“No, but I’d keep my lips and hands to myself. The occasional determinedly straying wife has overcome my gentlemanly scruples—I’ve admitted as much—but your vows would be genuine and sincere. You would not stray. You might deal severely with a husband who disappointed you, but you would not stray.”

“I am not married, but neither do I deserve your good opinion of me.”

“I will be the judge of that. Whatever frolic or wrong turn you’ve kept to yourself, you’d best out with it. Quinn, Duncan, and the duchesses are doubtless conferring, and they will have questions for us. We need some leverage over Stapleton, and if he has leverage over you…Well, forewarned and all that.”

Why can’t we be just a couple in love enjoying a pretty autumn day? Why must we be two people with complicated pasts and no future?

“The letters Stapleton wants,” Abigail said, “I’ve read every one. I have nearly memorized them.”

“I admire your thoroughness.”

“Thoroughness has nothing to do with it. I was a fool.”

Lord Stephen picked up the reins and stared off into the trees. “Did you steal the letters? Steal them for a client, perhaps?”

“I had no need to steal them. They were sent to me, and they belong to me. Stapleton has no right to them.” No right to cut up her peace and wreak havoc in her life.

His lordship propped his boot on the fender. The breeze stirred again and a shower of freshly fallen leaves twirled to the grass. He said nothing for a long moment, then sent Abigail a faintly puzzled glance.

“Champlain was your lover. That sniffing hound charmed his way under your skirts, put his false promises to you in writing, and now Stapleton thinks to destroy the evidence of his son’s rutting. Was there a child, Abigail?”

She shook her head.

“Abigail?” Stephen spoke her name gently as he tucked an embroidered handkerchief into her hand. “The damned bounder is dead. I can’t call him out, and I no longer duel. Talk to me.”

He slipped an arm around her shoulders, a shocking presumption in public, no matter how secluded the path, and Abigail leaned into him.