Page 5 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

She actually looked surprised at his remarks. “Thank you, my lord. I am sorry you had to be a witness to the matter, but I already had a hint of the situation and hadn’t wanted to discourage the poor girl by having you leave the room as though she’d done something wrong in requesting my attendance.”

He sipped his drink. “You knew of her condition?”

“I didn’t know, but suspected. ’Tis not hard to know the concerns and happenings of the staff when one keeps an eye and ear open.”

Another reason to be grateful for his choice in a spouse. Matters of staff and household concerns, and their resultant problems, rattled him. Before Eugenia, he’d left it all up to his housekeeper, who in turn ended up consulting with him, anyway. “Yes, I can see where that would be true. Well, I wish to thank you for your management of what could have been a very unpleasant circumstance.”

She dipped her head in acknowledgment of his words, a slight blush rising to her lovely cheeks.

He was beginning to realize that Eugenia was so much more than merely a proper lady. Underneath her shell of decorum, he sensed a warm, loving woman, anxious to throw off the mantle of aloofness that no doubt had been impressed upon her by tutors and governesses. To his amazement, that realization was leading him to question other parts of marriage directed by his father.

As a member of the nobility, it was his obligation to fill his nursery. He visited Eugenia’s bed on a regula

r basis. Other than those obligatory appearances to ensure succession, he reminded himself one was not expected to feel lust or love for one’s wife. To do so was considered crass and bad ton.

It annoyed him that the butler’s announcement of dinner brought a certain amount of relief. Life was perfect, he assured himself, and exactly as he had planned. He didn’t need uncomfortable thoughts that made him question things better left alone.

At precisely ten o’clock they left the house. Arm in arm they proceeded down the stairs into the waiting carriage. As they rode through Mayfair, Eugenia seemed to grow tense. Perhaps she was, indeed, expecting some unpleasantness tonight due to Margaret’s death.

Only he and Margaret had known they had not been in bed together since the night before his wedding. Despite his belief that a proper gentleman maintained a mistress in order not to upset his wife’s delicate sensibilities, he had not been able to bring himself to continue their relationship. In fact, the entire situation had become ridiculous.

The last time he’d visited her they’d played cards until the wee hours of the morning. More than once she had indicated she would not be averse to putting out that she was looking for a new protector. However, Devon had been reluctant to do so, and could never understand why.

Once they arrived at the ball and greeted their host and hostess, he and Eugenia danced their one set together, this time a waltz.

As he took her into his arms, she gazed up at him, something in her eyes affecting him in a way he did not wish to delve into any deeper. “You look particularly lovely this evening, my dear. That color brings out the blue in your eyes.”

She sucked in a breath, and once again her cheeks were tinged with a lovely shade of rose. He was reluctant to leave her, lest the biddies begin to gossip and hurl remarks in her direction. He could stay by her side, but that seemed a bit drastic and much removed from their normal practice. After the music ended, he kissed her hand, escorted her to her usual group of friends, and retired to the card room. Since it was generally accepted that a married man not stick by his wife’s side, lest he be considered “besotted,” she would stay in the ballroom with the other matrons. She would often leave before him, so he would not see her until dinner the following evening.

…

The next afternoon Eugenia browsed the shelves of Webster’s bookstore on Bond Street. This was her favorite time of the week, when she allowed herself the luxury of wasting time looking at books and picking out two or three that she would purchase for her growing library. She didn’t add them to the main library, since Devon would not want to be disturbed by her entering to find a book while he was working.

The previous night’s ball had not been as difficult as she’d thought it might be. Since Mrs. Forestor had been a known courtesan, her name would not be mentioned in polite society with innocent young ladies present. She’d caught some knowing looks from the older women present and stumbled upon two ladies in the retiring room having a robust chat that quickly came to an end when Eugenia entered the room.

Her attention returned to the book shelves as her gloved fingers moved over the books, looking for something different. She pulled a book from the shelf, and the binding snagged another one alongside it that tumbled to the floor. Her eye caught the title in bold black letters. Secrets of the Bedchamber. She bent to retrieve it, and the tome fell open in her hands. Her eyes grew wide and she gasped before snapping it shut, glancing furtively around to confirm no one was nearby.

Assured of the emptiness of the store and with the book clutched in her hand, she hurried to the back of the shelves to make certain no one saw her, and slowly opened the book. Heat rose to her cheeks. A drawing of a naked couple in a very awkward position almost made her giggle. Did people really move their limbs into that sort of an arrangement?

As she flipped through the pages, she noted it contained advice on how to conduct oneself with regard to sexual concourse between men and women. She licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart thumping as she read the words and considered the additional drawings. The one with the woman on her knees in front of a naked man, with her… Oh, my!

Her hands shook and her breathing increased. Heat shot from her middle as she attempted to hold in a giggle. The Ice Queen was melting…

I must have this book.

The thought flashed through her mind without consideration. Of course the problem she faced was getting it out of the store. It hardly bore thinking of her embarrassment if Mr. Webster noticed the title and knew the contents. She chewed on her lip—very unqueenly—and pondered how to take possession of the knowledge in the book.

Mayhap she could come in every day and huddle in the corner of the store and take notes? No. She had to own this book.

The idea popped into her head so quickly she questioned all the years she had done everything the right way. Never once had she succumbed to improper behavior. Until now.

She would steal it.

Not really steal it, of course. She would slip it into her reticule and purchase two other books. Then, she would distract Mr. Webster with conversation and leave money on the counter for the naughty book. Yes. She would do it!

Her heart pounding fiercely, she took note of her surroundings and almost swooned at her impertinence. Not only was she buying a scandalous book, she was actually tucking it into her reticule so she could walk out of the store with Mr. Webster completely unaware of her actions.

She cringed to think what her mother would say. Shoving that to the back of her mind and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she selected two books and headed to the front of the store, the weight of the stolen book banging against her leg as she walked. Good heavens, she’d never done anything at all like this in her whole life. How did thieves function every day? She was a bundle of nerves.