Forced Offer by Gloria Gay Page B

their lips and wished her happiness, Belinda could often see clearly the spite behind their eyes. Many, like Lord Berrington's sister-in-law, Flora, who was Lord Berrington's half-brother's widow, didn't even bother to mask their dislike.
    And Flora was in charge of the house at Winterhill.
    In any case, Belinda was glad that Lord Wilbur was keeping up a stream of conversation. She dared not look at Lord Berrington as Lord Wilbur spoke and felt herself blush just at the thought of meeting his eyes again after last night.
    Lord Berrington stole a glance at Belinda as Lord Wilbur chatted away, and saw how unlikely a countess she looked, with her thin face almost lost inside the bonnet and her thin figure swimming in her travelling gown of deep rose.
    He knew that all of London was laughing at him. Then suddenly he remembered her breasts, dew soft under his lips and a perfect fit in his hands, and though her figure was too thin, without her nightshift on it the skin was smooth and soft and the thinness had felt slight and vulnerable, almost breakable under his roving hands.
    A sudden flash of how they had both reached a climax at the same time made him glance away. Not even the light skirt he kept in London had ever reached a climax with him, for Berrington was certain that ten times out of ten she was pretending.
    But wasn't that her business, to please, however falsely, in exchange for luxury? Yet his bride, who was as pure as the driven snow, had followed his lead in a most amazing way. It was now he who felt the color rise at his thoughts as Lord Wilbur turned to him curiously.
    "I was asking Lady Berrington if she would mind your riding with me in my curricle part of the way, old pal. Only a couple of hours, for I'm going to take the turn at the junction."
    "I don't mind at all," said Belinda hurriedly, awkwardly. She wondered if she would ever be able to talk normally in her husband's presence. She felt more at ease with Lord Wilbur and for all practical purposes she had just met him.
    "How are Cathy and the baby?" asked Lord Berrington.
    "They’re both fine. Cathy came through like a trooper. A fine strapping boy," Lord Wilbur said beaming. I wrote to Steven and sent the letter by messenger. Both Cathy and the baby are in excellent health.
    "You will meet Cathy soon, Lady Berrington," he added, "for we are neighbors. That's how this rogue and I got to be best friends."
    "I am glad," Belinda said with a smile.

    * * * * *

    "Alright, out with it," said Lord Wilbur when they were settled in his curricle, the carriage with Belinda and Bessie following behind them.
    "I want to hear the right version of the story for a change."
    "The right version of the story is not a pretty one", muttered Lord Berrington, an exasperated look in his face. "So the different versions you heard of it cannot be far off."
    "You'd be amazed how the  on-dit  of the Season can be shaped and reshaped like putty by our ton, so that even you wouldn't recognize it," Lord Wilbur said with a laugh.
    "I'll talk about it this once, and only because it's you," said Lord Berrington grimly, "but I shall never speak of it again. So you better get all your questions in this time for you're not getting another chance."
    "Fair enough," said Lord Wilbur with a wide smile.
    "Well?" asked Lord Berrington, "Fire away, and the devil take you for being such a nuisance. I hadn't planned to discuss it with anyone."
    "Tell me about the letter," said Lord Wilbur. "Is it true that there was a letter involved?"
    "There was. I wrote a letter to—well, it doesn't matter to whom. I'll just say it wasn't addressed to—damn, I really don't want to get into all this again—"
    "You promised," Lord Wilbur reminded him. "Who did you write the letter to—let me guess. Lady Celeste?"
    "It was a letter for an assignation. This letter, with a falsified envelope was given to—Miss Presleigh—to my wife," Lord Berrington said, feeling the word 'wife' still strange to his