A Lady Betrayed by Nicole Byrd Page A

marriage bed?” Felicity smiled just a little, but her voice was serious.
    â€œYes!” Maddie sighed in relief. “Since I have no mother, and my sisters are not at hand, I have no one to ask, and I’m afraid I won’t know what to do, or how to please my husband.”
    This time Felicity did smile. “I see. If I should to try to give you—ah—a lesson in lovemaking, we would both be somewhat abashed, I think. But I can tell you that if you trust him, if you have good feelings for each other, it can be a most wondrous experience. And I will certainly be happy to answer any questions, my dear, now or later. But most of all, having seen the two of you together, I can reassure you that you will have two big advantages.”
    â€œWhat are they?” Maddie asked, thinking that she really didn’t know enough to know the proper questions to ask.
    â€œFirst, Lord Weller does not appear, to my eyes, to be a green lad, so I suspect that he has sufficient experience to be a pleasing guide for your bridal night and will have no problems leading you smoothly into your introduction to lovemaking.”
    Maddie put one hand to her cheek—she suspected she was turning pink again—and wished she didn’t blush so easily. “I think that is likely true,” she agreed, trying not to giggle.
    â€œAnd if you don’t mind me asking, have you—ah—exchanged a kiss with your new betrothed?” Felicity picked up one of the gowns on the bed and appeared to examine its needlework with great care.
    This time, Maddie was quite sure she had turned red. She told herself she was sure Felicity would be discreet and not repeat this conversation. “Yes,” she said simply.
    â€œDid you like it?”
    â€œOh, yes!” Maddie answered with a good deal more force.
    The other woman laughed, and Maddie, after a moment of confusion, laughed, too. “Then there you are. Follow your own instincts, my dear, and you will have no problems.”
    â€œBut do you think that he will—that I will be good enough—”
    â€œI doubt very much that Lord Weller will have anything to fault you with, my dear,” Felicity assured her, looking up. “Please do not worry about that. A bride should have brighter thoughts on her wedding day—and night.”
    Maddie nodded. “Very well, I will try.”
    â€œYou have been attempting for too long to take care of your family, your sisters, your father,” the widow pointed out, sighing. “Madeline, this is your time to enjoy someone else caring for you. That is your husband’s province—allow him the privilege, the honor, of doing it.”
    She had not looked at it in that way. Perhaps acquiring a husband had advantages she had never considered. It was true that she was more accustomed to caring for others than to having someone look out for her. It had been a long time since she had had anyone to cosset her, except for faithful Bess taking care of her when she was ill. This was different.
    Perhaps being married could be a good thing, even outside of the marriage bed.
    They went downstairs. Felicity had put the lavender silk into a neat bundle to take home and work on, promising that she would also help Maddie with her own make overs. Maddie went into the kitchen and assisted Bess in putting out a light luncheon, and the two men emerged from the study, her father shaking his head.
    Maddie felt a moment of anxiety. Had they had a quarrel? No, it appeared that her father was simply admiring a particularly adept move.
    â€œHe has bested me, Madeline,” he told her as they sat down to the meal. “He kept his bishop waiting patiently, and when my knight was out of the way, it came swooping down to capture my queen and checkmate my king.”
    â€œQuite an accomplishment,” Maddie said. She had played chess often with her father but almost never had she been able to beat him, and she said as