A little color returned to Olivia’s cheeks, and she lowered her gaze.
“Forgive me for embarrassing you, sister,” Jacob said, “but I see nothing to disapprove of in a healthy marriage, eh, brother?”
He winked at Charles this time, then approached the side table.
“Devilled kidneys!” He spooned some onto his plate, then sat at the table and began to eat.
“Have you seen Nicola this morning?” Olivia asked. “She’s meeting me here at eight for our walk today.”
Jacob shook his head. “She’s not my keeper.” He swallowed a mouthful of tea and muttered something else that sounded remarkably likethank fuck.
“Jacob, Nicola is my friend,” Olivia said.
Jacob set his cup aside. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to insult her. I just need a little respite.”
“From Nicola? I thought you wanted to marry her.”
He let out a snort. “Told you that, did she? Then you’re a fool to believe her.” Charles frowned at his brother, and Jacob let out a sigh. “Forgive me, Olivia. I’m a little bad-tempered this morning.”
“Is Nicola here? Is that why you’re in an ill temper?”
“She’s in the kitchen, yes. I told her to remain there after she…”
“After she what?” Olivia said.
“After she demanded that I propose to her. She says that now I’m recognized as my brother’s heir I must take a wife to continue the line.”
Olivia drew in a sharp breath and held her hand to her mouth.
Charles smacked his fist into his palm.How dare you distress my wife!
Jacob shrugged. “I’m only repeating what Nicola said. But I don’t want to marry her. She’s always known that, despite what she might have said to Olivia.”
“And—I take it you don’t want her as your wife because she’s not a lady,” Olivia said.
Jacob gave a mirthless laugh. “You think I care forthat? No—I want to marry a woman I love, and until I find her, I’ll not be asking anyone.”
“Are you so naïve as to think that men and women marry forlove?” Olivia said, her voice tightening. “I—Oh, sweet Lord!”
She let out another cry and clamped her hand over her mouth. Then she leaped to her feet and ran out of the room.
Charles rose to follow, but Jacob placed a hand on his arm.
“Leave her be, brother. Let her calm down—women can be harridans when they’ve distressed themselves. I’ll reckon there’s a reason why she’s been temperamental of late.”
Charles stared at his brother.What reason?
“You’ve not noticed how she’s changed?” Jacob said. “Perhaps it’s because I don’t see her every day that the change is more apparent to me. They do say that you can withstand having your hand in boiling water if you’ve had it in from when the water’s cold because you don’t notice it getting hotter. And your little wife’s fit to boil.”
Is she unhappy with me?
Jacob laughed. “You’re a fool if you thinkthat, given how many times I’ve heard her screaming your name. Last night as I was retiring…the other day in the billiard room…and, if I’m not mistaken, yesterday in the garden. Only a wife truly in love with her husband would let him rut her from behind with her skirts around her waist while she’s—”
Jacob broke off as Charles thumped his fist on the table.
“What?” He shrugged. “You’re a fortunate man and, I suspect, soon to be even more fortunate.”
Charles raised his eyebrows.
