“Absolutely not,” he declared with a strong voice, but his brows were already creasing at the edges.“Well…I do not know…perhaps.”
St. Aldwyn chuckled, handing Simon a brandy. “It seems to me that Lady Belle has got your knickers in a twist.”
“Did your wife mention if Lady Belle’s interest swung at all in my direction?”
“No, but if she was clearly inclined, I do not think you would be tied up in knots over her barbs, wouldn’t you say?”
“I don’t know what has possessed me, but it appears more trouble than it’s worth. No matter how beautiful she may be.”
“Men have started wars over a beautiful woman. I would say beauty is reason enough.”
“Is that why you married your wife?” Simon asked skeptically before taking a swallow of brandy, the golden liquid burning his throat.
“I married my wife because she insisted we not live in sin.”
Simon laughed at that. “Does she know that?”
St. Aldwyn’s answering smile resembled that of a predator.
Simon suffered no doubts that his friend was madly in love with his wife, though his public denial of this fact provided an unlimited source of entertainment.
“In any case, Westfield, do not question a beautiful woman with questionable pursuits. They may appear to not be worth the trouble at first, but I guarantee they certainly are.”
Simon managed to refrain from rolling his eyes. “Shaw has requested a meeting. What do you imagine it is about?”
St. Aldwyn rubbed his jaw, which was already covered in a day’s worth of stubble. “Since they require all of us to be present, I can only assume misfortune.”
“And you will allow this?”
His friend lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I’m quite fond of my wife’s wild ways. To forbid her to continue her charities would be to extinguish the flickering light that guides my path.”
“Hell’s bells. Youhavegone off the deep end, my friend.”
“If I have, I am not alone.”
“Should I join you?”
“So long as you do not crawl into my bed, you are most welcome.”
Simon snorted as he attempted to settle into a comfortable position on a chair, but his entire body was stiff with tension. What his predicament called for was the ample charms of a woman. Yet disturbingly enough, it had been months since any woman caught his fancy. Even his usual widow had not been able to entice him to her bed.
Bloody hell. What the devil was wrong with him?
With an audible sigh, he muttered, “I can’t even summon interest for my usual amorous haunts.”
St. Aldwyn lips stretched into a knowing grin. “Ah yes, the bittersweet torment has begun. The same happened to me when I failed to rid Josephine from my mind. You, my friend, will only want one lady until you’ve purged her from your system. Until then, no other will do.”
“You’re still purging your system, I take it?” Simon asked with another swig of his tumbler.
“Every damn day.”
Simon thought as much.
But slating his desires would ruin the lady in question. Unless…
Unless he married her.
The thought was so sudden and so clear he actually blinked.
