“ Tell us something delicious,” Judith, Lady Lipscombe said to Elaine. “Something wicked and scandalous about Raynesford.” She leaned over the table between them, dropping her voice to hardly above a whisper.
Elaine’s heart stopped. Something wicked or delicious or scandalous about Owen? There wasn’t such a thing to tell. With Owen Shelton, Viscount Raynesford, what one saw was precisely what he was. From what his sister told her, he’d always been that way.
“ Oh, yes, you simply must, Elaine,” Vivian added. “After all, we’ve told you all about Tucker and Lipscombe-or at least about how they’ve been this last week while we’ve been at Quinton Abbey.”
Indeed, Judith and Vivi had told her all sorts of mischievous tales of their nighttime adventures of late. More than enough to leave her wondering if she’d ever experience anything of the sort. Elaine thought for a moment, searching her mind for something she could tell them-anything at all-other than the truth.
Nothing came to mind, however.
“ There’s really nothing to tell. I’m sorry.”
Judith’s jaw dropped open. “You mean to tell us that Raynesford is exactly like that in your bed?” She pointed over to where Owen sat in a plush armchair by the hearth, an open book about horse breeding before him, oblivious to all the hooting and hollering from the card tables around him, to the silly, unmarried girls twittering in the corner near him, and even to the raucous game of charades taking place near the south wall.
For just a moment, he glanced up at Elaine and caught her eye. He half-smiled, then returned his attention to his book.
She let out a sigh. “Yes, you could say that.”
“ He doesn’t bring a book of instructions to bed with you, I hope,” Vivi whispered. “I’d be tempted to strike him over the head with it, if he did.”
Elaine chuckled at the image, but shook her head. “He’s never done anything remotely like that.”
“ What does he do, then?” Vivi asked.
A gaggle of the house party’s unmarried ladies passed by their table. Elaine waited until they were well out of earshot, then took a quick glance around to be sure no unwelcome ears were listening in before she answered. “Well, it’s nothing like what you two have told me about.” She stopped herself and thought hard before continuing. Elaine would never want to say anything bad about her husband. Owen was the sweetest man, once you were able to delve past his gruff exterior, at least.
“ Does he avoid your bed?” Judith asked. “Piers rarely used to come to me, you know. It all changed here.”
“ Oh, no. It’s nothing like that,” Elaine rushed on. “We…er, well…” A deep blush heated her cheeks and she lowered her voice even more. “We make love frequently. Almost every night, still, and we’ve been married for years.”
“ Is it rather tedious, though?” Vivi put in. “Same position every night?”
Tedious wouldn’t be quite right. Vigorous, certainly. Owen always made certain she found her pleasure, too. He was a very considerate lover in that regard. But it was always in precisely the same position each night-him above, her below, fast and feverish, and then it was done. There was never any variety.
Judith frowned when Elaine didn’t answer. “Perhaps he ought to bring a book of instructions with him, then.”
“ One with diagrams,” Vivi said with a devious gleam in her eye. “I could paint some watercolors for you, if you’d like.”
“ Oh, heavens, no.” Owen would be furious she’d discussed their private affairs with anyone else if he ever found out. And surely, if she came to him with paintings, he’d know.
“ No,” Judith murmured, her eyes narrowed in thought. “But clearly, Raynesford won’t change his ways without a bit of prodding. You’ll simply have to introduce him to some new bedroom activities, Elaine.”
“ I couldn’t do that.” Could she? Could she be bold and daring enough to suggest something as wanton as that?
“ You can, and you will,” Vivi pronounced emphatically. “Come with me.” She stood up and took Elaine by the hand, gesturing for Judith to follow along with them as well. Without giving Elaine a chance to decline, Vivi tugged her out of the drawing room and up the stairs.