Pippa’s brow pleated. “I’m not sure I follow, dear.”
“I mean, how long does your husband stay? After, you know… Before returning to his own chamber, I mean.”
“Oh, I see. Cull doesn’t return to his room,” Pippa replied. “We spend the night together.”
“As do Hadleigh and I,” Livy said, nodding.
Fiona blinked. “Even after you-know-what?”
“Actually, we sleep together even when we don’t make love,” Pippa said.
Again, Livy bobbed her head in agreement.
“Really?” Fi’s eyes widened.
A few times after she and Hawk made love, he’d stayed until she’d fallen asleep. In truth, his presence made it easier for her to drift off; she liked snuggling with him, the feeling of being surrounded by his warm strength. At some point during the night, however, he always returned to his own room. She’d concluded that she wasn’t fond of waking up alone. Which was why she’d asked her friends for advice.
“It is not that unusual.” Pippa gave her a curious look. “When you were little, didn’t you ever accidentally find your parents in bed together in the morning?”
Fi shook her head. Her parents were private people. Although their devotion was unquestionable, what happened in their marital life was a mystery—and she preferred it that way.
“Mama and Papa kept their doors locked,” she said. “And Papa was very strict with Max and me about knocking before entering.”
“There was probably a reason for that,” Livy pointed out.
Fi immediately blocked out the image. “Eww.”
“It’s a fact of life, dearest, and the reason for your very existence.” Lips quivering, Pippa said, “Back to your question. I take it Hawksmoor does not spend the night?”
“He and I spend time together every night. But we don’t sleep together.”
“Would you like him to stay?”
At the thought of waking up next to her husband, Fi felt a flutter of yearning. Yet unease slithered through her as well. What if she drooled in her sleep? Snored or mumbled things? And Lord knew her hair could resemble a bird’s nest in the mornings. She wasn’t sure she was ready for her husband to see all her imperfections.
If they spent more time together, would Hawk also grow curious about her activities? Would he want to know what she was doing with the Angels? The closer they got, the more opportunities she would have to slip up…the way she had with her parents. What ifHawkstarted to interrogate her, put limits on her, disapprove of her? Her newfound longing for intimacy could lead to dangerous consequences.
“Perhaps?” she ventured.
Pippa raised her brows. “When you decide what you want, you should let him know.”
“Are you certain sleeping together is normal? And we do have an agreement—”
“Agreements can be renegotiated,” Pippa said firmly. “And there is no right and wrong in marriage: you and your husband get to make the rules. The important thing is that you communicate your desires.”
Fi chewed on her lip. “What if he doesn’t want the same thing?”
“I doubt that very much,” Pippa said.
She and Livy exchanged knowing smiles.
“If your husband is anything like mine, I think he will enjoy the benefits of sharing your bed all night.” Livy took a sip of tea, her lips curving. “And waking there in the morning.”
Seventeen
“So you’re the gents Hutchings mentioned,” Vera Engle said in a sultry voice. “The solicitors wanting information on Sarah. Now, me, I’ve a liking for professional fellows.”
Subjected to Miss Engle’s openly interested gaze, Fiona willed herself not to blush. The voluptuous, raven-haired actress had taken her and Pippa, once again disguised as solicitors, into one of the “performance rooms” to talk. A tattered chair, sofa, and tiny platform with a wooden pole took up the cramped space.
