“It shows, you know.” Polly’s aquamarine eyes out-sparkled the gems in her exquisite necklace. “You’ve always been lovely, Gabby, but tonight you’re glowing inside and out.”
“The look of a woman in love…and who knows she’s loved in return.” Maggie’s smile included the whole group. “We all have that special glow, don’t we?”
“My glow is because I’m increasing,” Tessa grumbled. “Why doesn’t anyone tell you that being with child makes you hotter than a blasted steam engine?”
“What the devil do you think they’re giggling about?” Harry Kent asked.
Adam stood with Kent and the Dukes of Strathaven, Acton, and Ranelagh and Somerville. They were observing the merriment of their respective ladies.
Strathaven’s brows lifted. “How are we to guess what transpires in the minds of females? We’d have better luck catching fish with our hands.”
Seeing Gabby’s blush, Adam was certain he knew the cause of it. She always got charmingly flustered when it came to things of a sexual nature. She’d had that blush after he’d tupped her in her dressing room, after he’d waltzed with her, and she had it now…which pretty much told him the topic of conversation.
“Garrity’s got a smug smile.” Behind the wire rims, Kent’s eyes were acute. “I think he has a guess.”
“Well, he is an old married fellow,” Ransom drawled. “He’s had more time to develop his husbandly powers of deduction. Tell us, what are our lovely ladies plotting?”
Although Adam didn’t remember the time when Ransom had been a client who’d owed him a great deal of money, Gabby had filled him in on the details. The part he’d played in saving Ransom’s daughter had apparently dissolved the contention between him and the duke. When Ransom had visited during Adam’s convalescence, he’d been sincere in his well wishes but wary. Adam had sensed a similar guardedness from the husbands of his wife’s friends.
Tonight, however, he noticed a subtle shift in their attitude toward him. From politeness to something friendlier. If he’d had to put a name to it, he’d call it acceptance.
Adam didn’t much care what anyone thought of him—with the exception of Gabby. Her opinion mattered. Yet the male company wasn’t unwelcome, and there was something to be said for husbands banding together. Especially when their wives were likely up to no good.
“Should we be worried, Garrity?” Acton arched a brow.
“They’re women. We should always be worried,” Adam said succinctly.
“Spoken like an experienced husband.” Despite Strathaven’s grimace, there was amusement in his jade eyes. “Emma’s ‘hobby’ of being an investigator has given me more grey hairs than I care to count.”
“At least Emma only takes on the occasional case.” Kent directed his gaze heavenward. “My wife runs a territory in the bloodyunderworld.”
Yet there was unmistakable pride in his voice, and he snuck a glance at his lady. She waved her fingers at him, blowing him a kiss, and he winked back at her.
“You have it easy, Acton,” Strathaven said. “Polly being the most docile of the Kents.”
“Oh, my kitten has claws.” Acton’s grin was slow and altogether male.
“Say no more.” With a mock shudder, Kent held up a large hand. “That’s my sister you’re talking about, and what’s heard cannot be unheard.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t tell you about how Emma surprised me on my last birthday…” Strathaven drawled.
When Kent clapped his hands over his ears, his brothers-in-law guffawed.
Even Adam felt his lips twitch.
Kent turned to him. “Garrity, you’re not married to one of my sisters—thank God. Let’s talk about the lovely Mrs. Garrity. How do you keep your lady out of trouble?”
“By giving her everything she needs and wants,” Adam said.
The group went silent, the men staring at him as if he’d sprouted another head. He wondered why his words surprised them when it was obvious that every one of these fellows was devoted to his lady and would do everything in his power to make her happy.
Ransom cleared his throat. His shocked expression had turned into one of…respect?
“I do believe that is the best advice of all for this husband-to-be,” he said in solemn tones. “And precisely what I intend to do with my Maggie.”
“We should toast to that.” Kent waved over a footman bearing a tray of champagne.
The men took glasses and raised them.
