Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [105]
The same thing seemed to be happening in bed, too. One would think a man’s performance would suffer from lack of practice, but the evidence proved otherwise.
“If I am distracted, it is domestic matters that do it. Audrianna’s giving birth soon is enough to drive me half mad, but now my brother—” Summerhays shook his head and laughed.
“You do not care for this woman, I think. Is she an adventuress?”
“You will always think the worst of marriage, won’t you? I have no opinion of her, in truth. I have just met her. He loves her very much, however, so that is all that really matters to me. No, I am thinking about where he is now and the other woman he is with and her reaction.”
He referred to his mother. Summerhays had returned to this house when his brother returned from the war, wounded beyond repair it was thought. He had taken his brother’s place in the world and protected the marquess from the overbearing mother who would make him a child again.
It had all meant the end of a hedonistic partnership between Castleford and Summerhays. Castleford had resented the sudden estrangement for years.
“I expect there are theatrics happening that are both comical and tragic,” Castleford said.
“Exactly. I have imagined my mother’s face when my brother arrived and introduced his wife so many times that—” Summerhays grinned. “Hell, I don’t know if I am glad I’m not there to see it or sorry that I am missing a fine show.”
Castleford mimicked the wide-eyed mixture of shock and horror that probably masked their mother’s face after that introduction. Summerhays laughed enough for his eyes to tear.
He caught his breath. “Of course, I also worry whether this Joanna will know to stand up to her at once. Whether he will too.”
“It sounds to me that your brother is able to stand on his own two feet again. Literally and metaphorically. If he needs to lean on someone, he has a wife. Your job is done, Summerhays. He will carry the family torch now. You have enough influence of your own in the Commons, though. You still get the best of it—wealth, power, and privilege—yet you are spared the tedious parts of being a marquess. I would say your future looks ideal.”
“I suppose so. I am relieved for that, along with the knowledge now that his time with us will not be too short.”
Castleford stretched out his legs. “You realize this means that you can have fun again. No more need for strangling discretion either. Hell, it can be like old times, side by side.”
“I think if we did some of those things side by side again, Audrianna would shoot me.”
“Yes, probably so.” He sipped more port. “Damn.”
They drank like the two old friends they were. A comfortable silence hung. Then Summerhays looked over, with the rakish lights from years ago in his eyes.
“So?” he asked.
“So?”
“Hawkeswell wrote to me. Frequently. He could not bear that I was not here for it. A week or ten days, you told him.”
“Oh. That so.
“Did you seduce her?”
“No.”
Summerhays accepted that without comment. Unlike Hawkeswell, he did not gloat or goad.
“However, we are having an affair. You may as well know. I am not good at keeping such things discreet.”
“All the same, I will try to.”
“Once I decided I should marry her, I decided a real seduction would not be the best start. So, despite trying my damndest, in the end I didn’t. I astonished myself. I hope such selflessness is not habit-forming.”
Summerhays showed honest shock. “You astonish me, with this casual, passing mention of marriage. I never thought I would see the day when you wed, not even to produce an heir. When will this happen?”
“That is not settled yet. It might be best not to tell your wife, since it was supposed to be a secret still.”
Summerhays poured more port into both their glasses. He raised his. “I congratulate you. Mrs. Joyes is an exquisite woman.”
Castleford accepted the toast. He was very glad that Summerhays was back in town. For one thing, Summerhays understood