She cleared her throat. “Should we… discuss expectations?”
Asher immediately understood what she was referring to, the first night of their marriage. “We just met. I do not expect anything from you.”
“Will you…” She shifted in her seat. “Will you… seek companionship elsewhere?”
Her question made sense, especially upon the circumstances of their marriage. Before he had become duke, he hadn’t exactly been the most reserved of men and had enjoyed spending time with women who weren’t going to be interested in marriage.
But at the same time, he had always respected the idea of being true to his wife. IT was one of the reasons he had never wanted to be forced into anything.
She was looking down at her second course, and he couldn’t help himself. He needed to see her, to look her in the eyes when he said what he needed to.
He leaned over the table, reaching out to lift her chin with his index and middle fingers. He had imagined intimacy would be part of their marriage – until he had realized how much he actually liked Evelyn. To add physical touch might just be too much.
“Look at me,” he demanded, not continuing until those hazel eyes with the touch of green flecks were staring right at him expectantly. “I have no intention of seeking out anyone else. You are my wife, and I respect the vows we made.”
She licked her lips. “But what if?—”
“If circumstances change — for either of us — we must discuss it honestly with one another. But until then, we remain faithful to each other. Do you understand?”
She nodded at him, holding his gaze, and his heart returned to its regular pattern. Truthfully, he hadn’t considered this before now. He knew plenty of marriages in which the husband and wife sought others outside the marriage bed. But now that she was in front of him, he couldn’t imagine her being with another man. The thought made him want to rage, even if it had not happened yet.
He also wondered if there was already more to his marriage than he had thought there would be.
The idea gave him unexpected excitement that he tried to dampen.
That it was even there was a surprise in itself.
But not an entirely unwelcome one.
10
Evelyn was enjoying this dinner far more than she should.
It was what she had sought when she requested the privacy — the Asher who was warmer, more thoughtful, caring about what she said and not just what he had to do.
But now she was worried she was liking it a little too much.
For what would happen tomorrow, when he returned to his usual, ducal self?
With that thought in mind, she deliberately shifted the topic to something much more practical and a reminder of who they were and what they were doing here together.
“Tomorrow, I would like to go to the Eastclere Gallery,” she announced during a break in conversation.
His head snapped up, his brows raising.
“Why?”
“I told you that I would like to assist in determining who wants it to seem like we were involved in this. What better way than returning to where it happened to discover the true culprit?”
“Or it could result in us being further suspected. How would we even request such a thing from the Marquess of Eastclere?He prefers to show off his collections, not the spaces where they used to be. I’m sure he is rather embarrassed to have lost such a precious item.”
“He won’t even know we are there,” she said. “He is not in residence this week.”
“How do you know this?” Asher asked, blinking at her.
“Verity is his cousin. She said she can help us gain private access.”
“They are going to allow the people suspected of stealing one item near the rest of his prizes?”
