have no objection to you having a mistress. It is quite a common occurrence in many marriages I believe.’
‘ And I have told you that is not an option for me. My father was never unfaithful to my mother and even when my marriage was collapsing around my ears, I did not take a mistress until our marriage was fully dissolved. I take my marriage vows seriously.’
Her eyes filled with frustration. ‘But that is ridiculous when your own wife is saying she has no objection.’
‘ I’m sorry if you think me ridiculous.’
‘ I did not mean - of course I do not think you ridiculous, Guy. I only meant-’
Guy sighed. ‘I know what you meant and I feel we are simply going around in circles.’
‘ Yes, we are.’
They seemed to have reached an impasse and for a while there was silence, neither of them inclined to take the conversation forward. Then Isabelle took a deep breath, fearing that at any minute he might bring up the option of annulment.
‘Perhaps it was unrealistic of me to expect that there would be no marital relations at all between us,’ she offered hesitantly. ‘I am not so ignorant that I do not know there are other ways of satisfying a man’s … urges.’
‘ Good God woman, now you do shock me.’
Was that a hint of humour in his grey eyes and in the twitching of his lips? If it was, it was gone before she could clearly identify it.
‘And how exactly would you intend satisfying my - urges, as you so delicately put it?’
She looked at him helplessly. She wished she had not started this conversation. She certainly had no wish to continue it. ‘I think you are well aware of what I am talking about,’ she said stiffly. ‘And I feel we have conversed quite enough on this topic for one night. Perhaps we both need time to reflect on the situation. I know I certainly do.’
‘ I think you might be right.’ He stood up and his gaze softened as he looked down at her. ‘This has certainly been an enlightening evening Isabelle, but I’m sure we can work our way through this. I don’t think either of us has an appetite for an annulment and all the fuss such an action would entail. Sexual intercourse should not be something that is feared; and it is something that is all the better when enjoyed by both parties.’
‘ And that is something that is never going to happen. I do not wish to mislead you on that front, Your Grace.’
He raised a cool eyebrow. ‘We will see. I am very well aware of the type of household your husband was used to run. His parties were the talk of Brooke’s. And you were present, I believe? You are presumably no innocent in these matters?’
Isabelle ’s back went ramrod straight but she would not let him witness the acute embarrassment she felt at him knowing the sort of life she had been forced to endure. His own house party that she had witnessed would have been very tame meat compared to those thrown by her husband, she was sure. Her eyes flashed. ‘I may have been required by my husband to be present at his London Soirees but that does not mean I enjoyed them.’ she said stiffly. ‘And believing what you believe, I am surprised you wish to bed a harlot such as me.’
Guy ’s eyes snapped into a frown. ‘Did I call you that?’
No, she thought sadly. But it was how she felt.
She lifted her chin. ‘I do not wish to fight you, Guy. As my husband you can insist on exercising your marital rights, but if it is also your desire that I enjoy the act, then I am afraid you will be sadly disappointed. I cannot see you altering my views on that.’
‘ Maybe you are right Isabelle,’ he said softly, ‘but there can be no harm in me trying.’
Before she realised his intention, he bent down and placed his mouth lightly on hers. There was no pressure, no seeking; his lips were cool and firm for the briefest of times, before he straightened up to take his leave.
‘Sleep
‘ And I have told you that is not an option for me. My father was never unfaithful to my mother and even when my marriage was collapsing around my ears, I did not take a mistress until our marriage was fully dissolved. I take my marriage vows seriously.’
Her eyes filled with frustration. ‘But that is ridiculous when your own wife is saying she has no objection.’
‘ I’m sorry if you think me ridiculous.’
‘ I did not mean - of course I do not think you ridiculous, Guy. I only meant-’
Guy sighed. ‘I know what you meant and I feel we are simply going around in circles.’
‘ Yes, we are.’
They seemed to have reached an impasse and for a while there was silence, neither of them inclined to take the conversation forward. Then Isabelle took a deep breath, fearing that at any minute he might bring up the option of annulment.
‘Perhaps it was unrealistic of me to expect that there would be no marital relations at all between us,’ she offered hesitantly. ‘I am not so ignorant that I do not know there are other ways of satisfying a man’s … urges.’
‘ Good God woman, now you do shock me.’
Was that a hint of humour in his grey eyes and in the twitching of his lips? If it was, it was gone before she could clearly identify it.
‘And how exactly would you intend satisfying my - urges, as you so delicately put it?’
She looked at him helplessly. She wished she had not started this conversation. She certainly had no wish to continue it. ‘I think you are well aware of what I am talking about,’ she said stiffly. ‘And I feel we have conversed quite enough on this topic for one night. Perhaps we both need time to reflect on the situation. I know I certainly do.’
‘ I think you might be right.’ He stood up and his gaze softened as he looked down at her. ‘This has certainly been an enlightening evening Isabelle, but I’m sure we can work our way through this. I don’t think either of us has an appetite for an annulment and all the fuss such an action would entail. Sexual intercourse should not be something that is feared; and it is something that is all the better when enjoyed by both parties.’
‘ And that is something that is never going to happen. I do not wish to mislead you on that front, Your Grace.’
He raised a cool eyebrow. ‘We will see. I am very well aware of the type of household your husband was used to run. His parties were the talk of Brooke’s. And you were present, I believe? You are presumably no innocent in these matters?’
Isabelle ’s back went ramrod straight but she would not let him witness the acute embarrassment she felt at him knowing the sort of life she had been forced to endure. His own house party that she had witnessed would have been very tame meat compared to those thrown by her husband, she was sure. Her eyes flashed. ‘I may have been required by my husband to be present at his London Soirees but that does not mean I enjoyed them.’ she said stiffly. ‘And believing what you believe, I am surprised you wish to bed a harlot such as me.’
Guy ’s eyes snapped into a frown. ‘Did I call you that?’
No, she thought sadly. But it was how she felt.
She lifted her chin. ‘I do not wish to fight you, Guy. As my husband you can insist on exercising your marital rights, but if it is also your desire that I enjoy the act, then I am afraid you will be sadly disappointed. I cannot see you altering my views on that.’
‘ Maybe you are right Isabelle,’ he said softly, ‘but there can be no harm in me trying.’
Before she realised his intention, he bent down and placed his mouth lightly on hers. There was no pressure, no seeking; his lips were cool and firm for the briefest of times, before he straightened up to take his leave.
‘Sleep
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