My Wicked Little Lies. Victoria Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ were restless ... A cold hand squeezed his heart. He ignored it. What utter rubbish. His wife was certainly not dallying with another man. Other men’s wives perhaps but not his. That was the worst sort of conclusion to leap to and not at all warranted. He trusted her completely, with his life if necessary and certainly with his heart.

      He drew a deep breath. Evie had never done anything to make him question either her affection or her fidelity. She was not the type of woman to be led astray. That the tiniest doubt now surfaced was probably more a result of his own current state of unrest rather than anything of a substantial nature on her part. He’d never really known jealousy before yet apparently he was not immune to it. That, too, was distressing—he had thought he was a better, or at least a more rational, sort of man.

      “Oh bother,” she muttered, and his gaze slipped back to her. She pushed away from the desk and stood. “I’m going to finish this in the morning, which will only put me even more behind, but it can’t be helped, I suppose.” She brushed an errant lock of hair away from her face and frowned at the need to do so. “You’re right, you know.”

      “I usually am.” He chuckled but his heart caught. He forced a casual note to his voice. “About what?”

      “I do seem to be distracted this evening. I’m not at all sure why.” She frowned. “It could be the weather, I suppose. Do you realize it has snowed every month since October?”

      “I had noticed that.”

      “A foot last month alone. And then the rioting a scant two weeks ago ...” She shook her head. “Those poor people.”

      “Times are hard,” he said simply. “And jobs are scarce.”

      “It does seem to me that if Parliament spent less time arguing about Ireland and more discussing putting men to work, we would all be better off.”

      “No doubt. I shall propose it at once.”

      She raised a brow. “With a rousing speech on the floor of the House of Lords?”

      He scoffed. “Where else?”

      “You’re teasing me now, Adrian, and I don’t find it the least bit amusing. Poverty is rampant, children live on the streets and people have no money for food. Something should be done.”

      “Indeed, something should.” He got to his feet.

      “And if I could think of something brilliant, even something adequate, a plan to solve all the ills of this country or this empire, I would put it into motion without hesitation.”

      She nodded in a satisfied manner, but amusement gleamed in her eyes. She crossed the room to him. “I know you would.”

      He pulled her into his arms. “I would try to save the entire world for you if you wished it.”

      “I know you would, darling. That’s one of the reasons why I married you.”

      “Just one?”

      “One of many. Another is that it’s not necessary for you to actually save the entire world, only that you would be willing to do so. Besides, you’re the Earl of Waterston, you don’t have time to save more than a tiny portion of the world.” She gave him a quick kiss, then gazed into his eyes. “Darling, if I had wanted a warrior or a savior or someone, oh, I don’t know, a man of adventure, I would have married someone adventurous.”

      “And I’m not adventurous?” he said coolly although the comment was annoying.

      “No, of course not. You’re reliable and responsible and dependable and honorable.”

      He stared down at her. “Good God, I sound dull.”

      Her eyes widened. “But you’re not, not in the least. You’re the most fascinating man I know.”

      “In a reliable and responsible sort of way?”

      “Not at all,” she said staunchly, then paused. “Well, perhaps. But you are the kind of man one can depend upon. Not merely in times of crisis but each and every day.”

      “Oh, that sounds much better,” he said in a wry manner.

      “And you are kind and generous.”

      “Hmph.”

      “And most handsome.” She smiled. “Did I mention that?”

      “No.” He leaned closer and brushed his lips along the side of her neck. “I can be adventurous, you know.”

      “Well, there are certain times ...” She shivered. “Yes, indeed ...”

      “And exciting,” his lips murmured against her skin. She loved it when he kissed her neck. “I can be exciting.”

      “Most exciting ...” She swallowed hard. “I believe I shall retire now. Shall I dismiss my maid for the night?”

      “Excellent idea.” He grinned down at her.

      “I thought so.” A wicked light shone in her eyes. She pulled out of his arms and started for the door. “Coming?”

      “I’ll be there in a minute.”

      She nodded and left the parlor.

      He watched her leave, then drew a deep breath. If she was trying to distract him, he would certainly cooperate. He could use a little distraction himself. Besides, it would be wrong not to. After all, he was so reliable and dependable. Although he supposed there were worse things to be considered.

      Damn it all, his wife was restless, and he absolutely refused to think that her boredom was being eased by another man. Still, it would be foolish of him to ignore this entirely. Yes, something was definitely amiss. He started after his wife. In his list of attributes she’d left out determined. He wouldn’t rest until he discovered what was wrong.

      And prayed it wasn’t a man of adventure.

      Chapter 4

      This was absurd.

      Adrian sat in a hired carriage a discreet distance from the entrance of the British Museum and watched. And waited.

      It was, as well, somewhat dishonorable and definitely beneath him. One did not spy on one’s wife. Especially when the wife in question had done nothing to arouse suspicion. Oh, certainly, her manner last night had been unusual, and there had been that comment about how she would have married an adventurous man if she had wished. A comment that still rankled. He, no doubt, just imagined a hint of longing in her voice. Why, he could be adventurous if he wished. She had no idea just how adventurous he could be.

      And this morning, when he had asked about her day, she had listed all she intended to do but hadn’t said a word about visiting the museum. Then later, when he had queried Miss DeRochette, she hadn’t mentioned the museum either. Evie lived by her schedule although this could simply have slipped her mind and more than likely did. Admittedly his own mood was such that he could be reading things into her words and behavior that were not present. He would like nothing so much as he would like to be wrong. Pity he was rarely, if ever, wrong.

      Regardless, СКАЧАТЬ