Two Wicked Nights

by Quince, Dayna

  “How can you say that?” Anne asked. She began to speak to Bernie quietly and he couldn’t hear. He pretended to stare at the flames in the hearth but watched them from the corner of his eye.

  Anne pulled her hands from Bernie’s. “No. I won’t do it.

  Chester threw his arms in the air and muttered a long string of curses, but there was a strange relief mixed among the turbulent emotions inside him.

  “You must consider it,” Bernie pressed. “Please, Anne.”

  “Very well,” Anne said. “If none of the gentlemen come up to scratch, I will consider his offer but only as a last resort.”

  Chester scrubbed his hands over his face. “This has been so wonderful for my ego, I can’t even begin to tell you,” he muttered. He didn’t care if they heard him. His pride was bloody wounded. He was prepared to do right by Anne, for Bernie, and she didn’t want him. And what irritated him more was Bernie was prepared to see him wed her sister. He didn’t want to explore all the reasons why that bothered him but it just did.

  “I have to go,” he said and left them alone in the room without a backward glance. Pacing was not enough exertion to rid him of the clawing, cold panic he felt. Anne was already pregnant. If word of this got out, all the sisters would be ruined. This house party had gone from worrisome to downright cursed in a single afternoon, and the gentlemen hadn’t even arrived.

  * * *

  “I cannot believe Father is still home,” Bernie whispered to her sister Georgette from the side of the Queens drawing room. This was the first day of the house party and all the gentlemen had arrived, appearing somewhat shocked to see so many Marsdens in one room, almost as if they hadn’t known exactly why they’d been invited here.

  “We should be glad. He’s spent so many years away, presumably searching for husbands for us, and at last he found one.”

  “Mr. Hart isn’t going to marry any of us,” Bernie said quietly. She knew it for a fact because Anne had already asked him, and worse, she’d revealed her secret to him. The trouble was mounting high for the Marsdens. “And even if he wanted to, he’s only a teacher, he couldn’t provide for all of us.”

  “Then I better hurry up and compromise one of these gentlemen. Who’s first on the auction block?” Georgie snickered behind her hand.

  Bernie considered her sister. They all looked so alike with their dark hair and brown eyes, but each of them different in personality. Georgie was the boy amongst them. She liked to get her hands dirty, climb trees, build things. She’d been an enormous help maintaining their tumbledown house, but Bernie wondered how the men would view her. They’d all had very little experience in society. And none of them had ever left their little corner of Northumberland.

  “Is it possible to compromise a man?” Bernie wondered aloud, albeit quietly and mostly to herself but still aloud.

  A heavy sigh, obviously male, erupted behind her. Bernie glanced over her shoulder. Chester stood there, appearing resigned to her madness. But beside him stood Mr. Cage, a tall, obnoxiously handsome man with thick chestnut hair and mahogany eyes. He stared at them as if he’d entered a sideshow tent and didn’t know what he was looking at.

  Bernie had spooked him already. Her hopes for the party deflated even more.

  “It was only an observation,” Bernie said, softening her voice as if calming a horse.

  Chester shook his head. “Miss Bernadette, Miss Georgette, you remember Mr. Cage?”

  “How do you do, Mr. Cage?” Georgie said brightly.

  “Very well, Miss Georgette, I’m looking forward to becoming better acquainted with all of you.”

  Bernie wanted to snort. He appeared ready to panic, but she bit her tongue and held back the smart remark she wanted to make. “Violet has many festivities planned. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “As am I, particularly the hunt,” Georgie said with relish.

  “You enjoy hunting?” Mr. Cage asked Georgie.

  “Oh, yes. I’m the best shot out of all of my sisters. I keep the meat stores full for the family.”

  He raised his brows. “Ah.”

  It was the most unenthusiastic “Ah” Bernie had ever heard.

  She took Georgie’s hand. Georgie was proud of her skills, and she had every right to be. When they couldn’t afford meat from the butcher, Georgie could go out and bring home supper, sometimes daily during the winter.

  Bernie pinned Mr. Cage with her gaze, and he switched his focus from Georgie to Bernie.

  “My sister is very talented and most of them are practical skills, not useless skills like water color or flower arrangement,” Bernie said.

  He raised a brow, catching her meaning.

  Don’t hurt my sister’s feelings.

  “I see. How remarkable.”

  Chester cleared his throat. “Yes, all the sisters are quite remarkable.”

  Mr. Cage nodded in agreement. “If you’ll excuse me, I must see that my valet has settled in accordingly.”

  He left them and Bernie’s shoulders slumped.

  “That didn’t go well,” Georgie said. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No,” Chester said. “It’s them, not you. They are not used to women as unique as all of you are.”

  Bernie folded her arms. “That’s a nice way of putting it.”

  He presented an arm to each of them. “Come, I’ll introduce you to Lord Luckfeld and Densmore. They’re taking the surprise better than most.”

  “So I was right. They didn’t know,” Bernie mumbled.

  “It appeared Roderick invited them here to hunt and get away from town life for a respite,” Chester answered.

  Bernie grit her teeth. Dammit, Roderick. At least Chester had calmed since discovering Anne’s secret earlier that afternoon.

  “He lied to his own friends?” Georgie asked.

  “They’ll forgive him. He is the brother to the duke, after all,” Bernie quipped.

  “Yes, they will,” Chester said, “and I think they’ll enjoy your company once they settle in.”

  But will they marry any of us?

  Bernie wondered it, but she couldn’t say it aloud now that the gentlemen were within earshot. Marriage may as well be a swear word in front of them. They were all skittish, their gazes bouncing from Marsden to Marsden and still more Marsdens. All nine of them could be overwhelming.

  Like Chester, Bernie and her sisters had known Lord Roderick Andrews all their lives. He’d changed somewhat and matured in some ways, but he was still the lighthearted scoundrel who could get away with most things. He was a beautiful man, both he and his brother exceedingly handsome. Combined with being the sons of a duke, their life was charmed from their first cry. But life is never so simple. Their father was a horrendous man and Bernie was glad he was dead. He’d scorned everyone who was not as wealthy or titled as he or as beautiful as his sons and wife. His bar had been set to perfection and no one could reach it except his sons.

  That was until the heir, Weirick, was burned terribly and lost his beauty. He’d been scarred across his back, neck, and head. He shaved his head now, startling most people with his scars, but he was still very handsome and had been married earlier in the summer to Violet, Bernie’s newest and dearest friend.

  Violet and Roderick had put this party together, but Bernie feared it was going to be a miserable failure. Anne appeared pregnant, at least to Bernie’s mind, but that may be because Bernie already knew of Anne’s secret. And the rest of her sisters were blissfully unaware that this enormous scandal hid right under their noses and could ruin their chances for marriage forever.

  Bernie wanted to crawl back to her bed and cry but she couldn’t. Anne thought she could marry one of these men as soon as possible, but Bernie knew it was up to her to catch one of these gentlemen. But how? None of them made her feel anything. She’d met them all before, she knew them and they knew her, and unless something had changed in that time, she had no hope of loving any of them.

  Chester deposited Georgie and he
r before Lord Luckfeld and Lord Densmore and made the introductions. Bernie smiled and nodded, laughing at Luckfeld’s quips, but she knew it was fruitless.

  Chester pulled her away as Jeanette joined their group.

  “You’re like a dark cloud. What is the matter?” he asked.

  “I…” Oh God. She felt like crying. “I need to leave.”

  “What? Are you ill?”

  “No I’m—I’m overset.”

  “You’re never overset,” he whispered. “You’re indomitable.”

  That stunned Bernie. “Thank you, but this—it’s too much pressure.”

  “Treat them as you’ve always treated them.”

  Bernie shook her head, panic unraveling her, but Chester took her chin and stopped her. His touch, like a special tonic, warmed her from the inside. She took a deep breath.

  “Be present in the moment and stop thinking of the future. It is essentially out of our hands.” He let go of her chin.

  Bernie nodded. “Thank you. I was losing myself there.”

  “Well, I’ll always be around to find you so you can relax for now.”

  They turned back toward the group and Bernie bit her lip.

  What was it about Chester that soothed her so easily? He could frustrate her to the point of madness, but he could also talk her off the ledge quite easily. She really ought to be kinder to him and more appreciative. Should she survive this party, she’ll have to tell him how much he truly meant to her. If only she could find the words. Something told her it might be difficult to express to him all he made her feel.

  She wanted to take his hand and hold on to him for the remainder of the party, the same way a child drags along a favorite toy or blanket. But that wouldn’t encourage any of the gentlemen to get closer to her.

  She focused on Luckfeld and Densmore, but nothing about them held her interest. They were both handsome, Luckfeld with classic aristocratic features, thick brown hair and striking, silvery blue eyes and Densmore with his black hair and green eyes, but her heart rate held a steady pace. If she made a list of the gentlemen here most likely to catch her attention, these two would not be at the top. She left the group shortly and found another. Chester followed her.

  “You don’t have to follow me. I’m quite revived now.”

  A line appeared between his brows. “You don’t want me to make introductions?”

  “I know Mr. Seyburn and Mr. Denham from the last party.”

  His frowned deepened.

  “Go, see to Willa, she has the least experience out of all of us,” Bernie urged.

  He didn’t look pleased but he left her side.

  Bernie joined the group with Violet, her husband the duke, Weirick, Josette, and Mr. Seyburn and Mr. Denham, younger brother to Lord Densmore. Violet smiled in greeting and pulled Bernie to her side so they could link arms. Mr. Seyburn continued his story about a giant hare ravaging his home garden and the great lengths gone to catch him. It was quite amusing and Bernie relaxed a bit. Mr. Seyburn had wavy burnished gold hair and green eyes. He looked like a storybook prince. Mr. Denham was his exact opposite, with black hair and dark brown eyes. He would play the villain in the story but in reality was very charming.

  Bernie listened but she could feel she was being watched. She glanced to the next group and there Chester was, staring at her.

  She threw him a scowl and gave her attention to Mr. Seyburn again. She tried to focus, but she could feel Chester’s gaze. She looked again, and this time he wasn’t looking directly at her, but as soon as she glanced, he caught her and then they held a staring match. His blue eyes glowed with mirth as he held her attention prisoner. Bernie bit her cheek to keep from smiling.

  He knew she was struggling. Bernie took a slow breath through her nose and the itch to laugh eased. She was going to win this.

  He turned to face her, holding her gaze, and slowly raising one brow.

  Bernie broke out in laughter, startling her group into silence. She gave up and met the enquiring gazes of her group.

  “My apologies, Chester was…” She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t inform all of them that she and Chester were having a silent staring battle. It was a bit rude and childish. “…attempting to get my attention. Please excuse me.”

  She went to Chester’s side, and they stepped away from the group and into the hall out of earshot and sight.

  “You’re not helping,” Bernie hissed at him.

  He grinned boyishly. “I thought I was.”

  “I can’t play games with you while trying to appear sophisticated and alluring to other gentlemen.”

  His expression changed. “Alluring? Why are you trying to be alluring?”

  “You don’t think I can?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Bernie rolled her eyes. “Look at us. I can’t find a husband if I am always with you—being distracted by you.”

  Chester folded his arms now. “I’m your friend, everyone here knows that.”

  “Yes, but please try being someone else’s friend for one moment so that I may be alluring,” She did a shoulder wiggle as she said the words.

  He scowled. “Don’t do that.”

  “What, this?” She wiggled again.

  He put his hands on her shoulders to hold her still. “Stop. Do you want those men to think…that they could…”

  “Compromise me? Yes. They need to see me as a woman, a mate—”

  “Don’t say anything else. The goal is marriage not seduction.”

  “Both are preferable, seduction means a hasty marriage.”

  His scowl grew even darker. “Bernadette.”

  “Don’t make me use your given name. I know you loathe it.”

  He dropped his hands. “Don’t be childish.”

  “Don’t be so overbearing. I have to marry soon, Chester. I have to.”

  He frowned at her.

  She spoke before he could ask any more questions.

  “You want to protect me but for this party I need you to back off. I can’t attract a gentleman’s attention if you’re looming over my shoulder.”

  “I don’t loom,” he muttered.

  “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, and your friendship means more than I could ever say, but in this… We have to give each other room to explore.”

  His expression hardened. “I don’t like it. It sounds dangerous.”

  Bernie shrugged one shoulder. “I’m sure I won’t like it when you’ve found some half-wit ninny to marry but here we are. We’re not children anymore.”

  He looked away from her and an uneasy ache spread through her chest.

  I’m a woman and he’s a man. There has to be a distance between us or others will think…

  A vision of him holding her, kissing her, flashed through her mind. She pressed her eyes closed and it became more vivid. His hands gripping her wrists, pressing her back to a wall. Their bodies fused together with urgency.

  She opened her eyes, a hot fever spreading over her skin. He was watching her, his gaze intense.

  “This—this is the way it is now,” she stuttered. “We’ve outgrown the freedom we had as children.”

  “I will always protect you.”

  “I know, but you’ll have to do it from a distance and when the time comes, let another man take over protecting me.”

  She sucked in a breath and turned away, leaving him in the hall.

  Chapter 3

  The following afternoon, Bernie stood on a hill, her arm linked with Georgie as her sister easily maneuvered a yellow kite with a long ribbon tail in the sea breeze.

  “Why are Violet and Weirick so fond of kites?” Georgie asked.

  Bernie grinned, catching site of the duke and duchess, his arms wrapped around Violet from behind as they maneuvered a bright red kite through the air.

  “It’s how they met.”

  “Really?” Georgie unlinked her arm, using both hands to control the kite as a burst of wind struck them.

  Bernie
braced herself on the bluff, her skirts whipping at her legs and threatening to trip her. Most of the guests were lower on the hill and well out of earshot.

  “She pegged him in the head with her kite. She was only sixteen at the time. It’s quite an amusing story if you hear her tell it.”

  Georgie laughed. “She hit Weirick with a kite? I would love to have seen that. Perhaps I should use my own kite more judiciously and aim it at one of these gentlemen, much like Cupid’s arrow.”

  “Which would you choose?” Bernie asked. Did Georgie have feelings for one of the gentlemen here? It didn’t seem possible to form an attachment so soon, but given their desperate circumstances, forming attachments was not the goal anymore. But they had met most of them before, at the last house party. Perhaps Georgie had been harboring these feelings for some time.

  “Well…” Georgie got quiet as she fought with the stubborn kite.

  Bernie bit her cheek. She didn’t want to pressure Georgie into answering. Georgie had never been one to moon over a gentleman.

  “Mr. Cage poses the biggest challenge, I suppose.”

  “Challenge? This isn’t a game, Georgie.”

  “Certainly not a game but there is strategy involved, yes? Roderick told me just yesterday that the gentlemen will need to be convinced.”

  “You’re taking advice from Roderick? Are you mad?”

  “He gave quite sound advice. He told me to be a friend first, otherwise it would all seem too overwhelming.”

  Bernie considered that. One couldn’t be a friend with a man before developing a romantic affection, could she? Her gaze cut to Chester, farther along the bluff, standing by while Willa controlled the kite.

  An uncomfortable, prickly heat spread over her, her cheeks flaming despite the cool wind coming off the water.

  “Well, consider the source of the advice. That is all I will say on that matter. To which gentleman have you formed a friendship?” Bernie asked Georgie.

  But Georgie was preoccupied with her obstinate kite. She had her tongue between her teeth as she held on with both hands.

  “Do you need help?”