Page 22 of Lady Beast's Bridegroom
“I thought you wanted to avoid that kind of life,” Peter said.
She could feel herself blush. “That is true. I did. I was afraid.” As so often in her life, though, she needed to face her fears. Her cousin would never have been a threat if she had done so earlier,and now she had other people to consider, too. Peter. His sisters. Their future children.
“Peter, I may have lived in a country village and never come to town, but I know how people gossip. And I understand how cruel gossips can be. Do you believe that the two ladies who attended our wedding tonight will keep still tongues in their heads? Or that they won’t repeat elsewhere what they said in our presence?”
*
Arial was right,of course. “Do we care what they say?” Peter asked, even as he choked back rage at the thought of the Weatheralls spreading their poison.
“I tried to tell myself it didn’t matter,” Arial confessed, “but it isn’t true. It needs to matter. If we do not counter the lies, they will become truth in the eyes of Society. That could affect your business dealings, your efforts to rehabilitate the reputation of your title. You told me you would like to take your seat in the House of Lords and see what can be done to help those who served in the wars. These lies could stand in your way. In a few years, your sisters will want to make their curtseys to Society. If our reputation is ruined, what will become of them? And what of our own children?”
Arial had been magnificent when the Weatherall women were trying and failing to cause pain. Now, less than half an hour later, she had assessed the risk of them continuing to stir trouble and come up with a plan. A plan that would mean facing her fears and putting herself in front of the sharks of Society. What an amazing woman she was!
“My sisters could make you a mask to match every outfit,” he suggested.
“My thought, exactly. Rose, in particular, is very talented. If they would be happy to paint them, I would be delighted to wear them.”
“Then we shall drop some cards off at the homes of a few important Society hostesses, so they can spread the word we are open to invitations. It will take a day or two to have the cards printed, I suppose. Richards will know how to get it done.”
“And who those important hostesses are, I hope,” Arial suggested. “I have no idea.”
Conversation lapsed between them, as Arial gazed into her now empty glass. She had been sliding increasingly uncertain glances towards Peter and would not meet his eyes.
He could guess what was troubling her, and almost suggested that they each went up to their separate beds. His disappointment at the thought was beside the point. He had promised to cherish and protect her, and to his mind, that made her feelings more important than his.
He could think of two reasons to bed her tonight, quite apart from his own desire, but he couldn’t tell how much his lust colored his thinking. What decision would be best for them both?
It wasn’t up to him to decide, though, was it? That was his job as an army officer or a viscount, but not in this instance. He was a husband, and this decision affected them both. She was sitting on the left of the sofa, so her blind side was to the empty space. “Will you move over so I can sit beside you, Arial? We have a choice to make, you and I.”
She lifted her gaze to him as she shifted. “What choice is that, Peter?”
He sat beside her and took her hands. She let them lie in his, a slight frown furrowing what he could see of her brow.
“I want to find out your thoughts on when we consummate our marriage. We have several factors we might care to consider.”
Arial bit her lip and then licked it. For a moment, Peter couldn’t tear his eyes away from her mouth and his simmering lust hit boiling point. She said something, and his brain struggled to process it.Ah. That was it.
“Do we not need to… will we be married without…”
Richards had been very clear. “Mr. Richards told me that, in English law, non-consummation is not grounds for annulment. Someone who wanted to challenge our marriage would have to prove I was impotent.” He smiled at Arial, stroking her hands with his thumbs. “That won’t be an issue for us, I can assure you.”
“I see. We can wait, then?” She was still frowning. He could not tell whether she regarded the prospect of a delay with disappointment or relief.
“For a short while, at least. Just so we have time for something of a courtship.” He shrugged. “I desire you and am willing as soon as you are ready. But I am a man. For women, or so I understand, desire has more of an emotional component, and we have known one another as adults for only one day.”
Arial pursed her lips. “You want to wait?”
He still couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Honesty was the best policy. “No. But this isn’t about what I want. More than I want to take you to bed tonight, I want you to choose what you feel is best for you.”
She nodded, thoughtfully. “I see. Thank you. You said several factors. What else should I know?”
“Two more matters. One is for you to consider. Will waiting make you more nervous or less? I can promise to do everything I can to make sure you enjoy the experience, but I understand thatthe first time can be awkward for a woman. I don’t know what you know about what is involved?”
She grew to womanhood without a mother. Had anyone ever explained the basics of mating to her, or would that job fall to him?
“I am not entirely ignorant,” she said. “I have seen animals and even interrupted a couple of servants on occasion. I also discovered an interesting book when cleaning my father’s library after he died.” She thought about that for a moment. “From the little I’ve seen, it seems very undignified.”
“Dignity is not something you’ll think about if I am halfway competent,” Peter assured her, relieved he did not have to explain the process. “The other thing is your abhorrent cousin. Richards says we should not risk giving him grounds for claiming that our marriage is a sham.”
