she said absently.
Still, he wasn’t the heir, and from what she’d been told, he’d seen no need to behave as one. It had all changed, of course, when Richard died.
“I do think Lady Dunwell might ...”
But Adrian had more than lived up to expectations. Indeed, he had taken on the responsibilities of his position as if he, and not his older brother, had been the one destined for the title. The music drew to a close and she barely noticed.
“We’re agreed then.”
“What?” She looked up at him.
He escorted her off the floor. “You haven’t heard a word I said.”
“Nonsense. I was listening quite closely. You said—” She stopped and stared. “What did you say?”
“I suggested that we might pursue new interests. Life has been rather dull of late. I was thinking a mistress, a lover.” He shrugged. “That sort of thing.”
“Adrian!” Shock coursed through her. “Surely you aren’t serious?” At once his words popped into her head. “And Lady Dunwell? Why, I would shoot you myself before I would permit such a thing. Whatever are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking it’s a sad state of affairs when a man can’t command the attention of his own wife,” he said wryly.
She narrowed her eyes. “You were teasing me.”
He chuckled.
“It was not the least bit amusing.”
“It was most amusing.”
She sniffed. “Perhaps if you had named any woman other than Lady Dunwell, there might have been some humor in it.”
“That was the best part.” He accepted two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed her one. “You deserved it.”
She raised a brow. “Because I was not paying attention to your every word?”
“Absolutely.”
“You are an arrogant man, my lord.”
“ Confident .” He grinned, then sobered. “You are preoccupied tonight and you are never preoccupied. I don’t like it. It’s disturbing.”
“My apologies for disturbing you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He frowned. “But this isn’t like you, and I confess I am a bit worried.”
Her tone softened. “I’m certain it’s the weather, Adrian. It’s endless and dreary and spring is never going to come.”
“Spring will come.” His tone was matter-of-fact but his gaze searched hers. “It always does.”
She smiled into eyes shadowed with concern. The man was most perceptive and he knew her entirely too well. She was a fool to think she could hide anything from him. Still, at the moment, it couldn’t be helped. And it was time she stopped feeling pitiful and confronted the task at hand. The sooner she accomplished what was required of her, the sooner she could put the past firmly behind her forever. And banish that look of worry in her husband’s eyes.
“You’re right, of course. Although I do wish there were some way to hurry it along.”
“The druids held rites to hurry spring.” Adrian sipped his champagne. “Under the stars. Naked, I believe.”
She stared at him. “That’s nonsense.”
“Not at all. The druids had all sorts of rites.”
She scoffed. “Not naked.”
“Not that we know.” He shrugged. “However, there is little of accuracy known about the ancient peoples who once inhabited this land.” He gazed over the ballroom as if he were looking into the long-distant past. “I like to think most of their ritual dances were undertaken without clothes.”
“Adrian!”
“You would have made an excellent druid.”
“Not in this weather,” she murmured.
“Especially in this weather,” he said firmly. “It wouldn’t be worth it otherwise.” He studied her in a thoughtful manner. “Perhaps, given how the weather has affected you of late, you should try it.”
She raised a brow. “You’re suggesting I dance naked under the stars? In London?”
“It is something to consider.” He thought for a moment. “Admittedly, it might prove awkward with the neighbors, but I do know I would appreciate it. Although, on the roof ...”
“You are the most
Still, he wasn’t the heir, and from what she’d been told, he’d seen no need to behave as one. It had all changed, of course, when Richard died.
“I do think Lady Dunwell might ...”
But Adrian had more than lived up to expectations. Indeed, he had taken on the responsibilities of his position as if he, and not his older brother, had been the one destined for the title. The music drew to a close and she barely noticed.
“We’re agreed then.”
“What?” She looked up at him.
He escorted her off the floor. “You haven’t heard a word I said.”
“Nonsense. I was listening quite closely. You said—” She stopped and stared. “What did you say?”
“I suggested that we might pursue new interests. Life has been rather dull of late. I was thinking a mistress, a lover.” He shrugged. “That sort of thing.”
“Adrian!” Shock coursed through her. “Surely you aren’t serious?” At once his words popped into her head. “And Lady Dunwell? Why, I would shoot you myself before I would permit such a thing. Whatever are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking it’s a sad state of affairs when a man can’t command the attention of his own wife,” he said wryly.
She narrowed her eyes. “You were teasing me.”
He chuckled.
“It was not the least bit amusing.”
“It was most amusing.”
She sniffed. “Perhaps if you had named any woman other than Lady Dunwell, there might have been some humor in it.”
“That was the best part.” He accepted two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed her one. “You deserved it.”
She raised a brow. “Because I was not paying attention to your every word?”
“Absolutely.”
“You are an arrogant man, my lord.”
“ Confident .” He grinned, then sobered. “You are preoccupied tonight and you are never preoccupied. I don’t like it. It’s disturbing.”
“My apologies for disturbing you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He frowned. “But this isn’t like you, and I confess I am a bit worried.”
Her tone softened. “I’m certain it’s the weather, Adrian. It’s endless and dreary and spring is never going to come.”
“Spring will come.” His tone was matter-of-fact but his gaze searched hers. “It always does.”
She smiled into eyes shadowed with concern. The man was most perceptive and he knew her entirely too well. She was a fool to think she could hide anything from him. Still, at the moment, it couldn’t be helped. And it was time she stopped feeling pitiful and confronted the task at hand. The sooner she accomplished what was required of her, the sooner she could put the past firmly behind her forever. And banish that look of worry in her husband’s eyes.
“You’re right, of course. Although I do wish there were some way to hurry it along.”
“The druids held rites to hurry spring.” Adrian sipped his champagne. “Under the stars. Naked, I believe.”
She stared at him. “That’s nonsense.”
“Not at all. The druids had all sorts of rites.”
She scoffed. “Not naked.”
“Not that we know.” He shrugged. “However, there is little of accuracy known about the ancient peoples who once inhabited this land.” He gazed over the ballroom as if he were looking into the long-distant past. “I like to think most of their ritual dances were undertaken without clothes.”
“Adrian!”
“You would have made an excellent druid.”
“Not in this weather,” she murmured.
“Especially in this weather,” he said firmly. “It wouldn’t be worth it otherwise.” He studied her in a thoughtful manner. “Perhaps, given how the weather has affected you of late, you should try it.”
She raised a brow. “You’re suggesting I dance naked under the stars? In London?”
“It is something to consider.” He thought for a moment. “Admittedly, it might prove awkward with the neighbors, but I do know I would appreciate it. Although, on the roof ...”
“You are the most
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