Page 71 of Why Do Rogues Fall in Love?

Cordelia stared at her mother, dismayed by the quiet resignation in her tone.

Her mother drew a slow breath. “I ought not to speak of such matters with you while you remain unmarried. Nevertheless, it is the unfortunate way of the world that gentlemen of consequence sometimes keep mistresses. It is an accepted practice in certain circles, and many wives find themselves obliged to endure it.”

Cordelia turned fully toward her. “But why should they? Why should a woman be expected to offer her husband fidelity while he considers himself free to seek pleasure wherever he chooses?”

“I did not say it was fair.”

“Then it is unjust.”

“Yes,” her mother admitted quietly. “In many respects, it is.”

The unexpected agreement left Cordelia momentarily speechless.

“I would never counsel you to accept deliberate cruelty or humiliation, my darling,” her mother continued. “But I would have you understand that the world is seldom arranged according to what we believe ought to be just. A gentleman may have enjoyed a great many indiscretions before marriage and yet prove faithful afterward. Another may enter matrimony with an unblemished reputation and reveal himself entirely undeserving of his wife's devotion.”

Cordelia considered this with a troubled frown.

“Does Papa have a mistress?”

Her mother hesitated briefly before her expression softened. “No, my dear. In that regard, I have been very fortunate.”

Relief swept through Cordelia, for she could not have borne the thought of her father possessing so little regard for the woman he had vowed to cherish.

“Was he always faithful to you?” she asked.

“To the best of my knowledge, yes.” A faint smile touched her mother’s lips. “And I have never been given cause to suspect otherwise.”

“Then you must have known, when you married him, that he was a good man.”

“I knew that I loved him, and I believed him honorable. But I did not know everything about him, Cordelia. I daresay I still do not.” She paused before adding, “What mattered was that, over the years, his conduct gave me reason to trust him. When he made promises, he kept them. When we disagreed, he listened. And when life proved difficult, as it so often has, we faced those difficulties together.”

Cordelia lowered her gaze, thinking of George and how attentively he had always listened to her, even when she had expressed opinions that others might have considered foolish or improper.

“But what if a gentleman is very accomplished at making a lady believe herself cherished?” she asked quietly. “What if he knows precisely what to say and how to behave, and she discovers too late that his affection was never as sincere as she imagined?”

Her mother studied her for a long moment.

“Has Lord Templeton given you reason to believe his intentions are insincere?”

Cordelia hesitated.

“No,” she confessed at last. “Not precisely.”

“Then what has he done to inspire such distrust?”

Cordelia's cheeks warmed. “He has a reputation, Mama.”

“Yes, my dear, we have established that rather thoroughly.”

Despite herself, Cordelia almost smiled.

Her mother leaned forward and covered one of her hands with her own.

“I cannot promise you that Lord Templeton will never disappoint you. Nor can I promise that loving any gentleman will spare you heartache. But I should not like to see you refuse the possibility of happiness merely because you fear what might happen should you allow yourself to care for him.”

Cordelia swallowed against the sudden tightness in her throat.

“And if I discover that I care for him far more than is sensible?”