On the last day, he took them to a local church that had Saxon origins and some interesting standing stones in the graveyard that spoke of even earlier times.
After Carenza went off with Allegra into the church, Mrs. Sheraton took his arm. “Have you spoken to Lady Brenton yet?” she asked.
“I speak to her every day, ma’am, as I do all my guests.”
She cast him a disapproving look. “Don’t be coy. You know what I mean.”
“That I’m expected to persuade her to tell me her plans for my downfall?” Julian inquired. “I still have a problem with your logic on this matter.”
“You could at least try,” Mrs. Sheraton observed as she kicked a stone on the path. “She’s still devoted to you.”
“Fine,” Julian said. “If it means that you will stop nagging me, I’ll make an attempt.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a warm smile. “She’s lingering in the graveyard if you wish to speak to her now. I’ll make sure the others stay in the church.”
Repressing an irritated sigh, Julian went through the gate into the graveyard, where Lady Brenton sat perched on a large square gravestone, her head angled to one side, her beautiful face turned to the sun. He approached her somewhat warily, but she didn’t appear to notice.
It wasn’t until he cleared his throat that she affected a start and pressed her hand to her bosom. “Oh! Mr. Laurent, you startled me.”
“I apologize.” He inclined his head. “I came to see if you wished to go into the church. It’s much cooler in there.”
She gave a dainty shudder. “I’m not very fond of dark and dingy churches, sir. I prefer the sunshine.”
“Quite understandable,” he agreed. “I’ve never quite seen the appeal myself.”
“You and I are similar in many ways, Mr. Laurent. I always said so.” She glanced at him from under her lashes. “It’s a shame we parted company.”
Despite his desire to find out her plans, he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her. “I suspect your husband would view the matter differently.”
“I was indiscreet,” she said flatly. “That was my sin. He has no issue with me having lovers, as he has no interest in bedding me himself.”
Julian sat on the other corner of the gravestone. “With respect, why not? You are a very beautiful woman.”
“Ours was not a love match.” She shrugged. “He never liked sharing my bed. Once I’d conceived the two boys, he said that was enough of that and never came near me again. And it’s not as if he already had a mistress on the side whom he loves—or a man, for that matter—he simply doesn’t desire anyone.”
Julian tried to think of something to say but she kept speaking.
“After the boys went to school, he gave me permission to seek other men for my pleasure—which was good of him, I suppose. But I was meant to be discreet about it, and I wasn’t with you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorrier that we were caught, rather than sorry for me, I’ll wager.” She met his gaze.
“Then you’d be wrong. No one should be trapped in a loveless marriage.”
She looked away. “Don’t be nice to me.”
“I’m not. I’m simply expressing an opinion I’ve formed over the years.” He hesitated. “I bear you no ill will for what happened.”
She rose to her feet, brushing off her skirts. “How good of you. I, however, cannot reciprocate. You made me look foolish.”
“How so?”
She looked back at him. “By telling everyone about the hilarious circumstances when you were caught by my husband in my bed.”
He frowned. “I told no one.”
“Then how is it that I heard your brother recounting the story at a ball in London just a week or so ago?”
