Oh, it was so very wrong of her to want to share more with Orlando, but she could no longer ignore the longing in her heart.
She and Orlando shared a closeness that she had never shared with John. In fact, she and Orlando had talked and shared more these past weeks than she and John had in the two months of courtship and nearly four years of marriage.
Still, that changed nothing.
They were a forbidden romance, if that was what they were.
He was not fine when she was not with him and neither was she. Yet there was little they could do other than cherish what they shared.
Blythe rolled over and bunched the pillow beneath her head.
How had her life come to this?
She had always been the obedient daughter and did her duty and never stepped out of line until she met a handsome, charming man in the cavalry dressed in his fine uniform.
Oh, John had been so handsome and had known exactly what to say and she had foolishly believed him.
Those emotions, while powerful, were nothing compared to the way her heart warmed the moment Orlando stepped into the room, or the contentment she felt just being in his presence. He made her feel valued, needed, loved and cherished even though those words had never passed his lips.
A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye.
She loved Dr. Orlando Valentine which was the biggest mistake she could ever make. More so than when she’d allowed John to nearly seduce her. She’d been a fool then, but what she was doing now courted an entirely different type of ruination if anyone learned.
Maybe she should return to England before she succumbed to her physical desires and seduced Orlando, if he would have her. Though, loving Orlando in her heart, without physical intimacy was just as bad as loving him with her body while she still had a husband.
Oh, if only John selling her could have truly broken the bonds of marriage, then she would be free, but it hadn’t and she was stuck.
Orlando had nearly confessed his love to Blythe before he left this morning and he could not make that mistake again.
But he needed and wanted her.
If only…
Wishes did not make her husband go away. However, Blythe’s father was a duke. If anyone could achieve the impossible, and secure a dissolution of marriage, it would be him, but he didn’t even know that Orlando existed or that John had sold his wife.
“A word, Dr. Valentine.”
Orlando turned to find Captain Nathanial Storm addressing him. Storm had been spending a lot of time with Isabella but had not approached him about a courtship. Was he going to now?
“I have an invitation for you to attend the ball being held by the Duchess of Richmond.”
Orlando frowned. “I do not plan on accepting nor any of the others I have received.” He would have had a change of heart had Blythe decided she wanted to attend, but since she did not, he would be spending that evening with her.
“What of Miss Valentine?” Storm demanded.
Orlando’s jaw tightened at what sounded like an accusation but he had done nothing wrong. “I understand you and Isabella have been spending some time together.”
“We have talked often,” Storm answered.
“Did you ask her to accompany you to the ball?”
“I suggested attending functions, but she refused me.”
Orlando nodded, not the least surprised. “Neither Isabella nor I belong at a ball, or any other entertainment, Captain.”
“She said as much,” Storm admitted.
“So why procure an invitation and then come to me?” Orlando nearly dismissed him and started for the medical tent.
