Livy nodded, recalling her last night with Ben. After their second round of lovemaking, he’d cuddled her in bed. With her cheek pressed against his hard chest, her body warm and relaxed, she’d never felt more content. She’d almost drifted off when his deep voice lured her back.
“I cannot wait until the day I make you mine,” he’d said.
Giddy with joy, she’d looked into his intent sapphire eyes. “I love you so much, Ben. Marriage will be the grandest adventure for us.”
He’d rolled atop her, his weight braced on his arms. His grave expression had caused an uncertain flutter in her belly.
“Marriage isn’t just about love. As an adventure, it comes with perils,” he’d said. “I have been married so I know the pitfalls. A relationship can go astray if two people are not on the same page.”
Guilt had tensed every filament of her being, the truth burning in her throat.
“I will not repeat my mistakes,” he’d continued. “As I’ve said, I mean to be the master of my own house, and I need to know that you will follow my guidance and not just in bed. I expect your loyalty, honesty, and obedience, even during my absence.”
Recalling his solemn gaze and the inflexible set of his jaw, Livy swallowed.
“The longer I put off telling him the truth, the harder it gets,” she blurted. “But Charlie still hasn’t budged on the secrecy oath. And even if she gave me permission, I am afraid of telling Hadleigh since he would force me to quit the Society.”
“Are you certain he would do that?” Glory knitted her brows. “What if you explained to him how much you love being an investigator?”
“You have seen Hadleigh with Livy, haven’t you, dear?” Fiona’s tone was wry. “Even when he wasn’t courting her, he was like an overprotective older brother. I can only imagine what he is like now that he intends to make her his duchess. He will forbid her from taking risks, ergo she can bid adieu to our group.”
Frowning, Glory said, “That sounds dreadfully high-handed.”
“Hadleigh isn’t high-handed most of the time.” Thinking of his lovemaking, Livy felt her cheeks heat. “At least, not in a way that I mind. But when it comes to my personal safety, Fi is right. He is determined to protect me.”
“I would not want my future husband to dictate what I do,” Glory declared.
“In that case, you would do well to avoid matrimony,” Fi said with a snort. “All men are dictatorial to some degree. Even our fathers, who are the most doting of husbands.”
“You have a point.” Glory wrinkled her nose. “Well, if my future husband were to try to tell me what to do, I’ll simply do what Mama does.”
Fi lifted her brows. “And what is that?”
“Whatever she pleases,” Glory said.
They laughed because all their mothers took that approach.
Smiling, Fi said, “Livy is taking a page out of that particular book.”
“But I fear that strategy will only get me so far.” Livy chewed on her lip. “Eventually Hadleigh will find out, and he will be displeased.” To say the least. “I feel so guilty lying to him, especially since he despises dishonesty because of his past, which is, well, complicated. I cannot share the specifics, but he has his reasons for being overprotective.”
“Can you share any details?” Fi asked. “We promise not to tell.”
“Pinky promise,” Glory said.
Livy usually held back little from her bosom friends, yet circumstances had changed. Now she owed her loyalty to Ben as well, and she knew he would not appreciate her bandying his affairs about. She settled for a compromise, sharing the bare minimum needed to get her friends’ advice.
“You know, obviously, about Aunt Bea’s scar. But there is more behind that story and the man who caused it,” she said slowly. “Suffice it to say, Hadleigh was a hot-headed young man at the time, and his reaction to his sister’s injury led to consequences for which he feels guilt, even to this day. His family fell apart, and he and Aunt Bea were even estranged for a time.”
“I have noticed the two of them are rather stiff in each other’s company,” Glory said.
“They don’t tease or pester one another,” Fi concurred. “How strange is that?”
Since the girls all had brothers, they knew that was highly unusual.
“Beyond Aunt Bea, Hadleigh’s marriage also had…problems,” Livy said.
Which was putting it lightly. Thinking of Ben’s “understanding” with Arabella made Livy feel ill. Now that he was hers, she would never countenance him being with another woman. Luckily, he was as insistent as she was upon fidelity.
“Poor chap,” Glory said softly. “He’s had a rough go of it, hasn’t he?”
“He has.” Livy felt a sharp pang. “I would do anything to make it all better for him.”
“If anyone can, it is you,” Fiona said. “You have loved him forever.”
“And love heals all wounds,” Glory added.
Ben’s words echoed in Livy’s head: Marriage isn’t just about love.
The statement had made Livy feel young and naïve. And, admittedly, a bit out of her depth. She’d never thought of their age difference as a problem, but she was realizing how much more he knew of the world. This was her first romantic relationship, and love was far more complicated than she’d anticipated. Instead of weaving the beautiful web of her dreams, she was getting the threads terribly tangled.
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, she thought with an inner sigh.
Not knowing what else to do, she focused on her goal with single-minded resolve.
“My best course of action remains to prove my skills to Hadleigh,” she said. “I will warm him to the idea of my being an investigator little by little, so it doesn’t come as a shock when I finally tell him.”
“Like tempering milk when making custard,” Glory said.
It was lovely to have friends who understood.
“And let’s not forget that I’ve already made progress,” Livy said with growing optimism. “Hadleigh took me to Longmere’s, we searched the earl’s study together, and he introduced me to his
