"Do not be too hard on your mother. She has only done what she thought was best for you."
Irisa nodded, her expression turned serious. "She can't help caring so much about the polite world and their opinions. I don't suppose you would be willing to continue to keep your secret from Society?"
Drake spoke for the first time since the conversation had begun. "Thea is very good at keeping secrets. She wants to know you, not hurt you."
"My husband is right. There is no reason to tell the rest of the ton the truth."
"What about the fact that you are my daughter? Do you wish to reveal the connection?"
Thea met her father's gaze. "I want to claim my family. Aunt Harriet and Irisa are already in my heart too deeply for me to deny them."
"I prefer not to tell Society that Irisa's mother and I weren't truly married when she was born, for her sake, but I want to claim my daughter. I owe it to Anna. I owe it to you."
"It will be difficult to keep the one secret while revealing the other," Jared said expressionlessly, his voice and manner showing that the night's revelations had opened a chasm between him and their father.
"Every family has secrets. We can keep ours," replied Lady Upworth.
"Well, Thea, what do you say?" Langley asked.
"I want to be part of my family and see no reason to share a secret that is really more my sister's than my own."
Irisa threw her arms around Thea and hugged her tight. "I've always wanted a sister."
Thea allowed her father to embrace her, though she could not force herself to return the affectionate gesture. Perhaps in time. As her aunt had said, he would have to prove himself worthy of her love.
He stepped away. "Welcome home, daughter."
Jared reached out and touched her. His eyes still bore the marks of shock, but they held wonder as well. He kissed her cheek and then stepped away.
Thea went forward and hugged Lady Upworth. "I love you."
The dowager dabbed at her eyes. "I love you, too, niece. I always have."
Irisa caught all their attention when she moaned, "Does this mean I still have to marry His Grace?"
Emotion, so strong it threatened to overwhelm him, coursed through Drake.
Thea stood at her window, looking out into the fog-shrouded London night. She wore no wrapper over her nightrail, and the soft contours of her body pressed against the sheer fabric.
She turned her head when he entered the room, a soft smile of welcome curving her mouth. "Why is it that we have separate rooms? I suppose it is some unfathomable custom among the ton. It seems silly, though, to have a bed we never use. Don't you think?"
Ever since he and Thea had left Langley's town house, Drake had been struggling with a way to express how proud he felt of his wife. Her musing about the eccentricities of the ton sidetracked him.
He walked over to where she stood near the window and drew her against him. "Not all husbands and wives sleep together."
Her eyes filled with amusement. "Come, you cannot convince me of that faraddidle. If that were true, successions would soon die out."
He laughed and a sense of peace stole over him. He would never regret marriage to this enchanting woman. A name attached itself to the feelings that had bedeviled him since he met her. Love. He was top over tails in love with his wife.
Laughter welled up and spilled over again. He could not wait to share the words with her. Surely she would then express her own love for him. He was certain that she loved him. Nothing but love could have prompted her to take what she considered to be the considerable risk of marriage. "You are incorrigible, wife."
She shrugged. "I'm just not as gullible as you seem to believe."
He swept her up in his arms and headed toward the bed. "I wasn't teasing you, sweetheart. Many husbands and wives meet in their bedrooms only long enough to ensure children."
Her lips nuzzled his ear, and she breathed into it when she spoke. "I must warn you now that in this I am not willing to bow to the dictates of Society."
His entire body reacted to the feel of her hot breath against his ear. What had she said? Oh, yes.