“Distraction will not work, my lord.” But she greatly feared it would… was… working.
He lifted his head, sighing. “I know you don’t like it, darling, but most marriages are not based on mutual respect. That is something learned over time.”
“Don’t you mean “earned”?” she said bitterly.
“All right. Earned, then. The point is, you cannot change other people’s lives.”
“Can’t I?”
“Well, perhaps a few,” he said with a fleeting smile. “But Rose and Stanford must work out their own differences, just as we have done—are doing,” he quickly modified.
“I hate what that bastard is doing to my sister. If I could, I would strangle him with my own hands.”
The rest of his ire seemed to fade. “Didn’t I tell you, if there was bodily harm to be inflicted, I would be the one to handle it?”
Gabby’s head fell on his shoulder. “It just angers me beyond reason.” And, again with the blasted tears that had plagued her all day.
His chuckle was felt through the many layers they wore. “I have no doubt. Again, I must iterate. Getting between a man and his wife, is not only unwise, but also illegal.”
Her head came up. “Then why did he tell me I was flirting with danger?”
He speared her with a force of unwarranted accusations. “That is the question. Is there anything else you are not telling me?”
Air hissed out between her pursed lips. “Well, I did mention how he was leaving Florence Groves without any means of care for her unborn child.” She lifted her head and faced him with her most earnest appeal. “Really, Huntley, how is a young girl of seventeen to handle such unasked for responsibility?" Her head fell back on his shoulder.
“You can’t save everyone, love.” Huntley’s cheek rested against her forehead. “Promise me you’ll stay out of Stanford’s way,” he said softly.
“I promise.” But Gabby vowed to send her sister a note, letting her know she would be there if Rose needed her. She also made a mental note to ask Mabel about Florence since the young woman had yet to reach out. Other questions plundered her. “I still fail to understand why Liverpool is so enthralled with Dinah Darby’s exit from Drury Lane.”
“I’d like a few answers to that myself,” he said.
At least they were in sync in some matters. The thought melted the last of the ice coursing her veins, along with the heat of his mouth on hers. There was nothing more she could do tonight. Well, one, perhaps… and locked her arms around his neck.
Thirty-One
Whites was the most welcome sight James had seen in a week. Cigar smoke as thick as the London fog hung low from high ceilings. The hum of male conversation, intelligent or not, was music to his soul. Not a single word regarding the ills of getting fat or morning nausea filtered in his direction. What need had he to know a woman with child could be ailing any hour of the day and night?
Every day for the past week, James had driven his wife to Hope Street and each day a new face appeared and was, inevitably, with child. The most shocking aspect had been seeing the Duke of Ryleigh trailing his duchess about the place with his hands clasped at his lower back, inspecting the building for every hazard and pitfall, until the duchess had told him to “be off.”
“Over here, Huntley.” Speaking of the duke…
James shook the rain from his head and handed off his greatcoat. He made his way to the empty chair next to Ryleigh. One of the attendants poured him a brandy then discreetly disappeared. “I take it you’ve already engaged a mason for the crumbling foundation in the kitchens?”
“The whole house might collapse if it’s not corrected,” Ryleigh mumbled.
James hid a grin behind his glass. “Quite so.”
“Any news on Liverpool’s interest in Drury Lane?”
“No. But since you’ve broached the subject…” He tapped his glass with his index finger, contemplating the audacity of voicing his next thoughts.
“Well, what is it, Huntley? You’ve obviously something on your mind.”
“I may be stepping out of bounds, but this has to do with Stanford and, er, Lady Stanford.”
“Rose?” Ryleigh slowly lowered his glass and stared at James as if he’d just told him he’d discovered time-travel. “This has Gabriella written all over it,” his said with a sigh.
“She’s concerned,” he said completely and irreverently embarrassed.
