She leaned against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him, the mixture of soap and clean linen and the faint spicy cologne he wore on his skin.
‘I understand.’
But when they reached the house, he kissed her gently and left her at the bedroom door. As he always did.
* * *
Gideon found his wife very quiet the following morning and she did not greet him with her usual sunny smile. He poured himself a coffee and was debating whether to ask her what was the matter when the butler came in to tell him that the carriage had just returned from Brook Street.
‘Ah, yes, thank you, Thomas.’ Gideon put down his cup and addressed Dominique. ‘Rogers told me yesterday that he has a tenant for my father’s house, so I asked Mrs Wilkins to clear the rooms of all our personal effects and send them here. There should not be much, but perhaps you would like to tell the servants where you want everything stored?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She began to fold her napkin.
Gideon raised his brows.
‘You do not need to dash off immediately, my dear. The luggage will wait.’
‘‘No, I—um—I have finished here, thank you. I shall deal with it now.’
Gideon watched her go, a faint crease in his brow. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, but surely they were not caused by the events at the theatre, for he had reassured her that she had nothing to fear. Seeing Agnes on Max’s arm had been a shock, but Gideon was surprised at how little he now felt for the woman. Perhaps Dominique was fretting over the baby. He decided he would visit the nursery when he had broken his fast, but when he got there Nurse assured him that Baby James was giving no cause for concern. He went off to his study, still frowning.
Was Gwen’s behaviour causing Nicky to be anxious? There was no doubt that his sister was playing a dangerous game with her flirts and cicisbeos. Gideon did not believe she had taken a lover, but if she meant to make Ribblestone jealous by her actions then he feared she would find herself far off the mark. They were dining at Grosvenor Square that evening, so perhaps he would take the opportunity to drop a word of warning in Gwen’s ear. Anthony was as easy-going as a man could be, but he would only stand her nonsense for so long. Gideon tried to think what he would do if Dominique were to tease him in the same way and was shocked at the anger that shot through him. He was obliged to push the idea away as he sat down at his desk and began to go through the post that Thomas had left there for him. If there was nothing urgent he would find Dominique and invite her to ride out with him. That might help to dispel whatever worries had driven the smile from her eyes.
The pile of letters was small: a few tradesmen’s bills, a note from Rogers, confirming the arrangements for letting the house in Brook Street, and a small, sealed note that had been delivered by hand. He broke the seal and unfolded the paper, his jaw tightening as he read through the neatly written lines.
* * *
Dominique stood in the hall, looking at the boxes, bags and portmanteaux before her. She consigned them all to the attics, with the exception of the battered and corded trunk that Max had sent from Martlesham. Her eyes dwelled thoughtfully on the door to the oak parlour, where Gideon was finishing his breakfast, then with sudden decision she directed the servants to take the trunk to her bedchamber.
* * *
Mindful of the instructions in the letter, Gideon drove to Piccadilly and left Sam in charge of the curricle while he made his way on foot into Green Park. He strode quickly to the area between the reservoir and the Lodge and as he approached, a cloaked figure turned and he found himself looking into the beautiful face of Agnes Bennet.
‘We’d best walk on,’ she murmured. ‘It will look less suspicious if anyone should see us.’
There was a flatness to her vowels that he had not heard before. She was no longer trying to pretend she was a lady.
‘You wanted to see me,’ he said, falling into step beside her.
‘Lord Martlesham ordered it.’ She met his sceptical glance and looked away quickly. ‘He threatened to break my arm if I did not do so. He wants me to make mischief between you and your wife.’
‘And do you think you can?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t even want to try. Making trouble between a man and his wife ain’t my style. Martlesham played you both false last year when he contrived your marriage.’ She paused. ‘I wasn’t easy about that, but if I hadn’t done it he’d have found someone else. And he was paying me so very well it was impossible to refuse. I thought it would be a little harmless jollity—’
‘Harmless!’
She flushed.
‘I did not realise he meant to carry it through to a full marriage ceremony. When I heard—’ She looked up at him. ‘That was a cruel trick to play on you and on the young lady. I apologise.’
‘Is that why you wanted to meet, to salve your conscience with an apology?’ Gideon could not stop his lip curling in derision. ‘Is that the important matter you wanted to discuss?’
‘No! No, although I am glad of the opportunity to tell you I regret my part in the whole thing.’
‘What, then?’
‘I’ve information for you, about your wife’s dowry.’
‘My wife has no dowry. You yourself informed me of the fact when you were impersonating her.’
‘That is what Martlesham told me and what he wants you to believe.’
‘And now he wants you to tell me differently.’
‘No.’ She sighed. ‘I had best explain. When Martlesham returned to town this spring he sought me out. He wanted to make me his mistress.’ She gave a humourless little laugh. ‘I am aware of my attractions, but I knew that was not the whole of it, because when I refused his advances he still took me to live with him—made it impossible to refuse him, if you want to know the truth. He believes you’re still in love with me—no need to tell me that ain’t true because I could see as much last night.’ She paused and looked up at him, a sudden smile lighting her eyes. ‘We enjoyed those weeks together last spring, didn’t we? But it was never going to last, I knew that.’
Looking down into her face, she did not seem quite as bewitching as he remembered. She was still beautiful, but somehow the perfect features and intensely blue eyes failed to rouse any desire in Gideon. Her smile grew rueful, as if she could read his mind. With an expressive little shrug she continued.
‘Max installed me in his London house, where he parades me in front of his friends as his mistress—he hasn’t yet got me into his bed, but he will, in time.’ She rubbed her arms and shuddered a little. Gideon had the impression that she was not at all happy with her current situation. ‘He made me give up the stage and insists I remain in the house, even when he is out at some entertainment. The servants ignore me when they can, which suits me very well. I have spent my time exploring.’ She looked up, her blue eyes cold as ice. ‘I will tell you now, Gideon, that I do not like Martlesham. He is a cruel man.’
‘Then why don’t you leave him?’
‘I intend to, but he is powerful, so I have to be careful. Whenever I am alone in his house I spend my time looking through his papers, trying to find something to give me a hold over him.’
‘And have you succeeded?’
She shook her head.
‘No. He is as careful as he is bad and most of his papers are in a strong-room. However, there is a locked drawer in his desk—he keeps the key, but it is a simple matter to open it.’ She grinned. ‘I knew a picklock once, and he showed me how to do it. At the back of the drawer I found some letters from