Page 26 of Charity

He had very little of her husband about his manner, except impatience.

Could it be true?

Estella closed her eyes and cast her mind back to the time of Oscar’s conception. Had she done the unthinkable and lain with a man not her husband? Carrington had rarely spoken as he’d bedded her. The candles were always blown. Darkness could have hidden a different lover, but how had she not recognized the difference?

Estella curled her fingers into a fist. If she’d been duped, she’d never suspected. Why would Lynton steal into her bed and dishonor her anyway?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

In the past, the climb up the front steps of the Earl of Daventry’s residence would signal a woman’s complete fall from grace. Today, a month after the scandalous earl’s marriage to Miss Lillian Winter, her oldest friend, Agatha’s call would be viewed with considerable envy.

Everyone was talking about the earl’s unexpected marriage, but since Agatha had a past acquaintance with the lady in question, she was filled with foreboding. The last time she had lain eyes on Lillian, Agatha had cried for a week. Lilly had been in such agony, writhing upon the bed, whimpering as leaches were removed from her arms and legs. The remembrance chilled her still.

How would Lillian survive marriage and all it entailed?

The broad doors clicked shut behind her back, dimming the sounds of the world outside. She handed off her bonnet, cloak, and gloves then stepped after the butler. Ahead of them, Agatha could hear giggling and deep, rumbling laughter. The butler knocked on a door and waited, flicking a complex glance over his shoulder, one that conveyed amusement and resignation. The sounds of rushed movement ceased behind the door, and after a moment, Lord Daventry bade them enter.

“Miss Birkenstock!” Daventry exclaimed. “Thank you for agreeing to visit on such short notice.”

“It is my pleasure, my lord.” Agatha’s gaze drifted to her friend.

Gone was the writhing, tormented body. The blonde before her was still familiar, her features a little changed with the passage into womanhood. The pretty, smiling woman was held in place by her husband, however, and she couldn’t move an inch from his arms. Agatha had never seen the earl behave with such familiarity.

“Lady Daventry, a pleasure to see you in such good health.” Uncertain of what to do next, Agatha dropped a curtsey.

Lilly burst into laughter. “Oh, how could you know Agatha would do that? You are a beast, Giles. Go off and leave us in peace.” She swatted at her husband’s clutching arms, and he released her with obvious reluctance.

Daventry smiled and set his hands to his hips. “Already displaced by old friends. Whatever shall I do without you?”

The little blonde scowled after him until he fled the room. “Agatha, don’t you dare do that again. Giles said you would curtsey, but I just couldn’t believe him.”

Agatha grinned. “Things change. You’re a countess now. Certain courtesies are due to you.”

Lilly moved forward. “Between us, my dear, such courtesy is evil. I’ve missed you so much.” The little woman caught Agatha in a hug and held her close for an age. When Lilly released her, they both had tears in their eyes.

Agatha cupped her friend’s face gently. “I was so astounded to receive your letter last month. What is to account for your swift recovery?”

Lilly’s grin grew broad. “My husband, actually. Apparently, there was quite a lot of benefit to be found in the debauched life Giles led prior to our marriage. His hands cured me of my ills. But he must reapply his treatments frequently. Marriage seemed necessary to fit his schedule.”

Agatha’s face flamed with heat. “I think perhaps this is more information than the earl would care for me to know.”

“Nonsense.” Daventry reappeared, and then a tea-tray-bearing maid followed. “The art should have been tried before to save my wife so much pain and suffering, but I can selfishly say I am glad no one else touched her.” Daventry smiled impishly at his wife and Agatha glanced between them.

They were speaking in riddles and behaving improperly again. The earl drew Lilly into an embrace, pressing kisses to her brow. Agatha looked away, hoping Daventry would remember they had company sooner rather than later.

“Forgive me, Miss Birkenstock. My wife has quite changed me.”

Agatha looked at him, saw the same wicked glint in his eye that she had glimpsed during previous encounters with him in society, and doubted the change was very significant.

The earl’s eyes sparkled with amusement and his hands stroked over his wife’s exposed skin. “You may be completely honest, Miss Birkenstock.”

“Forgive me but you seem entirely the same, my lord.”

His expression sobered. “Ah, but the difference is that my eye, and every other part of me, is firmly attuned to my wife’s happiness. There is not another woman like her.”

Lilly turned in his arms, swiping at her cheeks. “You are about to get ridiculously sentimental again, aren’t you?” At the earl’s nod, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips and pushed him away. “Go and check the value of your investments or something equally complicated, Giles. I’d rather not spend Agatha’s visit weeping at your declarations.”

The earl grinned again and ducked out the doorway.