“Hawk did, of course.” Fi scowled. “He can be quite overbearing.”
“That is a husband for you. And Morgan men are notorious for being stubborn.” Effie smiled over the rim of her teacup. “Just ask Mama.”
“In all fairness, I can be a bit hotheaded myself.” A glum thought struck Fi. “Hawk probably never fought with his first wife.”
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I did see Hawk and Caroline disagree.” Effie pursed her lips. “Not that I saw them very often. They rusticated at their estate in Bedfordshire and didn’t encourage visitors.”
“Why not?”
“Hawk said he needed solitude to work.” Effie hesitated. “May I say something in confidence?”
Fi nodded.
“Jerry and I suspected that Hawk wasn’t the one who wanted seclusion.”
“You mean Caroline…?”
“She was lovely, but she did not seem to care for our company. I always had the feeling she would rather be on her own. She was a noted bluestocking; perhaps she enjoyed the company of books more than people? Anyway, I think Hawk wanted her to be happy, so he made excuses and took the blame for their absence.”
That sort of noble gesture did sound like Hawk.
“After Caroline died, Hawk wasn’t the same. Jerry said he seemed half-alive.”
Fi’s heart ached for her husband.
Wistfully, she said, “He must have loved Caroline very much.”
“Devotion is another Morgan trait. Yet I think it was more than that.” Effie leaned closer. “Hawk and Caroline were rather too much alike. They both lived in their heads and reinforced each other’s solitary tendencies. After Caroline’s passing, Hawk was awkward around us, as if he’d forgotten how to be a part of a family. But now that he has found you, he is different.”
“By different, do you mean annoyed?” Fi asked dryly.
“He isalive. No longer sleepwalking through life. Jerry says that at the Strathaven ball, he and Hawk had the best chat they’d had in ages. True, theywerebonding over their wives’ excessive spending habits.” Effie winked. “But my husband is grateful to have Hawk back; we all are. And we owe it to you.”
Her sister-in-law’s words warmed Fi.Do I really have that effect on Hawk? Is it possible that I, with all my flaws, am what he needs?
Fi gave Effie a hopeful look. “Do you have advice on resolving rows with one’s husband?”
“Compromise is usually the best solution.” Effie smiled demurely. “If that fails, you could always do what I do.”
“What is that, pray tell?”
“Pretend to let him win.”
Papa examined the sketches for a new analytic machine on Hawk’s desk.
“How is the project coming along, son?”
“It needs work,” Hawk said.
Like so many things in my life at present.
A knot tightened in his chest. He didn’t know how he and Fiona had ended up in the present state of warfare. One minute, she was performing exquisite fellatio on him in a pleasure house, the next she was dashing out of their carriage declaring that their marriage was over if he did not accept her.
Her volatile behavior was enough to drive a fellow mad.
You should have stuck to the rules,he thought grimly.Attachments always lead to trouble.
“Do you need a hand, Thomas? With the machine or, er, anything else?”
