She stared when he greeted her amiably, her cup of chocolate raised halfway to her lips. While she watched, Lucian filled a plate from the sideboard, accepted coffee from the hovering footman, and then dismissed the servant. He gave Brynn a brief smile before settling back in his seat and opening one of the morning papers that she wasn’t reading.
She found herself at a total loss.
He’d arrived home late last night, she knew, for she’d lain in her lonely bed tossing and turning, listening for him. But he hadn’t visited her bed. Most likely it was because he had found other pleasures to occupy him. Absurdly it hurt to think of Lucian in the arms of another woman-
Forcing those foolish thoughts away, Brynn made herself chew her suddenly dry toast and concentrate on the editorial before her.
Silence reigned for a time. Eventually Lucian closed his paper and applied himself to his breakfast. Brynn nearly jumped when he addressed her moments later.
“You aren’t wearing a riding habit. You don’t mean to ride this morning? ”
He knew of her customary early morning rides in the park with Raven, Brynn supposed, but she was surprised he had noticed her attire.
“No,” she answered carefully.
“Why not?”
She gave him a wary glance. “I never plan to go out again.”
“Why?”
“Because it is safer.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Isn’t that a rather drastic measure?”
She tried to flash an arch smile but feared it merely came out bitter. “You were the one who insisted I keep away from the young bucks ‘panting after my skirts.” The only way I know how to accomplish that is to avoid them entirely.“
“I expect you’ll find such confinement restrictive,” he said finally.
“Certainly I will. It is lonely having to do without company, but I am accustomed to it. And remaining quietly at home here is better than being forced to rusticate at your country estate, where I know absolutely no one.”
She felt his light gaze examining her face. “You needn’t do without company entirely. Do you enjoy Shakespeare?”
Brynn eyed him warily. “Yes, why?”
“I thought we might attend the theater this evening.”
“We?”
A smile flickered at his mouth. “I should like to escort you, if you will allow me.”
“Why?”
“I hoped you might accept it as an olive branch.”
She considered that for a moment. “I can’t imagine why you would want to offer an olive branch.”
“Because I don’t enjoy this constant state of antagonism between us, Brynn. I would like it to end. We cannot spend a lifetime like this, fighting each other.”
She didn’t enjoy their antagonism, either, or the explosive results. The memory of their rash, brazen lovemaking in the carriage still haunted her. But keeping discord between them was the safest thing for Lucian.
“I never wanted our marriage to become a battleground,” he said when she was silent, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. “I regret that more than you know.”
Brynn caught her breath, unable to look away from the unwavering intensity of his gaze. She wished his eyes were less compelling and not quite so blue.
His voice lowered even further. “I know I haven’t been the most ideal husband, Brynn. I would like to try to make it up to you.”
She couldn’t answer, not with the sudden tightness of her throat.