A Lascivious Lady by Jillian Eaton

Author:Jillian Eaton [Eaton, Jillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Amazon: B008VUMLFS
Publisher: Bay Horse
Published: 2012-08-08T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

What started as a summer rain turned into a summer thunderstorm and overnight the only road leading from Kensington to London was reduced to little more than a muddy cow path, rendering travel all but impossible.

Face drawn with annoyance and lack of sleep, Traverson found himself pacing the length of Marcus’ study at first light, much to the growing amusement of the Duke who sat behind his desk with his arms crossed behind his head and a forgotten ledger open in front of him.

“…you mean there will not be a coach available until at least tomorrow?” Traverson growled, repeating verbatim the same question he had asked a half dozen times before in the five minute span he had been in the study.

“I am sorry old chap,” Marcus said, not looking sorry at all, “but as you can see the road is washed out. Is there a particular reason you need to leave Kensington with all post haste?”

“Well I…” For the first time Traverson’s step faltered as he hesitated, mulling over an answer before, without meeting the Duke’s eyes, he mumbled, “There is a lecture I must attend to.”

Marcus hid his smile behind a closed fist. He recognized the hollows beneath Traverson’s eyes and the bleakness within them.

The man was heartsick and trying to flee from his problems, as any man worth his salt would. Women were fickle creatures, his own wife was proof enough of that, but there seemed to be none quite so fickle as Josephine.

He had never understood Catherine’s friendship with the blond beauty. While Josephine was rude, brash, and made so secret of her liaisons with other men, Catherine was sweet natured, soft spoken, and — who the bloody hell was he kidding? Making no attempt to hide his grin this time, Marcus chuckled under his breath.

His wife was argumentative, feisty, and stubborn as hell. No doubt that was why the two women got on together so well. They were almost too similar, except Josephine wore every emotion out on her sleeve and Catherine kept hers tucked carefully away.

“Do you know,” he began thoughtfully, “that my wife and I went through nearly three years of our marriage completely separated from each other?”

“Your Grace?” Traverson said, clearly flabbergasted as to where the sudden shift in topic had come from.

“And then one day,” Marcus continued as if Traverson had not said a word, “I came to a conclusion that changed my very life.”

“Which was?” Traverson prompted when he fell silent.

“That I loved Catherine and would do anything for her.” Stretching back in his chair, Marcus cupped his hands behind his desk and grinned at Traverson’s expression of guarded disbelief. “How long have you and the Lady Gates been married?”

“Three and a half years.”

“Ah, nearly the same as Catherine and I before we reconciled our differences. Do you love her?”

Traverson’s mouth dropped open. “I – that is to say… You… That is a very personal question, Your Grace.”

“Call me Marcus,” the Duke said easily. “You are the husband to one of my wife’s closet friends, Traverson.

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