Gabriel cleared his throat. “On that topic, may I ask something of a personal nature?”
The duke quirked a brow.
“Before you were married, you had a certain reputation when it came to females. Specifically when it came to your, ahem, activities with them.”
The duke’s brow rose another fraction.
His neck heated, yet he bumbled on like an idiot. “What I mean to say is, after one is wed, one must obviously consider a wife’s sensibilities. Whatever his past, a gentleman must make certain adjustments for the long term health of his marriage. Maintaining a lady’s, er, contentment cannot be easy.”
The duke studied him for a moment before saying, “I won’t discuss what happens in my bedchamber.”
Gabriel felt himself turn red. “No, of course not. I didn’t mean to suggest—”
“But I will say this. I’ve made only one adjustment, as you put it, and that is to conduct all my activities exclusively with my duchess.”
“That’s it?” It couldn’t be that simple.
“My lady has no complaints. Trust me, if she had, I’d have heard them.”
Would it be that easy to keep Thea happy? Gabriel brooded. He had no problems with fidelity. He’d remained true to Sylvia even when she’d asked him to stay out of her bed. No, faithfulness hadn’t been the problem in his first marriage:hehad been. He’d repulsed Sylvia with his bestial excesses, the curse of his blood.
With Thea, however, he’d headed those problems off at the pass. She had accepted his past and his carnal desires; she wasn’t going in blind. As long as love stayed out of the mix, there was no reason to doubt that their marriage would be a success.
Don’t be pathetic and needful,and things will be fine.
Strathaven was regarding him with something akin to compassion. “Whatever your previous experience with marriage was, don’t bring it into your future. Drink from a clean cup, my friend. A Kent is a rare vintage and should be enjoyed for her unique qualities.”
Could he put his past behind him? Lock away the demons for good? For Thea’s sake and his own, he would have to try.
“Of course, some of these rare qualities—namely a propensity for recklessness—may also drive to you to Bedlam,” Strathaven went on, “but you’ll get used to it.”
He frowned. “I am not going to get used to Thea taking risks.”
Today would be the one and only exception, he told himself. She might have swayed him this one time, but that didn’t mean he would permit his future marchioness to endanger herself again. He’d taught her a few defensive moves as an emergency precaution only. He sure as hell didn’t want her in situations where she’d actually have cause to put them to use.
“You think I like Emma running about pell-mell?” his friend said. “But short of chaining her to the bedchamber, all I can do is support her and trust in her abilities.”
The thought of chaining Thea to his bed held a lot of appeal.
“A man must be master of his own house,” Gabriel said firmly.
“Right,” the duke said in wry tones. He consulted his gold pocket watch. “Speaking as Her Grace’s lord and master then, she has precisely forty minutes left before I break down that front door and haul her out of there.”
Gabriel nodded in agreement. The two of them withdrew into shared silence, their eyes locked on the townhouse.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Despite being labelled an informal luncheon, Lady Davenport’s event was a lavish affair. Three rows of dining tables had been laid out in the ballroom, an abundance of crystal, china, and silver glinting beneath the chandeliers. Ladies in elaborate day dresses gossiped in the buffet line as a half-dozen footmen served out delicacies such as roasted turbot, pressed beef tongue, and vegetables molded in aspic.
Waiting in queue with Emma and Pandora, Thea whispered, “Should we go and conduct the search now?”
“Not yet, dear.” Em’s brown eyes took in the environs with an experienced sweep. “We’ll wait until everyone’s seated and occupied with eating before we make our move.”
“Lady Davenport will give a speech. That should buy us fifteen minutes of distraction,” Pandora said in an undertone. “We’ll go then.”
“Your Grace? Miss Kent?”
The timid voice came from behind them. Thea turned and saw a plump, red-haired girl with bright blue eyes and the face of a pixie. Gabriella Billings was the sweet and artless daughter of a wealthy banker. Emma had met Gabby last year and brought her into the Kent fold. Thea liked the girl tremendously.
