“You don’t talk much, do you?” Stephen asked.
Ava shrugged. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m not difficult to talk to. You can tell me anything that’s on your mind. Unlike most people, I don’t get offended easily. Feel free to tell me whatever sordid stories you want.”
“I might if I knew any.”
Stephen chuckled. “Then perhaps I will tell you a couple stories. That is, of course, if you don’t blush easily. Do you blush easily?”
She glanced at the clock. Two more minutes and Brad would be here. “I don’t know. No one has told me a sordid story before.”
“Then I shall try to make this quick since my brother will be down here soon.” He leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “Everyone thinks Lady Cadwalader is the very image of propriety, but I happen to know for a fact that she will steal bits of other people’s food off their plates when they aren’t looking. The reason I know that is because I happened to see her doing this for myself. And she doesn’t take fruits or vegetables. She only takes the sweets. You see, her husband is concerned about the amount of food she eats. She’s having trouble fitting into some of her gowns, so she is having a seamstress make her new ones. Her husband is appalled at all the money she’s been spending. That’s why he insisted she stopped eating so many sweets. Her waist is getting too big for his ledger.” He laughed. “He won’t have any sweets in their townhouse. She has to wait until she’s at other people’s dinner parties before she can get her chubby little fingers on them.”
Ava wouldn’t have expected someone of Lady Cadwalader’s high esteem to resort to sneaking sweets off of other people’s dinner plates.
“That story probably isn’t sordid enough to make you blush,” he said. “It’s actually very tame. I could tell you another, if you dare listen to it.”
As much as Ava hated to admit it, she had enjoyed learning something about Lady Cadwalader that revealed she wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought she was. Ava had never cared for the way the lady treated other people. But was it right to encourage Stephen to tell her more gossip? Wouldn’t it be best if she put a stop to this right now? Certainly, Brad would not be pleased if he knew she wanted his brother to tell her more stories.
Her inner debate was quickly squashed because the butler came into the room and said, “Lord Bachman is not here this morning. He gave me instructions to tell you both to have the morning meal without him. The meal will be ready in ten minutes.”
Ava did her best to hide her disappointment. So that was how Brad was going to handle things. He wasn’t going to share meals with her at all, just as he hadn’t shared her bed. She had thought being rejected last night was the most humiliating thing she’d ever been through, but this seemed much worse.
“Oh, for goodness’ sakes,” Stephen said with a roll of his eyes. “He really can’t handle three people having a meal together? It has to be either two or four?” He shot Ava a pointed look. “What did I tell you? My brother is ridiculous. There’s no reasoning with him. When he sets his mind to something, nothing short of a miracle can change it.”
Ava wished things were as simple as Stephen assumed. She wished it was the fact that there would be three of them eating that prevented Brad from joining them for breakfast this morning. But she knew the truth. Brad didn’t want to have anything to do with her. Having to marry her was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
She thought she could eat this morning, but now she knew she couldn’t. She excused herself and hurried out of the room, pretending she didn’t hear Stephen’s protest. It might be rude to leave the way she was. Maybe she would be in one of his sordid stories he would tell others about, but she just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t pretend that everything was all right when she felt as if her whole world was falling apart.
What kind of marriage could she have if her husband was so repulsed by her that he didn’t even want to be in the same room with her? Tears trickled down her cheeks as she hurried up to her bedchamber. She was going to have to do something about this. She didn’t know what yet, but somehow, someway, she would find a solution to this problem.
Chapter Eleven
Not knowing where else to go, Brad went to White’s as soon as he woke up that day. He had never been more humiliated in his entire life. Just how was he supposed to go back to his townhouse? What was he supposed to tell Ava the next time he saw her? He couldn’t even look at his own reflection in the mirror. If he couldn’t do that, then how was he supposed to look at her?
As he was slouched over in a chair, face in his hands, someone came up to him and said, “I didn’t realize you were a member here.”
Lifting his head to the familiar voice, he saw that it was Tad who had chosen to come over and talk to him.
Straightening up in his chair, Brad offered what he hoped was a casual shrug. “I thought I would come down and check out the place. I’ve been a member for years. It’s about time I got some use out of my membership. I’m surprised to see you here so early. Loretta said the baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet.”
Tad sat next to him, something he had secretly been hoping Tad wouldn’t do. This meant that his brother-in-law was going to continue talking to him, and right now, he wasn’t in the mood to have a conversation with anyone.
“I got a full night’s sleep,” Tad said. “I like to wake up early and come here in the mornings before it gets too crowded. Loretta could get a full night’s sleep, too, if she wished. There’s no reason for her to get up at night with the baby. We have a nursemaid for that. It’s one of the perks of nobility.”
Brad couldn’t care less why his sister got up in the middle of the night to take care of her daughter, but he supposed it would be rude if he didn’t answer. “Loretta’s always had a motherly instinct about her. She likes to take care of people. It’s to be expected she wants to take care of Rosamond.”
“Probably. She was excited when she found out she was expecting our daughter. She spends as much time with her as she can.”
“Are you jealous?”
Tad chuckled. “I’m not jealous. It’s nice that she cares so much for Rosamond. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Some ladies don’t seem to care enough about their children to spend more than a few minutes with them. I would much rather have Loretta spend too much time with her than not enough.” Tad paused, studying Brad in a way that let him know Tad was about to ask him something unpleasant. “I’m surprised to see you here. I would think that a gentleman would want to be in bed on the morning after his wedding.”
Brad cleared his throat as he tried to think of something he might say to satisfy his brother-in-law without telling him the truth. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Brad thought about adding more than that, but then he decided he was probably better off not adding to it at all. Anything else would only complicate matters. If he had learned nothing else in his life, he had learned that sometimes the less someone said, the better.
Tad hesitated for a long moment, as if he was debating whether or not to reply. In the end, he opted to reply since he said, “Forgive me for prying where I have no right to, but since you are Loretta’s brother and I have a lot of respect for you, I feel the need to say something that you might find uncomfortable.”
Brad had no doubt that he was going to be uncomfortable with whatever Tad was going to tell him, but since he couldn’t stop him from speaking, he gestured for him to continue.
“You don’t look like a gentleman who’s just enjoyed a pleasant night with his bride,” Tad said. “You look more like a gentleman who’s been told he’s a failure in bed. Is that what happened? Did she find you unsatisfactory?”
Wouldn’t Stephen just love to be a part of this conversation? He could hear his brother laughing at him right now.
In an attempt to save what little pride he had left, Brad said, “I never went to bed with Ava. I was too…too…uncertain about what to do.” He shifted in the chair. “I’m not a
rake like you used to be. I’ve never been in bed with a lady. I haven’t even kissed one. How am I supposed to know what to do?”
“I know the confession embarrasses you, but it’s actually nice that there are some gentlemen in London who save themselves for their wives.”
“It doesn’t feel nice to me.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t. But you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I think Ava would be very pleased to know you haven’t been with another lady. The act of lovemaking should be something special. It should mean something. Too many people treat it as a casual matter. Speaking from experience, it is much better when you’re with someone you love.”
It wasn’t exactly like Brad was in love with Ava, but he didn’t want to tell Tad that. He had already told Tad enough.
“Since this conversation is making you uncomfortable,” Tad began, “I’ll leave the matter alone. If you want to talk to me, I’m more than willing to share what I know. But if you find that awkward, there is a book in the other room that instructs gentlemen on how to be a good lover in bed. It’s tastefully done, so there’s nothing in it that will offend you. You can find it in that room.” He gestured to the room across from the one they were in. “There’s a stack of them on the table by the door. The books don’t have a title on them. They only have a plain blue cover. But if you open the cover, you’ll find the title How to Pleasure a Lady on the second page.”
Brad’s eyebrows furrowed. Tad seemed to know a lot about the book. Brad had only heard of it in passing. “Are you the author?”
Tad shook his head. “I’m not, but if I were to write such a book, I would give the same kind of advice that’s in it.”
Brad drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair as he debated how he could take such a book without being caught.
“I can pick up a copy for you if you want,” Tad offered. “I’ll wrap it in brown paper and send it to your townhouse. No one will be the wiser.”
Brad couldn’t ask Tad to do that. It was humiliating enough that Tad knew as much as he did. He couldn’t have Tad thinking he was too much of a coward to take the book home himself, too. “No, I can get the book myself.”
Tad nodded. “All right. Since you’re here, would you like to play a game of chess or cards? I don’t play for money. I just play for enjoyment.”
A game would be a nice distraction right now. And, as an added benefit, it would allow him more time to stay here, which would delay him having to go back to his townhouse where he’d have to face Ava. He didn’t think she would tell Stephen what had happened last night, but it was hard to say whether or not Stephen would be able to figure it out. He was sure as soon as Stephen saw his face, he would know what had happened.
With a nod, Brad joined Tad in a game of cards.
***
Ava was too distraught to stay in her bedchamber. What she needed, more than anything, was a distraction, something to take her mind off of last night. She ended up going to Opal’s, and the two decided to do some shopping.
Ava hadn’t shopped for gowns since the beginning of the Season. With money being tight in her aunt’s household, she had done everything she could to keep her expenses low. Which meant that, even now, she was having trouble picking out a gown, though there was more than enough to choose from in the marketplace.
She was certain that Brad had plenty of money for her to buy as many gowns as she wanted. Given how meticulous he was with things, he was probably good at managing money, too, unlike some gentlemen. She was sure that she should buy some gowns that were much better than the kind she currently owned. If she was going to be a countess, she had to have gowns that were much better. Plus, she should do something to make herself look more appealing to her husband.
She glanced over at her friend, who was looking for her own gown to buy. She hadn’t told Opal what had happened. There was no way she could. She couldn’t bring herself to tell anyone. Some things were just too humiliating, and this was one of them.
Forcing a smile, Ava asked, “Did you find anything yet?”
Opal shook her head. “No, but I think this gown will look good on you.” She waved Ava over to her side. “Take a look and tell me what you think.”
Ava left the selection of gowns she had been inspecting and went over to her friend.
Opal showed her a dark green dress. “What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Ava bit her lower lip as she looked at how much the gown cost. “Yes, it’s beautiful, but it’s expensive.”
“I agree that it’s more than what you’re accustomed to spending, but you’re married to a wealthy gentleman. You can afford things like this now.”
“I don’t know. I didn’t tell him that I was going shopping.” If she came home with something this expensive, she wasn’t sure how Brad would respond.
Opal’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Are you planning to surprise him?”
“Well, yes, I was hoping to surprise him.” God willing, it would be a pleasant surprise. She wasn’t sure if something this expensive could be considered pleasant.
A lady Ava didn’t recognize came over to them. “I hope you don’t mind if I interject my thoughts on the matter, but your friend is right,” she told Ava. “This gown is divine. I think once your husband sees how you look in it, he’ll be glad you purchased it.”
“You really think so?” Ava asked.
“I don’t think so. I know so,” the lady replied. “You have a lovely figure, but it’s hard to see that in the gown you’re wearing right now.” Then, as if she was afraid she had just upset her, the lady hurried to add, “I’m not trying to be rude. You are a very pretty lady. It’s just that the right gown can bring out your beauty a lot better. Not every gown looks good on every lady. We’re all different. And I think we need to pick the gowns that best accentuate what we have.”
“She’s right,” Opal said. “I know you’re not a spendthrift. That’s why it’s hard for you to buy anything. But once in a while, it’s all right if you buy something for yourself.”
Ava considered what they were saying as she took another look at the gown. It was beautiful. More beautiful than anything she owned. Maybe she could talk the owner into lowering the price. Not a whole lot. He did deserve to make a profit. But if she was able to get him to come down about ten percent in the price, then she could justify spending so much on a dress.
“It is true that I rarely ever buy anything for myself,” Ava said, glancing between Opal and the lady. “If I only bought this, then it really wouldn’t be so much, especially if I could get a small discount on it.”
“Your husband can afford it,” Opal replied. “You shouldn’t let the cost dissuade you.”
“Forgive me for being nosy, but who is your husband?” the lady asked Ava.
Despite the heat in Ava’s cheeks, she forced out, “Lord Youngtown.”
She waited to see if the lady would be appalled to realize that she was talking to someone who had been caught in a scandal with him. Surely, everyone in London must know about the article in the Tittletattle. And that meant that everyone would assume that Ava had been willing to go to a gentleman’s bed without being married to him. Though, as she thought on it, she would have almost preferred the rumor to be true. At least if it was true, it would mean that Brad would actually want to be in bed with her.
The lady seemed as if she was trying to remember who Lord Youngtown was, for she was tapping her fingers on her lips and looking upwards at the ceiling. Then, she snapped her fingers. “Lord Youngtown is the Duchess of Lambeth’s brother, correct?”
Ava nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. Here it came. Now that the lady knew full well who she was and whom she had married, she was going to hightail it right out of the store.
But to Ava’s surprise, the lady didn’t do what she had feared. Instead, the lady’s smile widened. “Oh, in that case, you have nothing to worry about. Lord Youngtown is one of the wealthiest gentlemen in London. He can afford that gown
. There’s no reason to deny yourself something so lovely. You have a pretty face, but this gown will make you radiant.”
Would it really? Ava turned her gaze to Opal who nodded in agreement. Ava would love to look radiant. Maybe, just maybe, if Brad saw her in it, he might not find her so repulsive. And if that was the case, she would be a fool to leave this gown here in the shop.
“All right,” Ava said. “I’ll get it, but I still want to see if the owner is willing to give me a discount.” Then, just so that they wouldn’t ask why, she added, “It doesn’t hurt to ask. Even if he says no, I’ll get it.”
“You’re right,” Opal replied. “It doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“Wait until you see how lovely you’ll look in this,” the lady told Ava. “You’ll be glad you took our advice. By the way, I’ve neglected to introduce myself. I’m Miss Wilmington.”
“I’m Lady Farewell,” Opal said.
“I’m Miss…” Ava stopped herself before she could say Baynes. “Lady Youngtown.” She chuckled. “It’s going to take me time to get used to saying that.”
Opal offered her an understanding smile. “It will. We spend our entire lives thinking of ourselves one way, and when we get married, that all changes.”
Miss Wilmington giggled. “I look forward to struggling with that when I marry.”
“Are you betrothed?” Ava asked.
“No, not yet. But I look forward to being betrothed in the future,” Miss Wilmington replied with a friendly wink. “I’ll let you two get back to your shopping. It was a pleasure to meet you both.”
Soon after their conversation, Ava made her purchase, and since the gown had been in the dress shop for four months, the owner allowed her a twenty percent discount, which was better than she had expected. After thanking him, she and Opal left the dress shop.
“I know I’ve heard the name Miss Wilmington before,” Opal said as they put their new gowns into Opal’s carriage, “but I can’t think of where or how.”
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