Harriet snatched the ribbon from his fingers. “What books haveyoubeen reading lately to become so sentimental?”
Rohan chuckled. “Perhaps I have taken a liking to romances.”
Harriet snorted. “Well stop. If I start believing your nonsense and thinking that my husband fancies me and you turn out to be wrong, I shall make you parade the streets of London in a gown as punishment.”
“Threat received.” He selected a few other ribbons. “Shall I purchase these for that day?”
“So you admit you are merely stabbing in the dark with your assumption?”
“Nothing is ever certain.”
“Well, the theory of his inheritance is still plausible.”
It certainly made more sense than the idea that Leeds might actually fancy her. Harriet scoffed. It was the most absurdly impossible notion that ever existed.
*
“Just because youare glaring at the door, doesn’t mean your wife is going to walk through it sooner.”
Will directed that same glare to Calstone. “We should have detoured to Bond Street.”
“And hunt your wife down in public? Trust me, what we are doing is for your own good. You need to show her that you trust her. Even if you don’t.”
Will cursed. “I trust her.”
“Yes, yes, it’s Graves you don’t trust. I understand.”
“You don’t sound all that convinced.”
“I’m merely leaving you space for reflection.”
Will grunted. How to explain? All his nerves were on edge. He did trust his wife. Strangely, he even trusted their friendship. What made him nervous was not this, but what was being said between them. What if Graves didn’t approve of him? Just how much sway did he hold over his wife’s opinion?
Get a grip on yourself, man.
Harriet was a woman with her own mind.
The only course of action was ignoring the pit in his stomach that threatened to become a cauldron of uneasiness and returning home at the urging of Calstone instead of peeking into all the shop windows on Bond Street.
Why?
Because, however uncomfortable he felt now in not knowing just where she was, Will trusted their progress.
“You are courting your wife, remember?” Calstone said. “Since this has never been a conventional courtship, adjustments are to be expected.”
“Such as?”
“Embracing your wife’s friends.”
“Is this not me embracing their friendship?”
“I’m giving myself and my skills of persuasion credit for this one and hoping you take it as a lesson from me for the future.”
“Christ, the stuff you say sometimes.”
“Am Iwrong? Other than that, compliment your wife daily, and spend as much time with her as possible to build your connection.”
“Spoken like a true married man.”
