Heiress in Red Silk (Duke's Heiress #2) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,99

be gained by it? If he was the sort to do such a thing, he was the sort to lie about it.

It all came down to what she believed. What she trusted. Whether she accepted what she thought he was, as she had come to know him.

She hoped her better sense was not deserting her, the way it had with Charles. “I only wanted to ask if you still thought this marriage of convenience a good idea.”

He lifted her hand and bent to kiss it. “I think it is an excellent idea.”

“We should do it then, before one of us realizes we are insane.”

Chapter Nineteen

They married a week later, in a quiet ceremony at St. George’s. Rosamund wore a cream dress she had ordered upon her return from Paris.

Attendance was sparse. Minerva, Chase, and Hollinburgh were there, along with Rosamund’s maid, Jenny. No one else from Kevin’s family came, not even his father.

When Rosamund turned after saying the vows, she saw Beatrice at the back of the church. She had worried that her friend would not like this marriage, but Beatrice gave a little wave and a smile before immediately slipping out. Rosamund wondered if Kevin had noticed her.

Rosamund’s only regret was that Lily could not be with her. She had written with the news, however, and received a response in which her sister expressed excitement for her. Lily probably was relieved that her older sister had not ended up a fallen woman.

Minerva hosted the wedding breakfast out in her garden. The weather held, and a lot of joy and good wishes surrounded that table. Finally, she and Kevin rode back to her house to start this marriage they had chosen.

She was up in her chamber when Kevin entered. Jenny slipped out at once.

He took her in his arms and gave her a much better kiss than the discreet one after the ceremony. “So here we are.”

“Do you feel strange? I do.”

“Most strange. Forever is a long time.”

“I was thinking the same thing during the ceremony.”

Jenny had started undressing her. Now Kevin turned her around to complete the task of unfastening her dress. “I saw one of the women from Mrs. Darling’s house at the church. Did you invite her?”

“She never would have come if I hadn’t.” She suddenly realized why he had asked. “She was not there for you, if you were worried that she was.”

His fingers stilled on her back, then continued. “Then you know about that.”

“I do. She and I remain friends.”

“I thought they only bought bonnets from you.”

“She was very kind to me when I was there. She was probably the only friend I had in London at the time.”

“I will not be seeing her again, in case you wondered. Even if I ever break my promise to you, it will not be with her.”

He slid down the dress. She stepped out and faced him. “I know. She would not have you now, even if you did go there. She may be a whore, but she understands friendship.” She looked down at his fingers unlacing her half stays. “She gave you the highest recommendation, though. She said you knew what you were about.”

He gave her a charming half smile. “Did she now? How generous.”

“Of course, I already knew that.”

“Actually, you don’t know the half of it, darling.” The stays fell to the floor.

“Perhaps you should be another of my tutors and teach me at least half of it.”

His fingertips skimmed over her freed breasts, drawing lines on the chemise that covered them still. “That is a splendid idea. Today we will have lesson one.”

* * *

The caller was announced ten days later. After breakfast, Kevin had gone to the small study attached to the library. A footman later interrupted to deliver a card. Annoyed that he had been disturbed on the first day he could concentrate in over a week, Kevin set aside the sketches he was toying with and went up to the drawing room.

Rosamund was there, along with the man whose card he held, Mr. Theodore Lovelace.

The man’s back was to him, but he garnered what he could from that view. Ginger-haired. Big. He had the looks of a laborer to him, with his broad shoulders and thick form. One visible hand showed calluses and scars. His coats were of high quality, however.

“Here he is,” Rosamund said. “This is Mr. Kevin Radnor, whom you asked to see.”

Kevin positioned himself to welcome Mr. Lovelace and get a full view. Rough-hewn. Craggy face. Gray eyes. But