about her. Her sight was turned inward.
Richard had fulfilled his vow to play second fiddle to her-to honor and indulge her position as lady of the vale-which was a large concession from a man like him-a warrior like him. She'd realized that from the start-that without such a concession, their marriage could never work, could never be the success they both needed it to be.
He'd made that concession because he loved her.
The sudden clarity, the absolute certainty that filled her mind was dazzling, breathtaking.
She'd known that he needed her, that he now knew he belonged here, in his appointed place at her side. But she hadn't, until that quivering instant, realized that he loved her as well.
Glancing at Devil, she saw him grin and flick a finger to Honoria's cheek, then he turned to address Vane, but his hand closed over Honoria's where it rested on the table. Vane was lounging in his chair, one hand on Patience's back, his fingers idly toying with her curls.
Only by that light in his eyes, and, perhaps, if she had any experience by which to judge, his intensity in their bed, did Richard show his love for her. He was reserved-she'd known that before she'd met him; he always wore a mask in public. He didn't display his love openly, as the others did so easily, apparently without thought. She needed instead to pay attention to his actions, and the motives behind them, to see what force was driving him.
She should, perhaps, have seen it before, but he yielded his secrets grudgingly. That he knew was beyond question; as Honoria had mentioned, Cynster males weren't blind, although they sometimes pretended they were. He had, she recalled, been very definite that he wanted her as his cause.
Turning to speak to the twins, she hugged her newfound discovery to her heart and, throughout dinner, took it out now and then to ponder. To consider. Again and again, she observed that special something that flowed openly between Devil and Honoria, and Vane and Patience-and wanted it for her own.
Quite how she might bring it about-give Richard the confidence he needed to show his love openly, presumably by convincing him she returned it fullfold-was something she'd yet to determine.
But it was something she vowed she would do.
Smiling sunnily, she chatted with the twins-thanks to The Lady, she now had ample time to work on Richard.
The next morning, Richard lay in bed and tried to disguise his fretfulness. Lying in bed doing nothing was his least favorite pastime, but at the moment, that was all he could do. Nothing.
At least he'd managed to coax his wife into sleeping beside him once more; she'd apparently been sleeping in the room next door ever since his poisoning, so as not to disturb him. He had made it very plain that now he'd regained his senses, not having her beside him would disturb him even more. He'd won that round, but no other.
There was no point in arguing-he couldn't stand on his own, much less walk. He'd tried, surreptitiously, in one of the few moments he'd been left alone. Luckily, he'd crashed back on the bed and not the floor. His muscles were not just weak but, as his witchy wife had warned him, still feeling the effects of the poison. Even holding his eyelids up was an effort.
Inwardly cursing she who had drugged him, he kept his face relaxed and listened to Vane's news of shared friends. With his usual instinctive grasp, Devil had refrained from pressing the question of who had poisoned him, waiting until he'd recovered enough to inquire. While Richard and Catriona had not discussed the matter beyond their exchange before Helena, Richard had, with complete confidence, assured Devil that the poisoner was not a threat now, and that he and Catriona would deal with the matter once he'd fully recovered.
Devil had accepted that; Richard knew he could rely on his brother to quash any further interest in the matter. It was definitely a situation he and his witchy wife needed to deal with on their own.
Not, however, yet.
Stifling a sigh, Richard smiled at Vane's description of a race held at Beuclaire Hall. Then he let his gaze drift past his cousin, to where Catriona sat on the windowseat, industriously darning, her hair turned to a blaze of glory by the sunlight streaming in through the window.
At least there was nothing wrong with his eyes.
Five minutes later, heralded by the most peremptory of knocks, the door opened. A tall, broad-shouldered, ineffably elegant figure sauntered in.
His gaze fell first on Catriona-and went no further.
The ends of his long lips lifting in a smile both Richard and Vane knew well, the gentleman advanced, then swept Catriona a bow.
'Gabriel Cynster, my dear.'
Catriona instinctively held out her hand; he took it and drew her effortlessly to her feet, into his arms, and kissed her. Raising his head, he smiled wolfishly down at her. 'Richard's cousin.'
'Another one,' Vane commented drily.
Smoothly releasing Catriona and gracefully reseating her with an irresistible smile, Gabriel turned to the bed and raised a languid brow. 'You here, too? If I'd known, I wouldn't have half-killed my horse getting here.'
Blinking, Catriona picked up her needle, but kept her gaze on the tableau about the bed.
'How the devil did you hear?' Richard asked. 'Don't tell me it's common knowledge among the ton.'
Halting by the bed, Gabriel looked down at Richard. 'Well, you're obviously still alive-Mama must have got her skeins tangled. She was quite adamant I'd find you at death's door.' Gracefully, he sat on the end of the bed. 'As for the news being bruited about, I can't say, but it wouldn't surprise me. Mama wrote me a series of orders, couched in a manner to discourage disobedience, and bade me hie north at speed. I was at a very select gathering in a hunting lodge in Leicestershire. How the devil she knew where to find me I really don't like to think.'
Vane humphed.
Richard grinned sleepily.
Gabriel shook his head. 'It's a sad day when one can't even escape to a select, supposedly secret orgy without having one's mother summon one-without a verbal blink.'
Both Richard and Vane chuckled. Gabriel raised his brows resignedly.
Catriona shook out her mending and started to told it. 'I'll certainly write to Lady Celia and thank her for her kind thoughts.'
A sudden hiatus gripped the three about the bed.
'And now,' Catriona declared, 'Richard needs to rest.'
The three exchanged a meaningful look; Catriona stood and smiled at Vane and Gabriel. 'If you would, gentlemen?'
She waved to the door; they left with smooth smiles and no argument. Bustling to the bed, she tucked Richard in. He wished he could frown, but he really was tired.
'Come and lie down with me.' He tried to catch her, but he was far too slow.
She whisked away, raised one finger to waggle at him, then changed her mind and smiled. A smile that softened her face and set his pulse racing, a smile that should have sealed her fate-if he'd been in any way up to it.
'Later,' she said. 'When you're well again.'
There was a softness in her eyes, an echo of something in her tone, that eased and soothed his irritation. She drew the curtains and left him; Richard drifted off, into dreams of a highly selected orgy, restricted to just two.
By the next morning, he had really had enough. He felt strong enough while lying relaxed on his back, but even lifting his arms was an effort. He couldn't make love to his wife. He couldn't get out of bed.
As far as he was concerned, he needed practice on both counts.
To that end, he persuaded Devil, so often his partner in crime in days past, now left to bear him company while their ladies took the an in the park, to help him up.
'If I can just get my legs functioning properly…'
Ducking one shoulder beneath Richard's arm, Devil helped him balance his weight as he rose from the side of the bed. 'Let's try it to the fireplace and back. We need to avoid the window-they might glance back and see us.'
Richard grabbed Devil's shoulder and lifted his foot to take the first step-
