Now he remembered what had most annoyed him about her — the high drama. Every time they swived, she would demand he spend the night and sulk when he didn’t. She would literallycling to his arm and try to lure him back to bed. The one time she succeeded, he’d arisen before dawn and still she had pouted, asking when she would see him again.
When he parted from her, he had thought he had been kind but firm, setting her free to find a permanent solution to her loneliness. And it seemed she had, with Varley.
Apparently, their marriage was a sham.
Chapter Eighteen
Two evenings later, Matthew assisted Purity and her mother into his carriage and climbed in behind them before his footman shut the door. He had insisted upon collecting them for a concert at the Hanover Square Rooms. Having the ladies come to his home and offer him a ride in the earl’s conveyance would have been emasculating.
Besides, Matthew’s brougham was plush and comfortable. As his baroness, Purity would soon be sharing it regularly. He wanted her to like everything about her new life.
Lady Diamond had agreed to play the chaperone. Although the three of them didn’t address anything to do with the hurried engagement, the countess’s presence helped to alleviate any lingering awkwardness.
“I have never heard of Monsieur Hector Berlioz,” Lady Diamond admitted. “But I am grateful to have this opportunity to attend his concert with you.”
Purity’s mother was grace personified, making it seem as if he were doing her a great favor by bringing her when, in fact, she was being dragged along to offer the semblance of propriety. Matthew already knew Lord Diamond had been called out of town by his land manager. Elsewise, both parents would be watching his every move.
“I shall be pleased to have your knowledgeable presence, my lady, since I have not been a steady concertgoer in the past. However, while in Paris, I was introduced to Berlioz as both a composer and conductor. I thought his music to be sublime, and I hope you enjoy it.”
Then he turned to Purity. “I will be most interested to know your opinion of the pianist.”
Mother and daughter looked at one another. Then Purity said, “I am sure the concert pianist can play far better than I, my lord.”
He shrugged. “I cannot imagine anyone playing better. I would like to give you a piano as my wedding gift, but I might need help in choosing a good instrument.”
He was gratified by Lady Diamond’s nod of approval.
“That is generous of you, my lord,” Purity said. “However, I believe my parents will let me keep the piano I have since my father purchased it especially for me.”
Two perfectly proper “my lords” in a row from his fiancée, as well as entirely neutral conversation, all the while with her gaze upon her gloved hands folded in her lap. If this were the young lady he’d first met, he would think her shy, demure, and boring.
Luckily, he knew she was none of those things. Purity was holding herself up to the highest standard of feminine decorous and modest behavior to counteract what had occurred before. And if she didn’t stop by evening’s end, Matthew would be forced to drag her behind the stage and kiss her soundly.
At the Hanover Square Rooms, also known as the Queen’s Concert Rooms by those who liked to stay in that regal lady’s good graces, Lady Diamond did two things — she started to introduce them to any friends or acquaintances they came across as an engaged couple, engendering many congratulations and well wishes.
Secondly, she gave them space to speak by themselves.
While the countess got into a deeper conversation about the merits of the mineral waters of Bath, where he understood she’d been raised, Matthew was able to take Purity’s arm and stroll the lobby.
“Stop looking over your shoulder,” he said. “Your mother is within shouting distance, other people are all around us, and I intend nothing untoward.”
She nodded and stared at her slippered feet.
He wanted to shake her. “Honestly, kitten, I thought once we were engaged you would relax a little and let down your guard.”
Purity visibly stiffened. “Relax?” she repeated. “Are you referring to my morals? I suppose you think I should hang all over you and rub your shoulder in public now that we are engaged.”
Matthew couldn’t help laughing. “I have never considered either of those things. Is that how you believe betrothed people behave?”
A couple stopped them and congratulated them upon their engagement. As soon as they’d moved on, she continued, “If you relaxed your morals any further, my lord, you would be a male light-skirt.”
“A light-skirt,” he said, ready to laugh again.
“A light-pants, then,” she suggested, still looking far too solemn for the happy occasion of being out for the first time as a couple.
While he knew he’d been an out and outer for years, often enjoying himself too much, he was not a whore’s bird. Plainly, Purity was still angry over the flirtatious females at Vauxhall. However, he no longer had any interest in women with their tendencies. He liked his kitten and her strait-laced manner, at least in public.
As long as she kept her fiery passion only for him, he would be satisfied.
