Page 108 of The Danger of Desire

Her sister-in-law stared at her wide-eyed; then she, too, started to laugh. It was the laugh of a woman who couldn’t alter her circumstances but realized the absurdity of them.

For a long while they clung to each other, laughing and crying and pouring out all their pain and frustration with the men in their lives, by doing what women always do: letting the emotions overtake them, giving their hearts free rein.

When the crying and laughing had run its course, and they’d both settled down on the bed, Brilliana smiled sadly at Delia. “At least we now know Reynold hadn’t fallen into your papa’s bad habits.”

Delia swallowed past the lump in her throat. “True. And losing everything in an attempt to gain love... isn’t the worst thing a man can do, I suppose.”

Brilliana nodded, then nudged Delia with her knee. “Speaking of love, tell me how you’re enjoying married life.” An anxious frown crossed her face. “It’s not like... Reynold and me, is it?”

“No.” She ignored the tears welling anew in her throat. “I don’t know. He’s... hard to explain.” Without betraying his secrets, which she refused to do.

“Do you love him?”

“Yes.” That much was firm.

“Does he loveyou?”

“I don’t know.”

“So... in essence, you’re in Reynold’s situation.”

“Not exactly,” she said with a rueful smile. “My husband wasn’t ever in love with anyone else. I’m just not sure—”

A knock came at the door, startling them both.

Brilliana went to open the door. “Yes?”

A footman glanced in and spotted Delia sitting on the bed. “Lord Knightford wanted me to inform his wife that he’s here. If she needs him.”

If she needs him?That didn’t sound at all like Warren.

Her heart racing, she said, “Tell his lordship I’ll be down shortly.”

“Very good, milady,” he said, then left.

“Lord Knightford didn’t come here with you?” Brilliana asked.

“No. I wanted a chance to talk to you without his hovering about.” She brushed tears from her eyes. “And apparently, he gave me one.”

Though he had still come after her. She didn’t know what to make of that.

“Brilliana—”

“Go, my dear.” Brilliana pressed her hand. “Talk to your husband. It will all be fine, I promise.”

Oh, Lord, she certainly hoped so.

She found Warren pacing the drawing room, looking as uncertain as she felt.

As soon as she came in, he faced her with a wary expression. “I didn’t want you to... I was worried... Oh, God, I don’t know what to say. Except that I couldn’t bear the thought of your being here all alone.”

There was something endearing about his uncertainty. Warren was never unsure of himself.

“All alone?” she tried to tease. “The house is teeming with people.”

“You know what I mean. I didn’t want you to go through this without someone in your corner. I feared that Brilliana would tell you things that upset you. And I thought perhaps you would need a shoulder to... lean on.”

The sweetness of that touched her deeply. “So you came to be my shoulder?”