The Other Side - J. D. Robb [55]
“I wished that you would know what it’s like to be me,” Bettina said and then went on in a rush. “Just this evening, before the coin reappeared, you told me that you saw how completely concerned I am with your happiness and how well the house is run.” It made her smile. It was at least a step in the right direction. Her smile grew when the coin winked at them with a bright golden beam.
Now they needed only to remember what Harry wished for and all would be right with their world once again. Bettina knew better than to wish for a perfect life. What she had now was good enough.
Ten
“I wished you would trust me.” Harry nodded. “Oddly enough, it is what I want above all things.”
“Oh, Harry, of course I trust you.” Had she not learned tonight that his fidelity was true and fast? She trusted him. It must not have been the right phrasing though, because the coin dulled. Bettina stared at it, willing cooperation. Nothing happened.
“And another thing I learned later tonight,” Harry began. Bettina had the feeling he was trying to distract her from their mutual disappointment. He faced her, and Bettina looked into his eyes. “Do you, darling wife, have any idea how men look at you?”
“Look at me?”
“They want you. Every man who looks at you wants what I have. A loving, loyal wife.”
“Nonsense. If they would practice a little love and loyalty themselves, every one of them would have the same from their wives. They want sex with me. They want my body and nothing more.”
“Bettina! How can you be so cynical?”
“I spent the evening listening to your chums tell tasteless jokes and bet who would be Patricia Melton’s next lover.”
“What are the odds that it’s the Regent?”
“Harry!” Bettina moved away from him a little. “I would not tell you if I knew.” And she would never tell her husband that the male consensus was that the Earl of Fellsborough was Mrs. Melton’s personal preference. “I will tell you this. I am forever cured of wanting to drink brandy and remain at table. I will go with the ladies happily.”
They both looked at the coin, which seemed to have no opinion on the subject.
“I think we should go to bed. It’s late and obvious that nothing is going to happen tonight.”
Bettina nodded agreement and watched while Harry locked the coin in the jewel chest once again.
“Bettina, you left the key in the lock. It is not a wise habit to cultivate.”
“Oh, Harry, we never left the room. Besides, I almost always remember to lock it and hide the key.” Bettina shrugged off the criticism. She went to the connecting door and realized that Harry was following her.
“Let’s sleep together in the big bed tonight,” Harry suggested. “The way we did when we were first married.”
“Oh, yes,” Bettina said on a sigh. She closed the connecting door then stared at it for a moment, wondering if sleeping together in their current states was a wise idea. She didn’t care. More than anything, she wanted the comfort of being close.
“Harry, I’ll help you undress.” Like we did when we were first married and so in love. Tears filled her eyes, and she fumbled with the buttons.
“Now you know why it took me so long to undo the buttons. A man’s hands are not made for such delicate work.”
He’d misunderstood her clumsiness, and Bettina did her best to hide the tears. When she reached the new shoes, she eased them off, lifted a foot, and began to massage the reddened toes.
“God help me,” Harry sighed as he flopped back on the bed, dressed only in a chemise. “Don’t ever stop doing that. It’s almost worth wearing those torturous slippers to feel you work magic like that.”
Bettina smiled and felt the male part of her respond. To what, she wasn’t sure. To the feel of soft, warm skin. To the body spread on the bed in surrender. To the utter bliss in Harry’s eyes. To the idea of giving with no expectations. Bettina amended that. One expectation was now very much present. Do not speak. Do not say a word. It will destroy the moment.
Bettina undressed quickly and moved to lie on the bed crosswise but beside Harry, trailing a hand over the chemise,