Heiress in Red Silk (Duke's Heiress #2) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,93
they had toured it with the agent.
Her reference to the servants returned his mind to a reckoning that he had started a few minutes earlier but quickly discarded for a while. The truth was, he had not taken much care with her reputation tonight, and the servants were the least of it.
He had no idea how to manage an affair, because he had never really done so before. There had been a short-lived debauch that might be called a liaison by the generous-minded, but otherwise his carnal appetites found the most practical solutions. Presumably there were standards for carrying on a liaison for any period of time. This one might be lengthy if she chose not to marry. He didn’t intend to give her up just because of that decision if she went in that direction.
“If they are good servants, they will be discreet. Nor will they ever let you know what they think they know. Don’t mention it and your maid won’t. If you want to pretend we discussed the enterprise, tell her that.” He trusted he had this much right. That was how servants behaved in his experience about other matters that required privacy and discretion.
“I’ll see if I can be sophisticated, or if I want to start explaining away your presence in my bedchamber this long. I doubt she will think we needed to come here to talk about the enterprise, though. I have a whole house for that.”
His mind walked through the house and its various chambers. If he ended up living here, he could see a notable deficiency. The house lacked a good-sized study where he could sequester himself when he pursued his interests. There would need to be a place for the business to be managed too.
“I think I will let chambers,” he said. “You can always visit me there, if my coming here is awkward for you.”
“That would be more scandalous.”
She was probably right.
One thing he did know. He could not stay here all night. Eventually, maybe, when she knew her servants better and if she was very sure of them. But not tonight. Marriage would be much more convenient, that was certain.
He set her away, then sat. “I’ll make sure no one sees me leave.”
Her hand caressed his back. He turned, bent, and kissed her.
“Tomorrow next,” she said. “I’ll decide by then.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kevin punched toward Nicholas’s body. Nicholas danced out of range, then stepped forward and punched back. The impact on his torso almost took Kevin’s breath away.
Nicholas stepped back again. “I refuse to go on. You are not paying attention. Much more of this and I will hurt you. I’m going to wash.”
“My apologies,” Kevin said while he followed him toward the dressing room. “I have no excuse.”
“I shouldn’t have encouraged you. You came down to breakfast half asleep.” Nicholas stripped off his shirt while the attendant poured warm water into two basins. “Are you announcing that engagement soon?”
Kevin dealt with his own washing. “That will be decided soon. She may well decline. She is smart enough to know what she will lose in the marriage. I may have to content myself with the way matters now stand.”
“It is odd for a woman to choose a liaison over marriage.”
“I’m wondering how to do that, if it goes that way.” Kevin wiped his face. “How do you do it?”
Nicholas’s motions stilled. Kevin kept washing.
“Are you asking me how to conduct an affair?”
“Only the practical strategies. I assume you know all about maintaining discretion and such. I am a novice at that.”
Nicholas proceeded to dress. “The first thing you need to know is that discretion is something of a joke. You need to go through the inconvenience of being discreet, but everyone will still know what is going on. They will pretend they don’t if you make the effort, however.”
“Why bother if there will still be gossip?”
“It buys you quiet gossip, instead of insults-at-your-club and doors-closing-in-your-face gossip. As for the lady, efforts at discretion will protect her reputation in a public sense, but there will still be talk. Just not getting-called-out-and-killed talk.” Nicholas checked his cravat. “Come with me if you expect more.”
Kevin joined Nicholas in wandering the streets until they found a tavern near the river.
“You have grown fond of democratic drinking establishments,” Kevin said, joining him at a rough table. The men around them bore the garments and speech of workers from the docks.
Nicholas called for two pints. “The ale is good and there isn’t a single member of the ton