“And you, Deene. Do you find yourself interested in other women?”

He straightened and ambled over to the couch to retrieve two pillows. One he tossed to the floor for his knees—he intended to be kneeling for some little while—the other he placed in the middle of the desk blotter. This was a delaying tactic to allow him to choose his words carefully.

A man wanted to say the right thing, to be honest, but not more honest than he had to be.

“I desire only you, Eve Denning, and cannot foresee a time when I will desire anybody else but you. I desire you right now, in fact, and in less than five minutes, I will desire you even more than I do at this moment. My fervent wish is that your inclinations are similar with regard to the person of your husband. That you enjoy his attentions—and his attentions only, I might point out—makes you a devoted wife and the farthest thing from a wanton.”

She wasn’t fooled. He could tell by the exact, curious angle of her head that she understood his words were only a limited reply. As Deene sank to his knees between her legs and breathed in the clean scent of his wife’s intimate person, he realized he was not going to tell her he loved her until he’d also been honest about how far he was willing to go to achieve his ends where Georgie was concerned.

“Deene?” Eve’s hand landed in his hair. “Lucas, what on earth are you—?”

He settled his mouth on the seat of her pleasure, and for long moments thereafter, the only sounds in the library were the cozy hiss and pop of the fire, and Eve’s sighs of pleasure.

When he’d introduced his wife to one more avenue of sexual pleasure, Deene let her bring him off with her hand—something she had a positive genius for—then set their clothing to rights, unlocked the door, and ordered luncheon from the footman in the corridor.

Married life worked up a man’s appetite.

“I do wonder, you know.” Even though she wasn’t quite as prim and tidy as she had been thirty minutes earlier, Eve still managed to project an air of domestic calm.

“What do you wonder about?”

“Are all new couples as… enthusiastic about their marital duties as we are?”

Her question was fraught with insecurity, making Deene regret his earlier reference to the damned succession. “Ask your sisters, why don’t you? I’m sure they’re dying to hear what you think of marriage and of my efforts as a husband and lover.”

Her brows rose. “One doesn’t think to discuss such things, even with sisters.”

“Yes, one does. I trust your reports will be flattering, so you can’t accuse yourself of breaching any kind of marital loyalty.” He frowned at her. “Your reports will be flattering, won’t they?”

She beamed at him. “They will be adoring, Deene. Gushing, breathless, and quite appreciative as well. Also lengthy—quite lengthy and fulsome. And you’re right: Sindal, Hazelton, and Kesmore all needed either an heir or a spare. I’m sure my sisters will want to compare notes.”

Which wasn’t at all what he’d meant. His muttered, “Hang the blooming succession,” however was obscured by a stout knock on the door. “Our staff knows not to knock softly when we’re behind a closed door. That ought to tell you something, Wife.”

They spent the afternoon together in the library on the sofa, Eve with the household books, Deene trying to focus on the racing-meet schedule for the upcoming season.

While he mostly studied his pretty wife.

“I’ll be going into Town tomorrow, my lady. Is there any errand I can run for you?”

She glanced up, a pair of his reading glasses perched on her nose. “You do not enjoy these visits to Town, Husband. Shall I go with you?”

He reached over to remove her spectacles. “Not this time. If you want a shopping outing, I am happy to plan one of those and trot about at your heels like an obedient swain.”

For an instant, he thought she was going to pry, but for what he had to say to Dolan, he could not have an audience, much less one as tenderhearted as his marchioness. “Will you have time to ride out with me before you go, Deene?”

“Of course.” He folded the glasses and passed them back to her. “Was it hard for you to ask that of me?”

She nodded. “I should just take the lads, make it a hack in company, but I feel… more comfortable when you’re up on Beast. I think Sweetness has a fondness for your gelding.”

“My gelding has a fondness for you. Every creature on this property is in your thrall, Wife, including me.”

He’d meant it as a tease, but in her grave smile, he saw she’d heard the truth of it too.

“I worry, Lucas Denning.” She climbed across a cushion and tucked herself against his side. It wasn’t a sexual overture, but it was an overture, and he treasured it as such.

“About?”

“I have not been this happy… ever. Not ever. I thought I was once, as a girl, but I was a fool. You know I got into some difficulties earlier, before my come out?”

Instinct told Deene that with no warning whatsoever, the moment had become fraught. He knew very well there had been difficulties, but he had not hoped she’d confide the nature of those difficulties to him quite so early in their marriage. Deene considered distracting her with kisses, but instead wrapped his arms around her.

“Your brothers mentioned some menial who’d gotten ideas far above his station. I understood it came to naught.”

He let the words hang between them while he nuzzled her temple and waited.

“I made a complete, bleating fool of myself, Deene. I jeopardized everything and everybody I loved. No young lady was ever as stupid as I, or so lucky to escape the worst consequences of her folly.”

“You were very young, as I understand it. I cannot begin to tell you the idiocies I committed when I was very young. I should be dead several times over, of drink, of stupidity, of excess.”

In his arms, he felt her relax fractionally. He might not have said the exact right thing, but neither had he said the wrong thing.

“You are such a comfort to me, Husband. I should tell you this more often.”

Deene propped his chin on her crown. “You are a comfort to me as well, Evie. I used to abhor rainy days, for example, and now I enjoy them even though you keep me preoccupied with things like ledgers, accounts, and other inescapable duties.”

She extricated herself from his arms. “Duties? Duties only, Deene?”

He nodded, his expression solemn—until she hit him with a pillow and started tickling him.

* * *

Eve endured a kiss to her cheek, and then a slow, thorough perusal from her brother-in-law, Joseph, Lord Kesmore. He sat beside his wife for two cups of tea, and then bowed to Eve in parting, muttering something about having to see to the horses.

“Louisa, did you or did you not somehow just give your spouse permission to withdraw?”

Louisa paused in the middle of chewing on a tea cake. “Give Kesmore permission? You must joking. He does as he pleases, and I am happy to have it so, that I might enjoy the same license. What shall I report to Their Graces regarding your situation here, Evie? Is Deene acquitting himself adequately?”

Oh, the reports. No doubt Anna had made one, and soon Sophie and her baron would be dropping by, followed by Maggie and the entire world.

“You may tell all and sundry that I thrive in my husband’s care.” This was nothing less than the truth. Eve glanced at the door, which Kesmore had closed upon his departure. “Louisa, might I ask you something?”

“Of course. Excellent cakes, by the way.”

Which were fast disappearing. “Does Kesmore… study you?”

“Study me?”

“Study your person? Examine you in detail?” When Louisa looked blank, Eve shifted her gaze to the fire crackling in the hearth. “Does he acquaint himself with the details of you… with the candles lit?”

There was no hiding Eve’s blush, but neither was there any disguising Louisa’s grin. “Oh, to be sure, though when I take a notion to study him, the curtains are drawn back, there being a deal of Kesmore to study, him being such a handsome specimen.”

Louisa and… Kesmore.

Studying each other.

“Merciful heavens.”

“Maggie sometimes has to tie Benjamin to the bed, for he’s not inclined to be docile about it when it’s his turn to be studied. I expect Sindal is a more obedient sort of husband. Somehow asking Sophie directly is beyond me, but she has that rosy, well-examined look about her sometimes. Makes a lady feel wickedly special when her husband takes such an interest.”

Wickedly special. Louisa had the right of it. Not just wicked, but wickedly special. “Deene says he is making a science of being my husband.”

“Good for Deene, and good for you, Evie Denning. We worried for you.”

For just an instant, Louisa’s teasing smile slipped, and Eve had to wonder exactly how much her sisters suspected regarding her past. “You need not worry. I am happily married, and I daresay my husband is too.”

“Usually works that way. Where is this husband of yours, by the way? I think Kesmore was looking forward to interrogating him.”

“I expect him back from Town momentarily. Deene is ferociously determined to gain control of the marquessate’s finances, and this requires much in the way of meetings with his cousin Anthony and what I gather are armies of solicitors, merchants, and factors. He’s offered to take me shopping.”

Why she felt she had to add this, Eve did not know.

“He wants to show you off, then, but mind you, he’ll also be spying.” Louisa spoke with great confidence.

“Spying? On me?” That did not sound promising at all. “Why?”

“He’ll lurk in the corner of the shop and watch as you make your selections. He’ll see what you linger over, what you almost purchase, what you consider giving to someone else as a gift but not for yourself. Next thing you know, there will be a little box beside your bed one night or at your place when you come down for breakfast.”

“Kesmore indulges in such activities?”

“Joseph is the most generous man I know. I’m hard put to keep up with him when it comes to the doting and spoiling, but one contrives lest a husband get to feeling smug.”

To think of Louisa—managing, competent, brisk Louisa—being doted upon and spoiled… it warmed Evie’s heart toward her taciturn, unsmiling brother-in-law, and toward Louisa too.

And while she was about it, such thoughts warmed her heart toward Deene as well.

“Come with me, Louisa. I must show you what Deene found for me not two weeks past. It is the best thing ever, though it would not fit in a box to place by my bed.”

Evie rose and took her sister’s arm, steering Louisa toward the door.

“Eve Denning, is that a divided skirt you’re wearing? I haven’t seen you in such a costume since Jenny made one for you years ago.”

“This is the one Jenny made for me, and before you ask, yes. I ride out regularly, provided Deene is with me. That’s part of the surprise.”

Louisa stopped just inside the parlor door. “Did I hear you aright? You’re riding out? Not just driving out? Climbing aboard a horse and trotting around?”

“And cantering, and the day before yesterday, we galloped and even hopped two logs. Why?”

“Bless this wonderful, wonderful day. Westhaven said I was being a ninnyhammer, and for once I cannot mind that he was right. At long last, my baby sister once again rides out.”

Standing right there in the parlor, in full view of the footman across the corridor, Louisa, the Countess of Kesmore, threw her arms around Eve’s neck and burst into tears.

* * *

“If our wives have been weeping when next we see them, you must not remark it.” Kesmore kept his voice down, but the man’s characteristic diffidence was nowhere in his tone.

“Whyever would they weep?” The thought of Eve weeping was alarming, though Deene kept his expression calm as they ambled up the barn aisle.

“I have reason to suspect my wife is with child, and no less personages than Westhaven himself, seconded by Sindal, St. Just, Hazelton, Lord Valentine Windham, and His Grace have assured me a penchant for lachrymosity is to be expected even in such a bastion of sense as my estimable Louisa.”

“Is there a married fellow whom you have not canvassed on the matter?”

“You, for obvious reasons.”

“Eve doesn’t cry much.” Except sometimes, deep in the night, when they’d made a particularly tender kind of love, and then she clung and wanted to be held securely until she dropped off to sleep in Deene’s embrace.