him to—not in her presence anyhow. “But what occupies your mind, your heart, your time?”
“Other than this?” His words were sarcastic as he gestured around them.
She nodded.
He frowned and then stared off at nothing in particular. “I suppose the desire to… make matters right.”
Bethany held her breath, wanting him to explain further. She’d expected his passion to be cards, horse racing, boxing, fencing, or even sexual exploits, but he was sharing a part of himself she’d not expected.
And what did he mean by making matters right? Matters that he’d set wrong? And then she knew. This had absolutely nothing to do with what had happened between the two of them. This wasn’t about anything Chase had done wrong. He was talking about something his father had done.
He smiled sadly and met her eyes. “My father wasn’t the paragon my mother believes. When he died, he left me with a few… unexpected responsibilities. Responsibilities I’ll never be able to ignore.”
“Unexpected?” Bethany asked, all but holding her breath for his answer.
“It’s complicated.”
In that moment, several couples began gathering on the dance floor even as the musicians fell silent.
“My dance, I believe.” He reverted to the charming, untroubled fellow she’d always known without explaining his cryptic comment. What unexpected burden had his father left for him?
Bethany was learning that this man, her husband, was not the carefree person she’d always imagined him to be. Perhaps quite the opposite.
Was the unfathomable gentleman within as lovable as his exterior?
No doubt he was. But she couldn’t keep herself from hoping that both of those gentlemen might come to care for her even half as much as she cared for them—for him.
After leadinghis wife in the opening set, a rousing quadrille, and then abandoning her to the company of Lady Ravensdale and Lydia Cockfield, Chase ambled out of the ballroom and along a dark corridor to where the cardroom would be buzzing with games. Dancing had never been one of his favorite activities, and yet, he’d enjoyed it.
Standing across from him on the dance floor, Bethany would meet his eyes and then blush and drop her lashes when he didn’t look away. Each time another partner claimed her, he’d been almost jealous for her to return to his side.
Not like him at all.
Chase slowed his steps and withdrew a cigar from his pocket. He wouldn’t smoke it now but found pleasure simply rolling it between his first finger and thumb. Perhaps he’d light up in the cardroom.
“It’s no secret she’s been in love with him for as long as I’ve known her.” The sound of gossiping hens floating out from the ladies’ retiring room interrupted his thoughts. “Of course, she did it on purpose. And although she’s shown up looking prettier than usual tonight, he’ll tire of her soon enough.”
He’d have dismissed that one comment but then a second woman interjected more details.
“Bethany Fitzwilliam! With Baron Chaswick no less! If it comes out she didn’t trap him intentionally then I’ll eat my… reticule.” This lady giggled at her own joke.
Chase halted his steps.
“He’ll be up to his merry ways in no time. I hear Lady Starling is returning from Brighton next week,” a third lady inserted. All three voices sounded familiar but he couldn’t quite place them.
“And then there are those two blonde tarts he was seen with the afternoon of their wedding. My aunt insists he’s been seen with them before. What kind of man keeps more than one mistress? And in the same household no less?”
“What self-respecting courtesan tolerates that?”
“How mortifying for Lady Bethany! But I suppose if he only married her to appease Westerley, he can’t really be expected to reform his behavior.”
