right where I am.’
She looked as if she was about to speak, but there was no time since Bennett had opened the door. Gabriel was standing out of Janvier’s line of vision when the man walked inside. Not that it would have mattered anyway since the Frenchman’s eyes were firmly fixed on Olivia. He couldn’t blame him. She was stunning. It was apparent to Gabriel that Janvier was considering the different ways he would like to take her. The man was perilously close to losing consciousness.
Gabriel cleared his throat. Janvier turned and his head snapped back as he realised Olivia’s husband was standing a few feet away.
‘Ah, Your Grace, what an unexpected surprise.’ He held out his hand.
Gabriel took his gloved hand and squeezed the man’s long, slender fingers tightly, wishing he could break a bone or two. When he released his grip, he was pleased to see Janvier wiggle his fingers around before placing them at his side.
‘It’s kind of you to accompany my wife this evening, since I will not be available to attend to her until she arrives home.’
He was staking his claim and Gabriel was satisfied to catch the understanding that crossed Janvier’s face.
‘I shall make every effort to ensure Her Grace’s every need is met.’
French bastard. ‘I shall have to recommend my tailor to you. Mr Weston cuts a very fine coat.’
A forced smile rose on Janvier’s lips. ‘That is very kind of you. However, I believe my tailor does an exceptional job.’
From the corner of his eye, Gabriel could see Olivia cross her arms. So they weren’t exactly being subtle. They were men. He turned to her and held out his hand. ‘I will see you into the carriage.’
He knew she was fighting a desire to turn around from both of them and stomp back up to her rooms. She placed her white-gloved hand onto his arm and, for the briefest instant, the pressure of her fingers dug through the sleeve of his tailcoat. He bit back a smile at her subtle silent statement.
They stopped a few feet from the carriage and waited for the footman to open the door. Gabriel leaned down and let a small puff of breath float over his wife’s ear and neck. ‘Hold on to some of that fire till you return, Livy. It will make for a most enjoyable night in bed.’
She glanced at her friend, but he was busy speaking with his coachman.
‘You are presuming I will allow you in my bed after that display,’ she scolded him in a low voice.
‘In order to have another child, I believe I need to be in your bed—frequently—if we are truly intent about this. One time probably was not sufficient.’
‘Perhaps it was sufficient. Perhaps I am already carrying a child.’
Our child. The child would be ours. Gabriel looked over at Janvier and wanted to plant a facer for all new reasons. ‘I believe it is best to keep trying until we are certain,’ he whispered back, taking her gloved hand to his lips, searching her eyes for even the slightest reaction.
Immediately, she pulled her hand away and readjusted her wrap. ‘You believe I can be so easily charmed after that display of male dominance? I am not a bone to be fought over by two dogs.’
‘No, you are not a possession. You are the woman I chose above all others to marry and would do so again without hesitation. I was simply reminding him that you are my Duchess and should he offend your honour in any way, he will answer to me.’
Janvier approached Olivia’s side and she shifted her attention to adjusting her gloves.
‘Shall we?’ Janvier asked, moving his gaze between Olivia and Gabriel.
‘Yes, let’s not keep our friends waiting.’
She allowed Gabriel to help her into the carriage. His eyes were still on her when Janvier edged past him.
‘I shall have her home before sun up,’ the Frenchman said as he entered the carriage and took his seat across from Olivia.
Gabriel gave a curt nod before he stepped back, allowing the footman to raise the step and close the door with a click. Within minutes, Comte Janvier’s carriage pulled away with his wife inside.
Striding into their house, Gabriel went directly to the dining room, needing to focus on the food and drink set before him and not on the fact that his wife, who might already be carrying his child, was out with another man. As Gabriel settled into his chair, Bennett nodded to one of the footmen to begin serving the first course.
‘Bennett, has Comte Janvier been a frequent guest of the Duchess?’
‘He has attended a few of her dinner parties.’
‘And has he escorted her anywhere else in his carriage.’
‘No, sir. This is the first time.’
Gabriel sat back on the red-velvet cushion of his chair and watched one of his footmen ladle turtle soup into his bowl. He knew that he and Olivia had lived separate lives under the same roof. In regards to his responsibility to the Crown that situation had made things infinitely easy for him. Yet seeing a man drive off in his carriage with Olivia had set the pulse in his temples pounding.
He knew they’d agreed to be monogamous with each other while they were trying to conceive another child. He trusted Olivia to hold to their agreement. What he did not trust was that slippery Frenchman.
Gabriel scraped his chair back suddenly, startling the footmen and Bennett. He walked to the window and looked out at the cobblestone street below. The sound of carriage wheels and men on horseback going to and fro could be heard through the glass. He had not lied to her. He would marry her all over again, even knowing it would lead to their estrangement. The time they had spent together during their courtship and before Nicholas was born was some of his happiest, before things went horribly wrong. Would it be possible to have that again?
He should have insisted on going with her. He should not have handed her into the care of that wolf. It was too late now.
Drawing in a deep breath, Gabriel turned and slowly walked to the table. Sitting back in his chair, he reminded himself that Olivia was very capable of handling men.
* * *
By the time Olivia and Janvier left Vauxhall a soft rain had begun to fall. In the dim light and the gentle sway of the comfortable carriage Olivia should have felt completely relaxed. She’d had a pleasant dinner with friends and enjoyed an entertaining performance. Unfortunately the spectre of her husband had hovered over her all evening.
When Gabriel had asked her about her plans, good breeding had almost prompted her to suggest he join their little party. She’d had to bite her lip to prevent the words from escaping. There was no reason to foster a friendship with him when their reconciliation was only temporary.
Then she heard his voice rattling around in her brain once more. You are the woman I chose above all others to marry and would do so again without hesitation.
She rubbed her brow and mentally berated herself. Giving in to thoughts of Gabriel could only lead to confusion and heartache. She couldn’t trust him. Those were simply pretty words that fell from his lips
