His Contract Bride (13 page)

Edward twisted his lips. “She is none of your concern.”

Joseph sighed, drawing both brothers attention to him. “Still being a shadow?”

Edward refused to answer that.

“
Well, is she?” Joseph repeated.

“
No,” John said for him. “From what I can tell, she has as little to do with him as possible.”

Joseph nodded his approval. “Very good.”

“
No, it's not good,” Edward argued. “Now, instead of spending her day following me around, she does absolutely nothing.”

“
That's not true,” John said. “Just a few days ago, I found her making a list for some breakfast she's hosting in two weeks.”

Edward's jaw dropped. “She's hosting a breakfast?” Confound it all, he knew that. Her father had as much as said so at their wedding. He scowled; this was
his
idea, Edward was sure of it. Well, he'd just tell her not to worry about planning that foolishness to appease her father. She was under no obligation to entertain the man.

“
Edward,” Joseph said, his voice quiet, careful. “I'd suggest you assign her a different task.” He turned his head to the side and reached two long fingers up and idly scratched just under the edge of his powdered wig. “One she cannot so easily make a fool of herself.”

His words weren't meant to be unkind, but for some reason. Edward found himself wanting to defend his wife. “I don't think she'll make a fool of herself at this.” But he also didn't think it was what
she
really wanted to do. “Besides, I have asked her to do something else.”

“
Catalogue your science notes?” John quipped.

Edward shot him a quelling look. One more statement such as that and he'd find himself locked in the nursery, eating gruel for dinner tonight. He set his quill down and directed his attention back to Joseph. “I suggested she redecorate. But as you can see—” he waved his hand around the room to show there were still only two wooden chairs, one scratched and wobbly desk, an ancient divan and a dozen bookshelves practically falling apart under the weight of the books they held: the exact same way everything had been decorated a week ago— “she clearly has no interest.”

“
Then tell her she needs to find an interest,” Joseph said, his tone nonchalant. He leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees. “Your problem would rectify itself if you'd flex your proverbial muscles.”

“
What the blazes does that mean?” John asked as he plopped down on the red divan closest to the fireplace. He then began to reposition the decorative pillows on the divan, making all sorts of noise as he did so.

“
Are you comfortable, yet?” Joseph asked, annoyance filling his voice.

John shoved an oversized threadbare pillow behind his back and propped his feet up on the seat of a nearby chair. “I am now. Pray continue to explain why—and how—Edward should flex his proverbial muscles, as opposed to his real ones.”

Though Edward would be reluctant to admit it, he, too, had no idea what Joseph meant, but would rather let his younger brother appear greener than he.

Sighing, Joseph turned toward John. “Don't you have somewhere else to be? Racing horses in the park? Having your measurements taken for another pair of short pants? Annoying another one of God's creatures?”

“
No, no, and no,” John said, smiling. “I don't have anywhere to be until eight o'clock tonight. Which means—” he pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time— “for the next four hours, my only responsibility is to be the bane of your existence.”

“
Brilliant,” Joseph mumbled.

“
Isn't it, though?” John asked, knocking the edges of his black boots together. “Now that you know my plans for the day, you can continue to spew your invaluable advice.”

Joseph shot Edward a pleading glance. “Can I order a footman to bodily remove him—just this once?” When Edward shook his head, Joseph sighed again. Ignoring John, Joseph continued with his advice. “Edward, stop worrying about whatever it is that's troubling you. You're the gentleman. She's the lady. Treat her as such.”

Edward schooled his face to remain expressionless. What the devil was his friend talking about?

Joseph idly ran the side of his hand across the edge of his chair and glanced one more time to John. “The problem is that you're too nice. Ladies don't like that. They don't need that. They need a gentleman to tell them what they're to do.”

“
And how is this working for you?” John asked.

Joseph scowled. “Not that it's any of your business, but it works out quite nicely, thank you. Bea knows I have a duty to the title to secure an heir and—” twin patches of pink stained his pale cheeks— “allows me entry to her bedchamber when I knock.”

“
She does?”
John asked, his mouth agape in pure, unadulterated wonder.

Edward ducked his head to hide his smile. Had Joseph not told him the same thing only weeks before, he'd have been just as shocked as John. Heaven forbid if one of Lady Sinclair's perfectly formed curls were to become askew during bed sport. He blinked rapidly to rid his mind of the thought.

“
I'll assume you did not mean to ask that aloud,” Joseph said, his tone full of icy disdain. “She knows her duty. She also knows that if she has not conceived within the year, my visits will become more frequent.”

“
More frequent?” Edward lifted his brows not sure whether he wanted his friend to explain anything further or not.

“
As it is, I try to remain temperate and visit her room only twice monthly. But upon the first anniversary of our marriage, if she has not conceived, I will increase my visits to weekly.”

“
Weekly?” Edward choked. Had he heard Joseph correctly? Weekly was considered frequent? With the exception of the last few days, he'd been visiting Regina weekly. Had she thought it was too frequent? No, she'd have said something if she did. Or would she have...

The confident look on Joseph's face vanished for a moment then was restored. He took a deep breath. “I know that might seem too frequent to some, but I need my heir. It's my duty to the earldom.”

Edward shook his head. He didn't doubt Joseph's reasoning. In school, Joseph had been the only one not trying to sneak peeks at the naughty drawings in the book Richard Kessen stole from his father's library and brought to school. Instead, Joseph would scold the boys for indulging their base desires and try to persuade them to the ways of temperance. It was during those awkward years they'd become friends. Edward’s strong interest in science and Joseph’s rigid desire to deny himself had made them both unpopular among the others and had been a strong influence in why they’d become fast friends.

“
She is your wife. You are allowed to enjoy it,” John said, his tone unusually serious.

Edward whipped his head around and, for the first time, saw his younger brother as something other than just an amusement. John was a younger son. He knew his place. He might be causing trouble now, but he'd find his way.

“
Nowhere in the Bible does it say 'Thou shalt not enjoy coupling with your wife.'” John continued.

“
I know,” Joseph said quickly, his face flushing crimson. “I do enjoy our couplings. I find them—”

“
I don't need to hear anymore about your fleshy pleasures, Joseph,” Edward interrupted. This conversation had gone on long enough. Any more details and he might not be able to enjoy Regina in that regard any longer. “Furthermore, unless you've forgotten, there is a virgin in our presence.”

John scowled at him and Joseph coughed. “Excuse me, I quite forgot.”

Edward flicked his wrist. “Don't apologize. Unlike you at his age, he likely finds this conversation vastly interesting; but as his older brother, it is my duty to protect him from learning of things beyond his years.” Those “things” included the details of Joseph and Lady Sinclair's bedchamber activities. He suppressed a shudder. John may not realize just how big of a favor Edward had just done him.

“
As I was trying to explain earlier,” Joseph began, casting an accusing glance over to John, “you need to be more assertive with Lady Watson. It's what she expects.”

Edward ground his teeth. “You might feel comfortable discussing intimate details about your nighttime activities with others, Joseph, but I do not.”

Joseph eyed him carefully. “Odd. Not that I remember asking for such details, but I do remember a time when you
were
eager to share them.”

“
Not about Regina,” he countered, heat creeping up his neck. Why did the idea of discussing her in such an intimate way bother him so much? She was just a woman. The very breed of creature that, during his brief time at Cambridge, he somehow managed to convince everyone he had plenty of experience
with―though if the truth were known he'd been just as virginal on his wedding night as his bride. Not that
that
particular truth ever needed to be voiced.

“
Well, fear not,” Joseph said, lifting his right booted foot up and placing it on his left knee. He ran his hands along the dove breeches that hugged his thighs. “Considering your randy past, I imagine you have bedchamber matters sorted out. But you could still use my advice in the other parts of your marriage. See, for Bea and me, we get along well in every other aspect. She knows what a countess' daily duty is and does it, leaving me to do mine. That's why I married her. Lady Watson doesn't come from the same background, Edward. She doesn't know her duty; you need to tell her.”

“
No, he doesn't,” John cut in, shaking his head for emphasis. “What he needs to do is—”

“
Explain to her just how important your plants and other nonsense are, and that, right now, your attention is required in the formation of that plant society you've been trying to form for the past two years.”

“
I wouldn't do that.” John's firm voice stole Edward's attention.

“
Yes, and you'd know this because you've been married how long?” Joseph asked.

John ignored him. “Edward, listen to me—”

Edward's mind spun. Around him, Joseph and John—neither of whom was what he'd consider a credible source on the subject of ladies, but they were all he had available—argued back and forth about how Edward was supposed to fix the problem with Regina. But frankly, neither of them even knew what the problem was!

“
Edward, you need to just explain to her what's what. Her job as your wife is to make sure you look good both to your tenants and in Society, which includes your home. Tell her that her most important task, at present, is to redecorate your townhouse. Then she'll have something to keep her occupied.”

“
I already suggested that,” Edward repeated though it was clear neither were actually listening to him.

“
Perhaps if you spent as much time studying Regina and getting to know what she likes as you do your science circulars, you wouldn't have these problems,” John suggested with all the bluntness of a younger brother.

“
Don't listen to him; he's barely out of leading strings,” Joseph said, curling his lips up in disgust. “A lady's responsibility is seeing to her husband's needs. Just tell her what you need her to do and have done with it.” He shook his head and muttered, “Get to know her better. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.”

But it wasn't the most ridiculous thing Edward had ever heard. Those days he and Regina had spent together had been surprisingly fun. She may not know a single thing about science, but at least she'd attempted to answer his asinine questions and seemed content to spend her days with him. An idea formed in his mind. “Perhaps I should see if she'd like to join me in starting up that biological society I've been trying to form. I’d planned to invite some of the other gentlemen who'd expressed interest in such a society for an informal meeting. Perhaps she'd like to participate, too.”

John groaned loudly then threw his head backwards. “Edward, I said to find out what
she
likes. Science is what you like—”

“
She seemed content to discuss it with me before,” Edward interrupted with a frown.

“
Content, but did she enjoy it?” John asked.

Edward threw his hands into the air. This marriage business was turning into a lot of work. “How the devil am I supposed to know?”

“
Well, I'll tell you. She didn't,” John said flatly.

“
And how would you know?”

John sat upright and shrugged. “Did you find it fun when Mother made us play hoodman blind or shoe the wild mare at Christmastime?”

Edward blinked. “What the devil does that have to do with anything?”

“
Just answer. Did you find that fun?”

“
No.”

“
But you did it because it appeased Mother, didn't you?”

Edward stared at his brother. For being only fourteen and finding himself in trouble more times than not, his brother was surprisingly observant.