Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(60)

“Maggie will be up soon with your tea. Sleep well.”

A moment later Maggie appeared and watched as she drank the bitter brew. After laying a cold cloth across Angela’s brow, Maggie departed, leaving her to her thoughts.

What had happened? Had she played this game for naught?

No. She would not think that. She was better off knowing the things she now knew than she had been before. And at least she was not ruined. There was cold comfort in that.

Was that the best that she could say—at least she was not ruined?

Perhaps she should have gone to dinner. If she’d been surrounded by people she would not have had so much time to think, to ponder—to worry and regret.

No. No regrets.

And if she’d gone to dinner she might have had to face Colton. She doubted he’d be so gracious as to excuse himself. Did he even realize he’d done anything wrong?

Had he ever realized fault in his own behavior?

But had he actually done anything wrong? Perhaps men were always cold once they’d had what they wanted.

No, Ruby would have warned her, wouldn’t she? Or was she expected to know these things? She’d certainly heard enough times that men didn’t want what they already had, although when she looked at her friends, at Bliss and Lord Duldon, she knew that wasn’t always true.

Reaching to the side, she grabbed an extra pillow and pulled it over her head, blocking out the light.

So what had happened with Colton? She remained convinced he was not a cruel man, and yet he had turned on her again for no apparent reason. Had he sensed the change in her feelings, realized that once again she was beginning to want more? Or was she just overreacting in this instance? Had she been expecting too much in the intimacy of the moment? He hadn’t actually said anything mean, and she had needed to get back to the house.

It was an endless circle. She closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.

—

Was he going to marry her? The knot formed in his gut and refused to leave. He hated to feel forced, hated Thorton even more for being such a self-righteous prig. Colton walked out of his home into the morning air, the sound of his boots on the gravel echoing through his stable yard. Several of his horses lifted their heads in curiosity.

Hopefully, a fast ride in the chill of the morning would clear his head.

“Hold up, Colton,” an unexpected voice called.

He turned, surprised to see Lord Duldon behind him, striding from the woods that connected his estate to Lady Perse’s. Duldon had been a friend since childhood, but Colton had seen far less of him in the last year, since the man became involved with the beautiful Lady Bliss.

“What are you doing here? I would have thought the harvest would have you busy on your own estates.”

“And here I thought you’d question my appearing in the morning mists, not why I wasn’t working,” Duldon said, pulling abreast of him.

“I admit I am curious about that too. I wouldn’t have thought you’d stray so far from your lady, or has she joined the house party as well?”

“Yes, Bliss is here. I wouldn’t be caught dead at one of these things without her. I wish I’d known years ago the safety in already having a woman in your bed. It does prevent others from sneaking into it.”

“I can’t believe you said that with a straight face. I never knew you to mind finding a woman in your bed.”

Duldon grinned. “Not one that I’d invited.” His face grew more solemn. “But I am sure I am not the only one who has on occasion had to make himself scarce when an unwelcome guest arrived.”

Colton remembered, all too well, a certain married matron who seemed quite eager to have her husband killed in a duel and didn’t seem at all worried about whom she found to do the deed. He’d actually fled the party when he’d heard rustling in his supposedly empty bedchamber. “You just might be right. But you still haven’t said what you are doing here.”

Duldon looked about the stable yard. “Here? Well, I know you have by far the best mounts in the area. I am afraid my own ride is still at home. Bliss insisted I ride in the carriage with her and I have several mares coming into season, so I left my stallion at home to do his duty.”

“I am not sure what surprises me most, that you rode in the carriage or that Bliss was not galloping ahead of the carriage on her own steed.”

Duldon’s lips curled up like a cat at the cream. “Let us just say that some stallions have already done their duty, and I find myself ready to humor my wife in her condition.”

“Congratulations.” He slapped Duldon on the back. “I suppose that would keep Bliss from trouble for at least a few months. It is hard to imagine even Bliss taking such a risk when she carries a new life within her.”

“I must admit she is being remarkably careful.”

“And you, my friend, seem quite happy with what life has granted you. I didn’t imagine ever to see you so happily wed—and not longing for those things you can no longer have.” Marriage. Did everything come back to that?

“And what things would those be?”

He shot his friend a look. “Do I need to remind you of those things that wives do not do?”

Duldon laughed. “I think it would be far better for me to lecture you on those things that wives do do.”

Colton raised a brow.