My Wicked Little Lies. Victoria Alexander

in an offhand manner, “if there is anything wrong, you can tell—”

      “You are a dear sweet man, of course I know that. There is nothing wrong and certainly nothing for you to worry about.”

      “Ah, well then, my mistake.” He smiled and lowered his gaze to the page in front of him. He could feel her staring at him and wondered if she knew that he knew she was not being entirely truthful. It might not be obvious to anyone else but it was to him. There was the vaguest look in her eye, the slightest hint in her voice, and something in the way she sat. No, the Countess of Waterston was definitely hiding something from her husband. The question now was what.

      She wasn’t the type of woman to hide expenditures or exorbitant bills. Indeed, she took spending money—his money—as her due. The Earl and Countess of Waterson did need to keep up appearances. No one would ever call her frugal but she’d never been especially frivolous in her purchases. He suspected if she ever was, she would not keep it from him as she’d no doubt find it amusing.

      It couldn’t be an illness of some sort. One could see she was in excellent health by the glow of her skin alone. Besides, she knew full well how Richard’s denial of his eroding health had taken a toll on Adrian. Evie would never do that to him.

      Could his wife be feeling the same sort of restlessness gripping him of late? The need to do something. Anything. The desire for the unexpected, for a touch of excitement. The odd longing, for once, not to know what was going to happen next.

      The thought struck him without warning. Wives who were restless ... A cold hand squeezed his heart. He ignored it. What utter rubbish. His wife was certainly not dallying with another man. Other men’s wives perhaps but not his. That was the worst sort of conclusion to leap to and not at all warranted. He trusted her completely, with his life if necessary and certainly with his heart.

      He drew a deep breath. Evie had never done anything to make him question either her affection or her fidelity. She was not the type of woman to be led astray. That the tiniest doubt now surfaced was probably more a result of his own current state of unrest rather than anything of a substantial nature on her part. He’d never really known jealousy before yet apparently he was not immune to it. That, too, was distressing—he had thought he was a better, or at least a more rational, sort of man.

      “Oh bother,” she muttered, and his gaze slipped back to her. She pushed away from the desk and stood. “I’m going to finish this in the morning, which will only put me even more behind, but it can’t be helped, I suppose.” She brushed an errant lock of hair away from her face and frowned at the need to do so. “You’re right, you know.”

      “I usually am.” He chuckled but his heart caught. He forced a casual note to his voice. “About what?”

      “I do seem to be distracted this evening. I’m not at all sure why.” She frowned. “It could be the weather, I suppose. Do you realize it has snowed every month since October?”

      “I had noticed that.”

      “A foot last month alone. And then the rioting a scant two weeks ago ...” She shook her head. “Those poor people.”

      “Times are hard,” he said simply. “And jobs are scarce.”

      “It does seem to me that if Parliament spent less time arguing about Ireland and more discussing putting men to work, we would all be better off.”

      “No doubt. I shall propose it at once.”

      She raised a brow. “With a rousing speech on the floor of the House of Lords?”

      He scoffed. “Where else?”

      “You’re teasing me now, Adrian, and I don’t find it the least bit amusing. Poverty is rampant, children live on the streets and people have no money for food. Something should be done.”

      “Indeed, something should.” He got to his feet.

      “And if I could think of something brilliant, even something adequate, a plan to solve all the ills of this country or this empire, I would put it into motion without hesitation.”

      She nodded in a satisfied manner, but amusement gleamed in her eyes. She crossed the room to him. “I know you would.”

      He pulled her into his arms. “I would try to save the entire world for you if you wished it.”

      “I know you would, darling. That’s one of the reasons why I married you.”

      “Just one?”

      “One of many. Another is that it’s not necessary for you to actually save the entire world, only that you would be willing to do so. Besides, you’re the Earl of Waterston, you don’t have time to save more than a tiny portion of the world.” She gave him a quick kiss, then gazed into his eyes. “Darling, if I had wanted a warrior or a savior or someone, oh, I don’t know, a man of adventure, I would have married someone adventurous.”

      “And I’m not adventurous?” he said coolly although the comment was annoying.

      “No, of course not. You’re reliable and responsible and dependable and honorable.”

      He stared down at her. “Good God, I sound dull.”

      Her eyes widened. “But you’re not, not in the least. You’re the most fascinating man I know.”

      “In a reliable and responsible sort of way?”

      “Not at all,” she said staunchly, then paused. “Well, perhaps. But you are the kind of man one can depend upon. Not merely in times of crisis but each and every day.”

      “Oh, that sounds much better,” he said in a wry manner.

      “And you are kind and generous.”

      “Hmph.”

      “And most handsome.” She smiled. “Did I mention that?”

      “No.” He leaned closer and brushed his lips along the side of her neck. “I can be adventurous, you know.”

      “Well, there are certain times ...” She shivered. “Yes, indeed ...”

      “And exciting,” his lips murmured against her skin. She loved it when he kissed her neck. “I can be exciting.”

      “Most exciting ...” She swallowed hard. “I believe I shall retire now. Shall I dismiss my maid for the night?”

      “Excellent idea.” He grinned down at her.

      “I thought so.” A wicked light shone in her eyes. She pulled out of his arms and started for the door. “Coming?”

      “I’ll be there in a minute.”

      She nodded and left the parlor.

      He watched her leave, then drew a deep breath. If she was trying to distract him, he would certainly cooperate. He could use a little distraction himself. Besides, it would be wrong not to. After all, he was so reliable and dependable. Although he supposed there were worse things to be considered.

      Damn it all, his wife was restless, and he absolutely refused to think that her boredom was being eased by another man. Still, it would be foolish of him to ignore this entirely. Yes, something was definitely amiss. He started after his wife. In his list of attributes she’d left out determined. He wouldn’t rest until he discovered what was wrong.

      And prayed it wasn’t a man of adventure.

      Chapter 4

      This was absurd.

      Adrian sat in a hired carriage a discreet distance from the entrance of the British Museum and watched. And waited.

      It was, as well, somewhat dishonorable and definitely beneath him. One did not spy on one’s wife. Especially when the wife in question had done nothing to arouse suspicion. Oh, certainly, her manner last night had been unusual, and there had been that comment about how she would have married