Page 89 of The Danger of Desire
Perhaps. But either way, for at least part of tonight he’d have Delia to help him keep the dark at bay. He rather liked that.
Then perhaps when he fled the house in the wee hours of the morning in search of light and noise and people, she wouldn’t mind too terribly much.
Vauxhall was as delightful as Delia had anticipated. First there was the musical presentation in the rotunda, a wonderful comic ballet that had both her and Warren laughing. Then the fireworks burst into the sky from amid colored fountains and gushing waterfalls in a truly spectacular interplay of light and water that wrung gasp after gasp from the crowd.
Much later, after the excitement died down, her decidedly “cocky” husband was true to his word and, with almost no difficulty at all, seduced her in one of the dark walks. It was surprisingly enjoyable to do such a thing in a public place. She wouldn’t have thought it.
Granted, there had been a few bad moments in the evening—like when a widow who either hadn’t heard of Warren’s marriage or didn’t care what that meant attempted to coax him into her box. Alone.
Or now, when a couple of what could only be described as light-skirts stood watching and whispering as she and Warren strolled past.
“Do you know them?” she asked.
“Who?”
She could tell from his blank expression that he genuinely hadn’t noticed the light-skirts. She supposed that was a good thing. But it was still a rather uncomfortable reminder of his past experiences with women.
“Nobody.” She threaded her arm through his. “I’m getting tired. Let’s go home, shall we?”
“If that’s what you wish.”
What I wish is for my husband to sleep with me tonight.
But she couldn’t say that. Her tactics to win him over as a wife were going well. No point in ruining everything by becoming peevish.
They spent the carriage ride back comparing opinions on the ballet performance. As they disembarked at the entrance to his town house—theirtown house—she wondered if he would attempt to seduce her again, or if he would just pack her off to bed to sleep alone with her cat.
Then the butler met them at the door. “My lord, your brother is here.”
Warren started. “Which one?”
Delia had already learned that he had five, one of whom was married and off in America. So, obviously it wasn’t that one.
“Captain Lord Hartley, sir.”
“Warren!” cried a voice from down the hall. “You’re back!”
Striding toward them was a burly fellow who looked nothing like his brother. Green-eyed, sporting a thick brown beard, and wearing a Hussar uniform, he was every inch the cavalry officer.
And judging from the exuberant hug he gave his brother, none of that made one bit of difference between them.
“I’mback?” Warren said as they pulled apart. “I’ve been here all along. You’re the one who keeps dashing off to parts unknown. How long has it been? Two years? Three?”
“Only a bit more than one, old chap. Can’t believe you don’t remember.” He paused. “Oh, wait, you were in Bath with Clarissa and our aunt last time I was in London. And my visit was too short for me to go down there to see you.”
“Obviously, since I didn’t even know you were in England.”
“That’s why I came straight from the transport ship this time. I didn’t want to miss you. I arrived in town only three hours ago.” Lord Hartley turned to Delia with a gleam in his eye. “And this must be your new wife. Can’t believe I had to hear of your wedding from the servants.”
Warren scowled at him. “We’ve been married all of a day and a half, and I wrote to inform you of it. But the letter is on its way to James Island. Clearly, you weren’t there to receive it.” Possessively, he laid his hand in the curve of Delia’s back. “So may I present my wife, Delia? Delia, this is Captain Lord Hartley Corry of the 10th Royal Hussars. The oldest of my younger brothers.”
“Pleased to meet you, madam,” Lord Hartley said with a bow and a grin. “And do call me Hart. We’re family now, it seems.” Then he raked her with an assessing look that reminded her very much of her husband. “I must say that my brother is a lucky man, indeed.”
“What fustian. But I thank you, sir.” She smiled as she held out her hand, which he pressed for a shade longer than was proper. “AndImust say that you’re more like him than I at first realized.”
“Don’t let his uniform fool you,” Warren said dryly. “He’s a scapegrace masquerading as a soldier.”
Hart struck his chest dramatically with his fist. “You wound me to the heart. That’s like a wolf calling a fox a beast of prey. Compared to you, I’m merely a junior scapegrace.”
