~ * ~
“I simply cannot get away,” William told Cobb for the third time that evening.
Cobb’s jaw jutted mulishly. “It’s been a year. Are you not feeling the restriction?”
He and Cobb had discovered a mutual affinity for dominance many years ago. They had frequented the same brothels as younger men until they’d found the perfect one. Discreet, clean, and it was a place they were assured of absolute secrecy for their evening of activities. Owing to his career, William had never attended quite as much as Cobb and had yet to indulge all his fantasies.
His friend had a very singular mindset and deep pockets. He attended on a weekly basis. He stinted himself no pleasure.
William checked his wife’s location before replying, making sure his sisters were keeping her amused and distracted from his conversation. There were some aspects of his life Matilda should remain unaware of. “Not a year. I went before I married. We’re not quite that similar either. I have often preferred the anticipation to the act.”
“We’re the same,” Cobb claimed stubbornly. “You just won’t admit it.”
William smiled tightly. “Let’s not speak of this here.”
Truth was, he and Cobb had too much in common. They both liked compliant partners in the bedchamber, but he suspected Cobb was much more focused on delivering pain than pleasure. He’d noticed the state of the women Cobb used afterward. William preferred that his lovers could smile as he left. Cobb preferred his partners weeping.
Cobb grunted. “What does the admiralty say?”
“Nothing new. The peace is holding. My services are not required.”
“So you do have the time,” Cobb insisted.
“I have a wife now, man. She needs me not to desert her. It was my idea to drag her into this marriage.”
Cobb took a long drink and claimed a passing waiter’s attention for another. “Next week then.”
William sighed. “Visiting a brothel again is not high on my list of priorities. The last time did not go so well.”
“Pay them enough and they’d kiss that scar, and anything else of yours, without complaint.”
William stared at his friend with growing annoyance. He didn’t need the reminder that his face scared some women witless. “Excuse me.”
He walked back to Matilda’s side.
Matilda laid her hand upon his arm immediately. “Is everything all right, William?”
“Yes,” he answered quickly and saw disbelief cross her face. Her expression remained wary, as if she did not believe his answer. She had always been too good at reading his moods. He couldn’t tell her what was wrong with him, so he turned the conversation back to her. “Are you enjoying the evening?”
Another frown flickered over her features. “I enjoyed dancing with you.”
He smiled at how she singled him out. She did not dwell on the worst of things but always seemed to most often mention what pleased her. He was glad he was one of her pleasures tonight. “I enjoyed the dance too. Thank you for letting me teach you the steps this week. I know I was very particular about your practice.”
“You almost always are about everything,” she replied and then laughed softly. “I was so afraid I would trip over my own feet and embarrass you.”
“I never imagined you could ever do that to us,” he replied as a grating voice buzzed in his ear.
“I swear I almost fainted when I saw him again,” a woman exclaimed in a shocked tone somewhere behind him. “That scar. That handsome face. Gone forever.”
He turned slightly, belatedly noticing the french doors behind him were ajar, allowing a current of air to cool the room and voices from outside to carry in.
“I’d pity the woman,” another voice claimed just as loudly, “except she made her bed. Now she has to kiss him when she goes to sleep at night. A maid of all things marrying into that exalted family.”
The pair burst out laughing cruelly, heedless of his standing a few feet away. They could not know he could hear them, or perhaps they did not care that he might. His temper rose; his hands clenched. How dare they insult his wife? They had no right to judge her for what he’d set in motion.
Matilda eased against him, and he caught her wrist tightly in an effort to cool his head. She turned back to him, startled. “I was only looking for a footman. My glass is empty, and I’d like to return it.”
“I’ll get you another.”