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Marianne knew exactly what she was thinking, and it wasn't what she had meant at all. "I have the Benevolent Widows Fund, for example, which gives me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction."
    Evelina chuckled and said, "Yes, there is pleasure and satisfaction in that, too , of course."
    Marianne felt a blush color her cheeks. Evelina was beginning to sound just like Penelope. Or was it simply that blasted pact again that made her imagine sexual undercurrents in every conversation?
    "Please do not worry about me," she said. "I promise you I am not lonely or unhappy. At least, not very often. I am quite busy most of the time."
    "I am glad to hear it. But you cannot blame me for wanting to see you have more. Someone to love. Children, perhaps."
    As they walked through Green Park, she went on to speak of her own children and some of their recent antics, while Marianne's mind wandered back to the pact and the conversation with her friends. Until that day, she had never given much thought to physical relations with a man. She'd had a good marriage, but the physical aspect was never the most important part of it. Yet, since listening to her friends talk about the joys of the bedroom, she had become more and more convinced that she'd missed something, that David, who'd been the love of her life and the perfect husband, may not have been the perfect lover.
    They walked past a man and two women who stood beside the gravel path in conversation. Marianne noticed the man surreptitiously touch one of the women on her lower back. It was a fleeting touch, but the woman straightened ever so slightly, and brushed a hand against his hip. There was an air of intimacy about those brief touches that Marianne would never have noticed before the Merry Widows had altered her perception.
    As they walked past the threesome, they came upon a man on horseback in polite conversation with a woman whose maid stood a few steps behind her on the path. As they neared, Marianne could hear they were speaking of a new pantomime at Drury Lane, but their eyes seemed to hold a different conversation altogether. The woman had the same sort of incandescent glow they'd all noticed about Penelope. Was the horseman her lover?
    What nonsense. She was being foolish, seeing lovers everywhere these days. It was all Penelope's fault, blast the woman. But it seemed a great many people were living a fuller life than Marianne. Evelina with her devoted husband and children. Penelope with her young lover. Even Adam, whose life was about to become more full with his ninny of a fiancée and doubtless the onslaught of children.
    Marianne really had nothing to complain about. She'd had a great love, even if it was cut short, and would never marry again. But did that mean she had to end up like her mother-in-law, her life a sad memorial to her late husband?
    No, by God, it did not.
    "Marianne? Have you heard a word I've said?"
    She had not, in fact. She shot Evelina a sheepish look. "I'm sorry. My mind was wandering."
    Evelina smiled. "In an interesting direction, I trust."
    "I was just thinking about something we discussed a few days ago at a meeting of the trustees of the Benevolent Widows Fund."
    Thinking hard about it, in fact. Marianne began to wonder if the Merry Widows' pact was not such a bad idea after all.
     

CHAPTER 3
     
     
    Adam watched as Marianne paced the sitting room. This wasn't going as he'd expected. She was clearly distracted. Something other than his betrothal was on her mind.
    He'd climbed the balcony again tonight to talk this out once more with her. He hated that she was so upset about his engagement to Clarissa. He'd given a lot of thought to her reaction to the news. He'd been angry that she'd been so quick to judge. Yes, Clarissa's conversation was less than brilliant and her education was limited to the usual feminine accomplishments. But, damn it all, he liked her. She was sweet and quiet and very innocent. That innocence — something of a novelty