“I’m sure he would have. He had an extremely generous nature.” She should stop there, and yet she seemed unable to do so. “There’s another Trewlove who’s recently opened . . . well, only ladies are supposed to know about it, and they were discussing it earlier, as inappropriate as that might be, but I imagine you know of it, being related by marriage.”

He nodded. “A club where ladies can raise a little hell. Aiden owns that.”

“Is it his intention to corrupt us all?”

He grinned. “You can never tell with Aiden.”

“That’s not very reassuring. Do you think women are unsafe with him?”

“He likes to have a jolly good time, but he’d never do it at another’s expense. He won’t take advantage of the ladies who come to his club, if that’s your concern.”

It was reassuring to hear voiced by another what she had already surmised. Not that she was going to confess to having gone there. “Some of the ladies sharing their experiences earlier are just so young. The older ladies were a bit appalled.”

“I suspect there are few places in London where a young lady is safer.”

“Perhaps my sisters and I will visit once we’re out of mourning.”

“It’ll serve as a nice distraction. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m most anxious to return to my wife.”

“Rumors are rife that she’s with child.”

Joy wreathed his face, and she regretted that Lushing had never had occasion to shine with such delight, to share in the elation of expectancy. “She is.”

“I’m so happy for you, for you both.”

“Thank you. May I escort you to the residence?”

“I suppose I’ve abandoned my guests long enough.” She slipped her arm around the one he offered.

“It’ll get easier,” he assured her.

“One can only hope.”

Chapter 10

He knew the moment she walked in that something was amiss, even with the damn mask keeping her expression from him. He could see it in the set of her jaw, the dimpling of her chin. When he reached her, before he could even touch her, she shook her head.

“I shouldn’t have come. I can’t do this tonight, and yet I wanted to see you.”

“What happened? Tell me what’s wrong.” Although he had his suspicions.

A quivering smile. “Would you come somewhere with me?”

“To the ends of the earth.” His immediate response took him off guard. It was not delivered in a flirtatious manner, but because he meant the words. He would contemplate that unsettling thought later.

A little huff of breath that might have passed for a laugh in other circumstances escaped her lips. “Not nearly that far. My carriage is down the street, waiting.”

“Then lead the way.”