A Gentleman Never Tells Read Online Free PDF Page A

marriage she saw him twice.
    â€œSo what did he say about this paragon of womanhood?”
    â€œIt wasn’t so much about her , as about the difference between us,” Lizzie said, figuring she might as well make a clean breast of it. “He suggested a few things I might do to get him more aroused, and I declined. I felt incredible relief when it became clear that Adrian couldn’t manage an erection with me.”
    â€œWhat woman wouldn’t?” Cat said, with a shiver.
    â€œBut since he died, I’ve grown to be so angry. And humiliated. I know it’s not rational.”
    â€œI’d be livid. He wanted you to do things to get him aroused? It should have been the other way around. He should have knelt at your feet, thanking you for even considering bedding such a man as he.”
    â€œHe was my husband,” Lizzie said. “What was I supposed to do? Run home?” Those words hung in the air for a moment.
    â€œYou could have come to me.”
    â€œAdrian wasn’t all that bad,” Lizzie said, reaching for her sister’s hand and giving it a squeeze.
    â€œHow dare he convince you that you were inadequate?” Cat looked as if she was ready to topple Adrian’s tombstone.
    â€œDo you know what he reminded me of when he had his clothes off?” Lizzie said, realizing that she did feel better for blurting it all out.
    Cat’s nose wrinkled. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
    â€œOh, not that part. The rest of him. Do you remember that fat, hairy pig that Mr. Murgatroyd kept in his back garden?”
    â€œUgh!”
    â€œIt wasn’t the belly as much as the attitude. Mr. Murgatroyd’s pig used to root around in the mud with the certainty that the world owed him a carrot every morning.”
    â€œWhy on earth would you believe it when a hairy trotter told you that you were unattractive, which is a complete and total lie, by the way?”
    â€œI had two seasons. There was plenty of chances for other men to convince me of my charms.”
    â€œNot after Adrian made it clear that you were his,” Cat said grimly.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œJoshua told me that Adrian told his entire club—­which included most of the young men in London—­that he claimed you. So no, he had no competition in your second season, at least.”
    Lizzie shrugged. “Adrian called me a tiresome country mouse, and he was right. I have no conversation, and no jokes, and I don’t even have breasts to speak of.”
    Cat opened her mouth, but Lizzie raised her hand. “To go back to the subject, I’m sorry I declined to meet your friend the countess for tea. I just couldn’t imagine that we’d have much in common.”
    â€œYou will love her! We talk for hours whenever we manage to see each other.”
    â€œShe’s got a little girl, doesn’t she? And you have two little boys, not to mention your stepdaughter. I don’t have any children, and I’m not going to have any. Much though I adore my nephews, I’d rather be reading than talking about children.”
    â€œRather be reading!” Cat burst out, coming to her feet. “Is there anything in the world you’d rather do than read?”
    Lizzie didn’t need to think about that twice. “No.”
    â€œThis is Adrian Troutt’s fault! You are exquisite, even now, when you’re too thin. You look just like Mother.” Cat put her hands on her hips and scowled magnificently, as if she could change the world by willing it so.
    Lizzie looked up at her sister, making sure that Cat understood the importance of what she was about to say. “I will never again put my happiness in the hands of a man who may well be lying through his teeth. Never .”
    â€œNot every man is a liar.”
    â€œI have as much money as I need to live comfortably and buy books,” Lizzie said firmly. “I do not like dressing