Surrender (Mockingbird Square 3)

His feelings for Patrick’s wife, Lavinia.

She was his commanding officer’s third wife. Patrick had been married quite young the first time, a useful match that brought with it wealth and power, and lifted him into the upper echelons of the army. His second marriage was in a similar vein, not a love match. This third marriage was pure indulgence, or so it was rumoured. Lavinia was a beauty, although she came from a down at heel aristocratic family, where there had been no wealth to speak of for generations.

The gap in their ages was sizeable, but Patrick was charmed by her and from what Sebastian had seen of them together, she seemed content in her marriage to him.

Society called Lady Richmond the Ice Maiden. Her behaviour was coolly perfect, and there was definitely a chill, a distance in her manner that spoke of a lack of emotion. And yet sometimes he would intercept a glance from her that made him wonder. Beneath that icy exterior was there the beat of a passionate heart? And did it beat for him?

Sebastian found himself thinking about her more than he should. Patrick was his commanding officer and his friend and unlike some of the gentlemen in his circle, Sebastian would never allow himself to consider Lavinia Richmond fair game. No matter how tempting the idea of testing his theory about her hidden depths might be.

Patrick took a sip of his brandy and set it down before he spoke in his usual blunt fashion. “I have no heir.”

Sebastian’s head came up. They had been sitting in companionable silence and, yes, he had been thinking about Lavinia.

“And does that bother you?” he asked, sipping his brandy.

“Yes, it does.” Patrick leaned forward. “I have more to leave an heir than I would ever have thought possible when I first started out in my career. A child would mean the world to me. When we were fighting in Spain, I thought about it a lot, but I hoped . . . I hoped that Lavinia would bear me one.” He sighed. “Now I have come to accept that she never will.”

Sebastian was finding the thought of Patrick and his wife in bed . . . uncomfortable. But his friend was obviously unhappy so he tried to cheer him. “She’s young yet, perhaps in time—”

“It’s me.” Patrick’s eyes were intent. “I have been married thrice, Sebastian, and there have been no children from any of them. My second wife was a widow and she had three girls, so she was capable of bearing children. Just not with me.”

“Does it matter?” Sebastian felt uneasy suddenly, wondering where this was heading. Patrick was an excellent strategist, and it occurred to him that he had the look of a man about to embark on a new campaign.

“Yes, it does matter. The husband of one of my step daughters has his eye on my worldly goods, and I dislike the man intensely. I am happy to provide for all of my step daughters, but I do not plan to leave any one of them the bulk of my fortune. Which was why I wanted to talk to you.”

Sebastian knew that expression. Patrick definitely had a plan, and he waited to hear what it was. But in his wildest dreams he was not expecting the

words that next fell from the other man’s lips.

“I want you to make a child with Lavinia.”

Shocked, he barely felt the brandy spill onto his fingers as he began to stand up. Patrick stood too, putting a hand on his arm to steady him. He spoke quickly, heading off Sebastian’s refusal.

“Wait. Please listen to what I have to say. I ask you this as a friend, my closest friend, and a man I would trust with my life. I need an heir. Once I am dead Lavinia will be alone and the vultures will begin to circle, and I cannot bear to think of everything I own being scattered to those greedy birds.”

“Are you asking this as my friend, or ordering me as my commanding officer?” Sebastian’s voice had deepened with distaste.

“No, it is a request from a friend.” Patrick leaned in closer. “Come, don’t pretend you’re not attracted to my wife. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

“I look at her as Lady Richmond!”

Patrick sighed. “If you tell me you cannot agree to my request because of some personal disgust, then I will speak no more of it.”

Sebastian’s head was spinning. “You’re right, I cannot agree to such a thing,” he said, his voice low and harsh. “Not because I do not find Lavinia attractive, but as a gentleman—”

“As a gentleman you would prefer to let my greedy step relations steal what is not theirs?” Patrick asked wryly. “I know you are a gentleman, Sebastian, and I admire all your qualities. I would not ask this if I did not.”

“Patrick—”

“Would it help you, my friend, if I told you that Lavinia is aware of what I am asking you?”

Sebastian stared at him. “She knows?”

“I have consulted with her and she has already consented. She wants a child as much as I do, and she sees you as a means to an end.” He laughed softly. “You need not fear that when it is over she will cling to you and become hysterical. My wife is as pragmatic as I am about these matters.”

Sebastian sat down, not sure his legs would hold him. She had consented? He rubbed a hand over his face and felt his sense of the ridiculous rising to the fore.

“So you have no problem with me taking your wife to bed for however long it takes to get her with child?” he burst out.