Page 37 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
Peter’s eyebrows lifted. ‘It was a waltz,’ he said, reading Drew’s thoughts. ‘Before a hundred or more people. It was no insult. None ought to have been taken.’ His free hand rubbed his jaw. ‘Remind me to keep you off my face at Jackson’s, your right hook is a demon. I prefer you on my side. So, will you apologise or am I still to be cut?’
‘I am hardly cutting you, I just poured you a drink.’ Drew dropped into the chair and picked up his wine.
‘But you are still angry with me…’ Peter sat in the chair Drew now thought of as Mary’s. ‘As I thought…’ he added when Drew did not respond. ‘Harry and Mark blame me. They think I broke some law they have invented about touching each other’s wives. I personally think if we are to stay friends, when, if, we settle, we ought to make friends of our friends’ wives, which is what I intended. Clearly, you think her beneath my friendship.’
‘Hardly that.’ Drew stared at Peter.
‘You could have said you were marrying for love of the woman, as much as money. We would not have judged you for it.’
‘Can you imagine, a rake of my reputation falling head over heels for a debutante?’
Peter sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he sipped from the glass. ‘Seriously, you are my friend, I would not take her from you. She was anxious, pacing about this room. I merely escorted her to meet her family.’
‘So she said.’
‘But you did not believe her?’
‘Of course I believed her. It was a bad day. I did not have a clear head. You became caught up in it. I am sorry I hit you.’
‘Ah, at last, the apology.’ Peter lifted his glass in the form of a toast. ‘To being friends… And your wife?’
Drew grimaced. ‘Hates me… She is sleeping off a headache in there.’ His hand indicated the bedchamber.
‘I have seen Mary a lot about town, with her family. And before you think it, I have not spoken to her. Your absence has been noted, though. Society thinks your marriage is on the rocks.’
‘It is no one else’s business.’
‘I am merely saying what I hear. It is not my opinion. Where have you been?’
A bitter sound of amusement broke from Drew’s throat. ‘Here, there and nowhere, and tonight I am here because my conscience has been kicked. She is leaving me, I think. I overheard her aunt persuading her to go.’
‘You will let that happen…? Have you been holding on to this stupid grudge against the both of us for dancing one dance?’
Drew ran a hand through his hair, then dropped it. ‘It is not that.’
Peter emptied his glass, stood and walked over to the decanter. He brought it back with him and put that and his glass on the games table. ‘Does she know you love her?’
‘She does not believe it. I have a certain reputation, you see…’
‘And a temper, and a streak of pig-headedness as strong as iron.’ Peter leaned down suddenly, pressing a hand on either arm of the chair Drew sat in, looking Drew in the eyes. ‘What do you think of Kilbride?’
‘What?’ Drew looked at Peter with bewilderment.
‘Do you approve of his behaviour towards Caro?’
‘Of course not. You know I do not.’
‘Then what the hell are you doing?’
‘What…?’ Drew had no idea what Peter meant.
‘Have you taken her anywhere since that fracas?’
Drew took a breath, but he was not explaining to Peter how unlovable he felt himself. ‘She has her family.’
Peter pushed off the chair and straightened. ‘And a husband with a will of iron. You, more than most, should know how painful silence can be. As painful as violence, perhaps. I have watched it change you over the years. You hide its impact, but it hurts.’
Drew would have stood, but Peter pushed him back into the chair. ‘I have no desire to fight you, and I am not touching the subject of your family, but you should know that I know how you feel. Do not destroy what you have with this woman. She lovesyou. It screamed from her the night I came here. She was afraid for you, and making excuses for you, when I presumed you had charged off in a rage.’
