Notorious (Rebels of the Ton #1) - Minerva Spencer Page 0,93

be if I wished my husband to abandon his own flesh and blood?”

“You wish for him to live with us?”

Drusilla gave a small huff. “Of course I do, Gabriel. He is your son—conceived before we met—how could I be angry about such a thing?” She did not tell him she was jealous of the fact another woman had carried his child; there was no point. “I love children and I am eager to meet him.”

“Even though he is not legitimate?”

Drusilla gave him an arch look. “That’s hardly his fault, is it?”

He flushed under her critical stare but then surprised her by smiling. “No, it is not.” He offered her his arm. “Come,” he said, “the carriage is waiting.”

If Drusilla was hoping he would explain his son’s origins, she was to be disappointed. Still, she felt more optimistic about them—certainly about their ability to communicate when they both put their minds to it.

Perhaps they might learn to make something of their marriage, after all.

* * *

The truce between Gabriel and his wife was a delicate one but it strengthened over the coming days.

Like any ton couple, they went out every night, attending the mad whirl of routs and balls that occurred as the Season drew to an end. Unlike other ton couples, they attended many of the same functions. It was unusual for a husband and wife to socialize so often in each other’s company, but Gabriel knew his new wife did not have a broad social circle. Besides, he found that he enjoyed accompanying her. In addition to being a very clever woman, she also possessed a well-developed sense of humor and had a keen eye when it came to evaluating her fellow man.

They often returned home near dawn, said goodnight, and did not see one another until the following evening, when it was time to do it all over again.

During the day they lived almost separate lives.

Drusilla spent a great deal of her time with her aunt and paid a few calls. She sometimes went shopping, although he did not think she was in any way as profligate as his sisters and mother when it came to clothing.

Gabriel had considered offering to go shopping with her, himself. Her clothing was . . . well, it was not always flattering to her rather voluptuous figure.

But of course he made no such offer.

Instead he saw Samir each day and rejoiced in the opportunity to get to know the boy. He also went to his club, rode in the park with Eva and Byer—Drusilla had still not offered to join them—and even accompanied the marquess when his stepfather visited one of his newly acquired properties.

Her friendship with Eva appeared rather stilted but at least the two women were talking. As for their own interactions, Gabriel had found the few times they were alone together to be agreeable. Dinner, which they usually ate at home, had been much more pleasant and enjoyable since the evening of their “talk.” They spoke on general subjects and avoided any of those topics that had caused trouble in the past. Gabriel never asked about what transpired at her charity group meetings, and she did not ask him how he spent his days.

They lived the life of a newly married young couple, with one notable exception: Gabriel did not go to his wife’s bed.

It was not that he did not desire her—quite the contrary—nor was it because he had not forgiven her for their past disagreements. He bore no grudges and he had enjoyed their one night of lovemaking—very much—and found that she grew increasingly appealing with each day that passed.

But she was an enigma to him and he was in no hurry to make love to her and find himself slapped down the following morning. Besides, he’d decided it could not hurt to take some time and get to know her outside the bedroom.

As often as he told himself that noble reason for avoiding Drusilla’s bed, he probably wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her for ten days if he’d not been spending his evenings elsewhere.

Ever since seeing and hearing Rowland and Visel together, he’d been spending most nights after she’d gone to bed prowling around their house or the area where Visel and Rowland appeared to live. Because he couldn’t watch everywhere at once, he’d brought Byer in on his problem—not that he was sure what the problem was.

It had turned out to be a good idea to bring in his friend as Byer