Free The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda by Sophie Barnes Page A

have to do so eventually if I am to ask for his help, but I find that it’s a difficult issue to approach at the moment—especially with the state of our relationship in mind.”
    “And what exactly is the state of your relationship, if you don’t mind my asking?”
    Lucy breathed a heavy sigh. Looking around, she noted that all of her guests were otherwise occupied with one another and were therefore unlikely to pay the least bit of attention to the fact that she and Constance had secluded themselves. A maid stood by the doorway, and Lucy quickly waved her over, asking her to bring a hot cup of tea for each of them, which she swiftly did with great efficiency. Once this had been accomplished, she returned her attention to Constance. “He resents me.”
    “That is hardly surprising.” The words were gently spoken, and yet they still stung.
    “I realize that, though I hadn’t expected to feel quite so miserable about it.”
    Picking up her cup of tea and taking a slow sip, Constance sought out Lucy’s gaze. “I gather you like him then, perhaps more than you’d expected?”
    “I don’t know.” It was the truth really. Since they’d met, her relationship with William had been a frantic rise and fall of emotions. At times he seemed cold and distant toward her, perhaps even angry and irritated by her, while at others he appeared quite caring and considerate. On top of this, there was the fact that he somehow seemed capable of weakening her knees with a mere smile or quickening her heartbeat with no more than a touch—not that he did so that often, yet it was making her feel not only uncomfortable but incredibly uncertain of herself as well.
    Constance studied her for a moment. “He’s quite handsome, you know.”
    A helpless laugh escaped Lucy’s lips, as if she hadn’t noticed.
    “Have you…?”
    Lucy looked at her friend in confusion. “Have I what?”
    “You know…”
    Lucy gasped when she realized her friend’s implication. “Heavens, Constance!” She noticed that Lady Hyacinth had turned her head to stare at her in surprise, so she immediately lowered her voice and leaned closer to Constance. “I cannot believe that you would address such a thing over a cup of tea and with guests present no less. It’s highly improper!”
    Constance shrugged her shoulders. “Perhaps.” She paused for a moment before saying, “Well?”
    With a sigh of defeat, Lucy shook her head. “Not yet.”
    “Well, then I do believe it’s high time you give it your best try. A lot of marital conflicts can be resolved between the sheets, you know—or at the very least be momentarily forgotten.”
    Although Lucy thought she might soon die of embarrassment if they didn’t change the subject of their conversation, she also knew that Constance had a point. She’d been married to William for a full week now, and he hadn’t once tried to approach her since their failed liaison that first night together. It was disastrous. The worst part was that she’d no idea how to broach the subject with him. In fact, she completely lacked the nerve to do so, especially when they’d barely spoken to each other since. If only he would approach her, because if they continued to carry on in this manner, like two complete strangers who wished to have nothing to do with each other, their future together did look rather bleak to say the least.
     
     
    C HAPTER E IGHT
     
    S ettling back against his favorite chair in the library, William raised his glass of brandy toward his father and uncle, standing by the fireplace enjoying their cigars. They immediately responded to his toast by raising their own glasses in return.
    “I’m so glad you invited us,” Andrew said, walking over and plopping down on another chair. “It was a splendid idea of yours, this house party.”
    “Yes, I must say that I’m rather happy to be here myself,” Galensbury added as he joined them. “Any excuse to escape the season is most welcome, if you know what