Harry Lloyd’s reappearance was as ill timed as any bad omen. He did not want Matilda upset. Not when their marriage had finally begun to progress in a promising direction. She had opened herself to him at last, accepting that passion and pain were one and the same for them, confided in him, but he did not know what she would do when faced with her former betrothed. Since she’d never experienced intimacy before their marriage, he felt strangely confident the lie would not completely shatter her trust in him. He took care of her, he asked for her opinions, and after last night… Well, she might be growing more and more fond of his brand of affection.
He felt no compulsion to bring their arrangement to a close. Separation would be a very messy affair, and Matilda’s reputation would be harmed, even more so than his own. And she was still very much an innocent. The thought of how other men might consider her, assume her much more experienced in pleasure than she was, set his teeth on edge.
He folded the paper briskly and collected the day’s letters. The more time he spent with her, the more uneasy he was about a separation that would leave her without his protection.
He would have to confess his deception. With luck, he wouldn’t be sleeping on the chaise come nightfall.
~ * ~
Victoria plopped down at Matilda’s side in the drawing room and took her hand. “Is everything all right between you and William?”
“Perfect, why?” Her bottom still ached from William’s spanking, but she couldn’t share that with his sister.
“I heard a commotion coming from your rooms last night, and I am concerned.”
Matilda frowned. “There was no commotion.”
“I thought I heard someone being slapped.” Victoria winced. “Quite a number of times, in fact.”
Dear God, the sound of William’s spanking had carried outside their bedchamber.
Matilda had been so wrapped up in William that she’d never dreamed their activities would come to anyone else’s attention. She glanced away, thinking of how to explain the situation in terms Victoria could accept. Their interlude had taken a while, and William had been most thorough in warming her bottom with his hand. She couldn’t tell his sister that, however. She had to find another explanation. “A spider. There was a spider in our room, and William was hunting for it.”
Victoria’s brows rose. “Did he kill it?”
“What?”
“Did he kill the spider?”
“Oh yes, I think he must have. He was quite dedicated to chasing it around.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure that’s all it was? My brother can be a little hard at times.”
“Absolutely.”
“Matilda, what are you agreeing to?” William’s voice was the best sound in the world.
She jumped to her feet and hurried to stand before him. “I was just telling Victoria that you saved me from a very large spider last night.” She widened her eyes, hoping he’d catch on quickly. “But it took a while before you managed to flatten it. The sound disturbed her a little bit.”
William took the lie in stride but shuffled the unopened letters in his hand. “You know, I’m not completely sure I did get it after all, but I don’t want you to be alarmed, my dear. I will take another closer look tonight and make sure you’re not frightened again. Just ignore any further nighttime ruckus from our rooms, Victoria. I fully intend to look after Matilda. I promise.”
Matilda’s toes curled in her slippers as desire for his touch reared its head. She was not used to feeling that way about him, and it was highly distracting.
Apparently appeased, Victoria let the matter drop and stole a glance at his correspondence. “Ooh, the Malvey masquerade.”
“To which you girls will not be going,” William announced sternly. “Where is Evelyn today?”
“She needed to speak to Aunt Pen, and stop changing the subject every time I want to discuss the most popular entertainment of the year.” Victoria set her hands to her hips. “Malvey’s masquerade is not even considered that shocking or scandalous anymore. Why can we not go?”
His gaze landed on Matilda and he studied her. “Because I would like a night out with Matilda on my arm without having to watch over three girls who can get into enough trouble when I simply blink.”
Victoria huffed but then tossed her head from side to side. “Oh well, fair enough. But only because you’ll take Matilda. I’ll help her choose a costume.”
“That will not be necessary.” William passed Victoria a letter absently. He passed another to Matilda. “Hold on to that, my dear.”
Matilda bit her lip at his endearment and quickly dropped her eyes to the invitation. The flowing script invited Captain and Mrs. Ford to an evening of lively entertainment that was to end at dawn. She smiled to see their names side by side.
“But really, William,” Victoria exclaimed. “She simply must have something divine to wear for her first masque.”