“I must know,” Lance prompted.
“Eva wanted to have a proper dinner because she wanted Miss Belvoir to experience one in a duke’s home. The woman is your guest. The least you can do is wear a starched collar, lest she think you believe her not worth the trouble. You forget what your station means to others, and how visiting here carries certain expectations on the part of others.”
Lance had nothing to say to that.
Ives roused himself. “That was very thoughtful of Eva. If a woman is a guest of a duke, she would like to live as she believes dukes do.”
“Eva is nothing if not insightful,” Lance said, defeated.
Gareth strolled over and sat near Ives. “The ladies should join us soon.”
“I expect so,” Ives said.
“You appear quite peaceful, Ives. Contented. It is good to see you without the scowl you so often wear when in Lance’s company.”
“That is because here at Merrywood, he cannot do the things that make me scowl.”
“Ah. I thought perhaps it was more than that.”
“Such as what?”
Gareth looked innocent. “The weather. The quiet. The country often brings relaxation. Contentment.”
“He does appear contented, doesn’t he?” Lance interjected. “You should come down more often, Ives. The country air seems to agree with you these days.”
“You only want me here so you will have someone to get into trouble with,” Ives said.
“As if I would be so lucky as to have you agree to that.”
Gareth’s attention had turned to the door. He cocked his head. “Ah, here they come.”
The slightest footsteps. The barest rustle. The two ladies appeared in the doorway.
Ives’s mouth went dry.
Padua had been transformed. She was always lovely, but—
He stood along with his brothers. Gareth sidled close. “Miss Belvoir looks exceptionally beautiful tonight, doesn’t she?”
Ives tore his gaze off Padua and turned it on Gareth, whose own gaze remained fixed on Ives’s face. “Yes.”
“The red really complements her color, I think,” Gareth mused. “Don’t you agree?”
He nodded.
Gareth leaned in closer. “You probably should try toclose your mouth now. I don’t want Eva to enjoy herself too much at your expense.”
Ives finally noticed Eva. She smiled at him. Smugly. Then she spoke. “Let us all go into the dining room. We need not stand on ceremony for that. After all, we are family and intimate friends.” She looked right at Padua when she said the last part. Then right at Ives, before she led the way out.
***
“You looked especially lovely tonight.” Ives offered the compliment along with a kiss after the white light of release dissipated. Padua had joined in more this time than in the past. Emboldened, she had taken his cock firmly in hand, and experimented with giving pleasure. Her efforts had charmed him to a ridiculous degree.
“I felt lovely,” she said. “It was kind of Eva to deck me out like that.”
Not entirely kind. Eva’s motivations reflected her view of the affair. She thought he was taking advantage of Padua. She believed he was being a rake, much as her husband used to be.
“I think,” Padua murmured as she curved her body against his, “I have never felt so beautiful before in my entire life.”
