try it? Of course, the husband and the lover would need to agree to the plan. Or, as most husbands did, she simply wouldn’t tell them. Though she supposed that she’d already told Archer. But she suspected she’d be more than able to convince him to keep the matter between them. And she would enjoy the convincing. She hadn’t lied when she’d told him that she wanted him. He was a handsome man, and the fact that he wanted her, too, made him even more seductive. He might not be pleased with the terms of her offer, but he seemed more than willing to accept them. A desire she was incredibly grateful for.
“Are you even listening?” Isabella asked, crossing her arms over her belly. “Because as soon as I mentioned him in proximity to you, it seems as if you disappeared into another world.”
This was far more than she’d wished to reveal about her discussion with Archer, Perdita realized, but she knew that her sister wouldn’t leave her be until she confirmed some of her suspicions. “Fine, yes. I do trust him. And we are going to become lovers.”
For the second time that day Perdita was faced with a completely dumbfounded conversational partner. It was becoming tiresome.
“You’re going to become lovers?” her sister demanded. “Just like that? No proposal? No promises between you?”
Perdita shrugged. “I trust him. You were right. And I am not quite ready to remarry just yet.” She forbore from telling her about the marriage plans. Because she knew that Isabella would never understand. Especially since Perdita herself wasn’t even sure she understood. And it was only a castle in the air at this point. Perhaps she’d change her mind about marrying Archer. She didn’t think it would happen, but she was honest enough to admit that this was all unknown territory for her.
Isabella studied her face in silence, then, apparently satisfied with whatever she saw there, she grinned. “Lovers, eh? I rather wish I’d tried that with Trevor before we were compromised into marrying.”
“So, you don’t disapprove?” Perdita asked, not letting on how much her sister’s response mattered to her.
“I think I do not, dearest,” Isabella said, slipping an arm around Perdita as she stepped out from behind the writing desk. “I couldn’t have chosen a better man for you to become involved with. And you know how much I like and respect him. Plus, I think he understands—in a way that many other men simply would not—how difficult it will be for you to let another man touch you in that way. He saw what Gervase did to you. And I think he even blames himself a little. But I also think he appreciates the woman you’ve become. He doesn’t put you up on some pedestal of martyrdom. He is your friend first, and that makes a difference. I think you’ll be in good hands, though God knows you were hardly waiting to hear that.”
“You’d be surprised,” Perdita said, leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I think you’d be pleasantly surprised.”
* * *
Once Archer calmed down, he went in search of Ormond and Coniston. There were a few hours yet before the man from the magistrate’s office was expected, and he was in no mood to look at parliamentary business. Besides, Ormond had decided to set his own mark on the dukedom, part of which meant that his involvement with political matters would be restricted to those issues that he found important. Not what the dukedom had historically chosen to be involved in, but what he, Trevor, wished to put the power of the duchy behind. As a result, there was far less for Archer to do as the duke’s personal secretary these days. Enough that he’d been giving serious consideration to leaving his post. That had, of course, been before Perdita’s attacker had begun to make himself known. He would not leave his position while she was still in danger, and he hoped like the devil that Trevor didn’t choose to dismiss him before that.
He found the other
“Are you even listening?” Isabella asked, crossing her arms over her belly. “Because as soon as I mentioned him in proximity to you, it seems as if you disappeared into another world.”
This was far more than she’d wished to reveal about her discussion with Archer, Perdita realized, but she knew that her sister wouldn’t leave her be until she confirmed some of her suspicions. “Fine, yes. I do trust him. And we are going to become lovers.”
For the second time that day Perdita was faced with a completely dumbfounded conversational partner. It was becoming tiresome.
“You’re going to become lovers?” her sister demanded. “Just like that? No proposal? No promises between you?”
Perdita shrugged. “I trust him. You were right. And I am not quite ready to remarry just yet.” She forbore from telling her about the marriage plans. Because she knew that Isabella would never understand. Especially since Perdita herself wasn’t even sure she understood. And it was only a castle in the air at this point. Perhaps she’d change her mind about marrying Archer. She didn’t think it would happen, but she was honest enough to admit that this was all unknown territory for her.
Isabella studied her face in silence, then, apparently satisfied with whatever she saw there, she grinned. “Lovers, eh? I rather wish I’d tried that with Trevor before we were compromised into marrying.”
“So, you don’t disapprove?” Perdita asked, not letting on how much her sister’s response mattered to her.
“I think I do not, dearest,” Isabella said, slipping an arm around Perdita as she stepped out from behind the writing desk. “I couldn’t have chosen a better man for you to become involved with. And you know how much I like and respect him. Plus, I think he understands—in a way that many other men simply would not—how difficult it will be for you to let another man touch you in that way. He saw what Gervase did to you. And I think he even blames himself a little. But I also think he appreciates the woman you’ve become. He doesn’t put you up on some pedestal of martyrdom. He is your friend first, and that makes a difference. I think you’ll be in good hands, though God knows you were hardly waiting to hear that.”
“You’d be surprised,” Perdita said, leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I think you’d be pleasantly surprised.”
* * *
Once Archer calmed down, he went in search of Ormond and Coniston. There were a few hours yet before the man from the magistrate’s office was expected, and he was in no mood to look at parliamentary business. Besides, Ormond had decided to set his own mark on the dukedom, part of which meant that his involvement with political matters would be restricted to those issues that he found important. Not what the dukedom had historically chosen to be involved in, but what he, Trevor, wished to put the power of the duchy behind. As a result, there was far less for Archer to do as the duke’s personal secretary these days. Enough that he’d been giving serious consideration to leaving his post. That had, of course, been before Perdita’s attacker had begun to make himself known. He would not leave his position while she was still in danger, and he hoped like the devil that Trevor didn’t choose to dismiss him before that.
He found the other
Similar Books
