Page 434 of From Rakes to Riches

“Father didn’t want to protect us,” Victoria said bitterly. “He took the easy way out.”

Her mother gave a quiet sob and covered her mouth with one hand. Then she looked up with red eyes. “Yes, yes, I know that now. He was…a coward. Somehow, he became a man I didn’t know. And I let it happen…gradually, quietly, one loss at a time. I don’t want that for you.”

Victoria bit her lip as she felt a rush of tears. She sat down next to her mother, and suddenly the words she wanted to share poured out of her. “I love him, Mama. But this morning, he seemed…distant, like a stranger again. I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t let him keep his silences, Victoria. You both need to talk.”

“How can I expect him to talk to me when I can’t really talk to him?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t tell him about—about Father. David has experienced enough heartache that was not of his own doing.”

Her mother softly snorted. “And we know where that scandal came from. But Victoria, your secret will poison your marriage.”

“You want me to tell him?” she said in astonishment. “Meriel, Louisa, and I swore to you that we would keep this silent forever.”

“I did not say tell the world—just your husband. Do you trust him to share your secret?”

Tears stung Victoria’s eyes. “I—I don’t know. I would have thought…after last night…but this morning—” She broke off, knowing she was making no sense.

“I saw your smile this morning, Victoria,” she said gently. “You are a woman in love.”

“But is he in love, Mama? He looked at me today like—like?—”

“Like a man who doesn’t know what to do with his emotions, like a man taking the safe way out. And that won’t make a successful marriage, not in the end. Trust me, passion itself is not enough.”

“But what should I do? Do you think he senses that I’m not telling him everything?”

“I don’t know, my dear, but if the secret is bothering you, can you live the rest of your life with it between you and your husband?”

Victoria slumped, and felt grateful when her mother gently slid her arm about her shoulders. “Oh, Mama, this is all so complicated.”

“Yes, it is. But you can make it work, Victoria. Look at all you’ve accomplished already. I’m so proud of you.”

Victoria hugged her mother, finally letting her tears ago. “Thank you, Mama.”

Victoria approachedthe evening with a new determination. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about her terrible family secret, but she knew she couldn’t take David’s empty politeness for the rest of her life. She would force him to acknowledge her with other emotions. She would be a part of his life, and not live separately, as her parents had done in the end. She would prove to David that she was worth trusting—worth loving.

In the carriage on the way from the prime minister’s dinner to the masquerade, she watched David, looking so serene andinscrutable. Then she leaned over, her hand on his knee, and kissed him.

There was no hesitation as he kissed her back with passion and heat and promise. Physically, they had no problems staying connected.

“Maybe we don’t have to attend this one,” David murmured as he kissed his way down to her neckline.

She groaned as he licked down her cleavage. “We accepted, so we’re attending. Now help me put my costume on.”

“Is that what was in the bag?”

From a satchel Victoria pulled out a fan of tall multi-colored feathers. “Anna made it for me. Here, attach this to the little buttons she sewed on the back of my bodice.”

She turned until her back was to the lantern, then waited patiently while David struggled.

“She could have made the buttons larger,” he grumbled.

“And then they would have been seen by everyone at dinner. Such a scandal,” she added teasingly.

He pinched her waist, and she squirmed and giggled.

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