their partners. Of course, he could not hear the conversation, but he could see by Eva’s rather fierce expression and the flushed faces of their tablemates that she was probably behaving as badly—if not as subtly—as Lucy.
Lord, what an evening.
At least his mother and the marquess were not here to witness the small dramas being played out. They’d left just before supper.
“You needn’t concern yourself with Eva, Jibril,” his mother had said as she and Exley prepared to leave. “Elizabeth is here.” Elizabeth was his great-aunt on his mother’s side, a matronly woman who’d launched five daughters of her own. “She will see that Eva returns home tonight.”
“Are you sure Aunt Elizabeth is up to the challenge?” Gabriel had asked, not entirely jesting. Even with all her experience, his aunt was no match for Eva when she went on a tear. As she was showing dangerous signs of doing with Visel this evening.
But his mother had merely patted his hand. “Go home, Jibril.” She’d given him a sly smile. “You are a newlywed.”
Her laughter had followed him even after he turned away and left her with the marquess. His mother was relentless.
Chapter 14
Tonight Drusilla permitted Fletcher to dress her in the finest nightgown she owned. But even that was not much to look at. She supposed she should purchase new bedclothes now that she was a married woman. Wasn’t that what women did? Wore attractive negligees?
Drusilla shuddered at the thought of putting on such a garment and presenting herself to her beautiful husband.
The evening had been unpleasant in parts—especially supper—but her time in the garden with Gabriel and their silly banter at the buffet had made all the uncomfortable bits of the ball melt into insignificance.
He wanted to make this marriage work. He was almost . . . courting her. She just needed to suppress her insecurities, raging jealousy, and suspicious, judgmental nature.
I need to stop and think before I speak. She knew that—impulsiveness had always been her worst fault. And when you coupled that with a swift and rather barbed tongue, it led to poor results. And with Gabriel it always led to arguments. Tonight she would be different. She would—
A light tap on the door made her spin around. He was in the open doorway between their dressing rooms, once again wearing the deep red silk robe. But, unlike this morning, she saw no pantaloons beneath it.
He lifted his hands to reveal a bottle and two glasses. “I brought my last bottle. Would you care for a glass?”
“Yes, please.”
He smiled at her while his hands worked on the cork. “Do you like the wine? Or are you merely being polite?”
“Both.”
He laughed. “You are a diplomat.”
She smiled like an idiot.
He brought her a glass and gestured to the seating area. “Shall we sit?”
Her legs were wobbly and she was grateful for the opportunity to gather her wits. At the same time, she was anxious to get this awkward part of their lives over and done with. Still, she could hardly say such a thing.
“I think tonight went well,” he said, taking a sip of wine.
“So do I. We shall see them again tomorrow?”
“Yes, His Grace indicated he would be occupying his box, which was his way of letting us know he would pay us a visit.” He shrugged. “Of course, he did not come tonight, so who knows?” He cocked his head at her. “What is it?”
“What is what?”
“I think you want to say something, but have decided against it.”
“Am I that easy for you to read?”
He just smiled.
“I was wondering why Visel seems to dislike you so much. I couldn’t help feeling he might have apologized, but he was not really sorry.”
“I agree. He seems to be driven by something. Tonight Eva suggested perhaps he is a victim of male hysteria.”
Drusilla considered that while also considering the matter of the little boy the earl had mentioned. She decided to leave that be—at least for the moment. Instead she said, “Well, he was away a long time—a decade, I believe. But how would his war experience manifest itself into hatred of you?”
“I don’t know. It was Eva’s notion. I personally think he simply hates what I am more than who I am. But come,” he said, setting down his glass and standing. “That is enough talk of Visel.”
Drusilla stared as he came toward her, his body far more masculine and imposing in a robe than it appeared fully dressed.
He held out one hand. “Come here.”
Drusilla stood, but her legs