“Lose control, you mean?”

He was silent for a moment before admitting almost reluctantly, “Yes, I suppose that is what I mean.”

“Do you want a child?” Petra asked, her conversation with Elinor coming into her head with a surprising urgency.

Guy’s stroking hand came to rest on her hip. “Why do you ask that now?”

“Well, because even though we’re married you still use those sheath things, and we’ve never discussed it before.”

“No, we haven’t, have we?” He pulled himself up against the pillows, hauling her up with him so that her head rested on his chest. “Must we talk about it now?”

He sounded plaintive and Petra couldn’t help chuckling. “Have I rendered you too feeble even for a conversation?”

“No, I am well and truly in control again. So, to answer your question, yes, at some point I would like a child.”

“A son and heir?”

“Preferably,” he said dryly. “But the timing, my love, is up to you. When you’re ready to breed, then I’ll stop taking precautions. I thought you might want to enjoy married life for a while, before burdening yourself with motherhood.”

Petra absorbed this for a moment, then said, “That’s settled then. Let’s go to sleep now.” She reached up to kiss his mouth before turning on her side and closing her eyes. Guy smiled, leaned over to extinguish the gas lamp and drew her curled body closer into his embrace.

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

“Welcome back, Lady Ashton.”

At the laughing voice in the doorway, Petra spun on her heel away from the window of a cheerful sitting room at the back of Granville House on Berkeley Square. “Oh, Diana, I was so hoping you’d come by this morning. Is Fenella with you?”

“No, she had a rehearsal this morning, but she’ll meet us for lunch at Fortnum’s.” Diana cast aside her wool cape. “So, how is married life? How was the honeymoon? Tell me everything.”

“I don’t know where to begin.” Petra pulled a bell rope by the hearth where a small fire burned brightly. “Coffee first.”

She gave the order to the parlor maid who answered the summons of the bell and then held out her arms to her friend. “I’ve missed you both so much.”

Diana embraced her warmly. “Not as much as we’ve missed you. It’s been really boring in town since you left.”

“I was only gone four weeks,” Petra said, “but it did feel like being in another life.”

“So, tell me all about it. How was Florence?”

“Probably just as you remember it,” Petra answered, “but we did have a private guide for several days at the Uffizi and that was lovely . . . Oh, thank you, Marie.” She smiled at the maid returning with the coffee. “Just leave it on the table, I’ll pour.”