Part 35 (1/2)
”Do sit down, I won't be a minute.”
There was a chair positioned facing the screen. It struck him as a most theatrical setting. For a moment, hope fluttered in his chest. Perhaps, this wasn't at all what he thought it was. He sat down.
”As you wish.”
”I have been giving a great deal of thought to our conversation last night.”
An article of clothing popped up from behind the screen, then drifted down to settle on the top of the screen. Her bodice? She was undressing? All hope shattered.
He swallowed. ”Have you?”
”Indeed I have. I must admit, your comments came as a complete surprise.” Skirts flew upward, then settled over the screen. ”And something of a revelation as well.”
His tone hardened. ”Did they?”
”Oh my, yes. In all those years that I was dreaming of you, I never imagined you might dream of me as well.”
”Didn't you?”
She laughed, a sound that would have been most delightful under other circ.u.mstances. ”Not for a moment. I had hoped, of course.”
A stocking flipped over the top of the screen.
”Did you?”
She heaved a heartfelt sigh. ”Every day.” She paused. ”And very nearly every night.” A second stocking joined the first.
”It's only natural, I suppose,” he said in a grudging manner. And wasn't that, too, his fault? Hadn't he been falling in love with her long before they'd met in person? Hadn't Sir's notes become more flirtatious through the years? Could he blame her now for reaching for something she'd long wanted but had never had?
”I have to confess, I wasn't entirely honest last night. My regrets go beyond never having seen your face.”
”Do they?”
But d.a.m.nation, now she was a married woman! She wasn't supposed to want anyone but him. It scarcely mattered that the object of her desire and her husband were one and the same. She didn't know that!
”I do wish they didn't but I can't seem to help myself. You are the man I have always wanted.”
His jaw tightened. ”But what of your husband?”
”Oh, Adrian is a dear, sweet, darling man.” A corset joined the rest of her clothes. Good G.o.d, did she intend to disrobe entirely? ”And I shall always be fond of him-”
”Fond of him?” His voice rose. ”I thought you shared a great love?”
”Yes, well, that was before.”
”Before?”
”Before I knew of your feelings.”
He sucked in a shocked breath. ”You said he was charming and intelligent and amusing.”
”And he is. But he's not the least bit adventurous. Not overly exciting really, he can even be dull at times, although he is very nice,” she added quickly.
”Nice?” She thought he was dull but nice? Nice?
”And while I have recently discovered there is more to him than I ever imagined, he is not you, is he?” Her chemise flew upward from behind the screen as if to emphasize her words. ”As much as I hate to admit it, he does pale somewhat in comparison to you. But then most men do.”
Adrian choked. ”Do you intend to leave him then?”
”Divorce, you mean?” She scoffed. ”I should hate to give up being the Countess of Waterston. I quite like it, you know. As well as all that lovely money.” She sighed. ”I don't think anyone who has always had money can appreciate what it's like not to have any at all. Oh no, I have no intention of giving that up.”
”I thought you didn't marry him for his money?”
”I didn't but it certainly made him much more appealing.”
He struggled to keep his voice level. ”If you're not going to leave him, what do you intend?”
”Why, I intend to have you both, of course.” She laughed lightly. ”Any number of women I know have lovers as well as husbands. It seems to work out quite well for all concerned. I see no reason why it won't do as nicely for us.”
”I can think of any number of reasons,” he snapped.
”My goodness, Sir, I didn't expect you to be quite so stuffy about this.”
”I have no intentions of sharing you with another man.” Even if that other man is me!
”Well, you can't have me all to yourself. It simply wouldn't be fair.”
”Fair?” he sputtered.
”We do want to be fair. Adrian deserves no less.” She paused. ”He's quite a decent sort, you know, even if he isn't adventurous-”
”Would you stop saying that!”
”Why?” Her tone was harder than before. ”It's true, isn't it?”
”No, it's not true.” Anger brought him to his feet.
”Perhaps it's time for the truth then?”
”Past time, Evie.” At the moment he didn't care what her reaction to his revelation would be. He drew a deep breath.
A knock sounded at the door.
She huffed in exasperation. ”Do get that, would you, Sir? I'm not entirely presentable.”
”Perhaps you should have considered that before you disrobed,” he said sharply.