how to be a better husband.”
Gabe stared from one parent to the other and held up his hands, palms open. “You needn’t defend Sarah to me. I, too, find her of the first order.” He sighed. “As for Noelle, I adore the termagant, and appreciate her friendship with my wife.”
“Then perhaps you should spend more time with Sarah and less time chasing your own interests,” Mother scolded. “She deserves your full attention.”
“I agree,” Father said. “She is withering for the lack of sun, holed up in this town house as she’s been. You need to take her out, lavish some attentiveness upon her, and be an engaged husband.”
Scowling, Gabe nodded. It felt like a vise squeezed his head. “I will do my duties by my wife. Now can we please end this verbal battering? I will apologize, again, to Sarah.”
With their lecture twisting through his pained head, he excused himself and went to seek out his wife. He found her curled up on the settee, in her sitting room, with a book clutched in her hands.
She made a pretty picture in the flickering lamplight, though she could use some color on her cheeks.
His parents were correct. There
was
a bit of withering. He
had
been neglectful. He’d spent more time getting soused with his friends last evening than he’d spent with her during the entirety of their marriage. It
was
time to court his wife, outside of his plans to seduce her.
“Is there something you require, Gabriel?” she asked, lowering the book. She clutched it tightly to her chest. Perhaps she was considering throwing it at his head.
“I believe I owe you a more heartfelt apology. I was a dreadful dinner companion.”
“On that, we agree.”
“Rather than subject you all to my condition, I should have stayed in my room and wallowed in my self-pity alone.”
“Again, I agree.”
Despite his headache, she made him smile. There was much to like about his wife. His gaze flicked quickly to her modest bodice and back up again. The gentle swell of cleavage above lace caused him to falter slightly and forget why he’d sought her out. He cleared his throat to regain focus.
“Now that I’ve been forgiven, I’d like to ask you to go driving with me tomorrow morning,” he said. “The park is lovely at sunrise.”
He knew she was an early riser and would not be put off by the request. Whether she’d want to take an outing with him or not was another matter.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were pondering his request, or perhaps deciding if she wanted his company at all. He’d not blame her if she refused. He’d been a dreadful boor at dinner. Thankfully, a small smile appeared.
“I think a drive would be lovely.” With that, she lifted her book and soundly dismissed him.
The image reminded him of the moment in the coach when he tossed her book out the window. He suspected that she was sharing the same memory. There was light in her eyes.
“Tomorrow, then.” His headache began to ease, and he whistled as he left her to her reading. As he cleared the door to her bedroom and stepped into the hallway, he was almost certain he heard a hint of muffled laughter.
* * *
T he streets were quiet as Gabriel and Sarah drove along, with only an occasional servant about her duties to witness their passage through Mayfair.
Rain from last evening still dotted the street with puddles and gave the air a damp feel. Fortunately, the clouds had dispersed and left the morning clear for their drive. By the time they reached Hyde Park the sun had already taken hold of the dawn and scattered pink and orange across the muted gray blue horizon.
“It’s unfortunate the grass is still wet,” Gabriel said. “We could walk by the river.”
“Ladies are not to soil their hems by walking on wet grass or through rain puddles,” Sarah said in her best and haughtiest voice. “Or so the countess said.”
Gabriel chuckled. “My mother and Noelle have made it their duty to teach you how to be a Lady, but I ask
Gabe stared from one parent to the other and held up his hands, palms open. “You needn’t defend Sarah to me. I, too, find her of the first order.” He sighed. “As for Noelle, I adore the termagant, and appreciate her friendship with my wife.”
“Then perhaps you should spend more time with Sarah and less time chasing your own interests,” Mother scolded. “She deserves your full attention.”
“I agree,” Father said. “She is withering for the lack of sun, holed up in this town house as she’s been. You need to take her out, lavish some attentiveness upon her, and be an engaged husband.”
Scowling, Gabe nodded. It felt like a vise squeezed his head. “I will do my duties by my wife. Now can we please end this verbal battering? I will apologize, again, to Sarah.”
With their lecture twisting through his pained head, he excused himself and went to seek out his wife. He found her curled up on the settee, in her sitting room, with a book clutched in her hands.
She made a pretty picture in the flickering lamplight, though she could use some color on her cheeks.
His parents were correct. There
was
a bit of withering. He
had
been neglectful. He’d spent more time getting soused with his friends last evening than he’d spent with her during the entirety of their marriage. It
was
time to court his wife, outside of his plans to seduce her.
“Is there something you require, Gabriel?” she asked, lowering the book. She clutched it tightly to her chest. Perhaps she was considering throwing it at his head.
“I believe I owe you a more heartfelt apology. I was a dreadful dinner companion.”
“On that, we agree.”
“Rather than subject you all to my condition, I should have stayed in my room and wallowed in my self-pity alone.”
“Again, I agree.”
Despite his headache, she made him smile. There was much to like about his wife. His gaze flicked quickly to her modest bodice and back up again. The gentle swell of cleavage above lace caused him to falter slightly and forget why he’d sought her out. He cleared his throat to regain focus.
“Now that I’ve been forgiven, I’d like to ask you to go driving with me tomorrow morning,” he said. “The park is lovely at sunrise.”
He knew she was an early riser and would not be put off by the request. Whether she’d want to take an outing with him or not was another matter.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were pondering his request, or perhaps deciding if she wanted his company at all. He’d not blame her if she refused. He’d been a dreadful boor at dinner. Thankfully, a small smile appeared.
“I think a drive would be lovely.” With that, she lifted her book and soundly dismissed him.
The image reminded him of the moment in the coach when he tossed her book out the window. He suspected that she was sharing the same memory. There was light in her eyes.
“Tomorrow, then.” His headache began to ease, and he whistled as he left her to her reading. As he cleared the door to her bedroom and stepped into the hallway, he was almost certain he heard a hint of muffled laughter.
* * *
T he streets were quiet as Gabriel and Sarah drove along, with only an occasional servant about her duties to witness their passage through Mayfair.
Rain from last evening still dotted the street with puddles and gave the air a damp feel. Fortunately, the clouds had dispersed and left the morning clear for their drive. By the time they reached Hyde Park the sun had already taken hold of the dawn and scattered pink and orange across the muted gray blue horizon.
“It’s unfortunate the grass is still wet,” Gabriel said. “We could walk by the river.”
“Ladies are not to soil their hems by walking on wet grass or through rain puddles,” Sarah said in her best and haughtiest voice. “Or so the countess said.”
Gabriel chuckled. “My mother and Noelle have made it their duty to teach you how to be a Lady, but I ask
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