The Merry Marquis

by Meredith Bond

  “You don’t think me too bright, my lord?” Lady Margaret said, turning around for him to admire her dress.

  “Oh no, one could never accuse you of being too bright,” Richard managed to say with a straight face.

  Teresa choked on a laugh, but managed to turn it into a small coughing fit. A thump on her back from Richard cleared it up and she was able to share a look with him without losing control again. The twinkle in his eye boded well.

  Poor Lady Margaret was always inadvertently leaving herself open for such comments. Thankfully, she was completely oblivious to any implied insult.

  With perfect equanimity, Richard asked the lady to dance leaving Lord Millhaven open to do the same with Teresa.

  After a few dances with various ladies who simply presented themselves for the honor, Teresa could tell that Richard had begun to relax a little. She continued to stay close to his side when neither of them were dancing, as much for her own feelings of comfort as to support him.

  She hoped she was being as charming and witty as she needed to be in order to allow Richard to show to his advantage. She was firm in her decision to make him be as at ease in his role among the ton as he had made her.

  With determination, she redoubled her efforts to be charming. Of course, the few times she’d been at her most successful, it had been because she’d been criticized, but she was certain she would be able to bring her charm to the fore if she just put her mind to it. She knew she could be just as captivating as her mother.

  Reaching deep inside herself, she pulled on that feeling she got when she played the pianoforte. Whatever it was, it allowed her to forget to be self-conscious. Bringing all these pieces together was the key, she realized, to her social success.

  Summoning up all the charm and wit she could and combining that with her determination to be sparkling, she let herself loose.

  Before she realized it, she had attracted quite a number of beaux to her side. And where the more eligible gentlemen were, the matchmaking mamas with their daughters in tow soon followed.

  Teresa’s conversation flowed, she laughed and even made daring witticisms. And, more importantly, she brought Richard along with her into the dazzling web she was weaving. He really had no choice. When the gentlemen flocked to her side, she made sure Richard was included in every conversation. When the ladies joined them, she redirected his attention to them.

  But through it all, Teresa kept to Richard’s side. She turned down dances when he wasn’t dancing and always returned to him the moment a dance was over. He still didn’t completely relax, but she could tell it was becoming easier for him as the evening wore on.

  Every so often she would catch him gazing off at nothing. He would retreat into himself each time he had a moment’s quiet.

  It was while she was dancing with Lord Sefton that she noticed that Richard was standing entirely alone. She didn’t know how he had come to be that way, since when she’d been asked to dance he was engaged in a light banter with her mother, with two young ladies and their mamas all eagerly awaiting their turn to speak with him.

  Teresa was forced to turn away with the movements of the dance and politeness forced her to pay at least a little attention to her partner. As the dance ended, however, she looked around for her husband. He was nowhere to be found.

  Excusing herself, she went out on to the balcony thinking he might have escaped there to be alone.

  Her instincts had been right. She found him standing in a dark corner, leaning on the balustrade looking out into the garden.

  “It is entirely too hot in that room!” she said, leaning her forearms next to his.

  Through the pale light that filtered from the house behind them, she could just make out the curve of his lips as he smiled. “Indeed. Although the air is not much cooler out here, at least it is refreshing,” Richard said, not moving or even looking over at her.

  Teresa took a deep breath. “Yes, it is actually a lovely evening, is it not?”

  Peering at her husband, she was struck at how incredibly handsome he was, even in this dim light. His taste in clothing was impeccable, as always, and the tired lines she had noticed around his eyes—was it only that morning?—had eased as he’d begun to relax. Even when he was not animated, he still was the most handsome man at the party.

  She’d missed him terribly when he’d disappeared into his library. Now she was happy she’d agreed to live with him once again. It felt good just to be with him.

  She wished she could reached over and take his hand, but she didn’t know if her touch would be repulsed or not. She was still too unsure of her position and how he felt about her.

  They stood next to each other looking out at the dark garden in comfortable silence.

  “There they are!” Reath’s voice broke in on their quiet.

  “Really, you two have made yourselves the talk of the musicale, hanging on each other’s sleeves like young puppies. Embarrassing!” Fungy said, as Richard’s three closest friends joined them.

  “At least Merry should know better. Teresa can be excused as she’s still so new to our society,” Huntley agreed.

  Richard raised his hands in mock surrender. “I claim innocence! I have not been hanging on my wife’s sleeve, it is she who has been hanging on mine. Why, she hardly even has any sleeves,” he said, picking at the small puff of fabric which graced Teresa’s nearly bare shoulders.

  Teresa hung her head, but couldn’t hide her smile. “I plead guilty. I apologize if I’m destroying Richard’s reputation.”

  “Destroying it? No, indeed, you have been the making of his reputation. You complement him,” said Huntley.

  “Ah! That’s it! Complement him. The word was at the tip of my tongue,” Fungy agreed.

  “What do you mean?” Richard looked from one man to another.

  “You and Julia were a pair, Merry. You were both witty and fashionable,” Reath began. Teresa felt Richard next to her withdraw at the mention of Julia’s name, but Reath either was unaware or deliberately ignored it.

  “Indeed! Great pair. Just the same, you were. Two peas in a pod,” Fungy drawled. But then he continued, before anyone else could say anything, “Not Teresa, though. Adds something new.”

  Reath turned to Fungy. Raising just one black, slashing eyebrow and frowning, he gave his friend a look that would have had Teresa shaking if he had turned it on her.

  “Yes, as I was about to say before I was interrupted,” Fungy continued, deliberately turning away from Reath, “Teresa complements your wit and air of distinction, Merry, by being quietly charming and clever.”

  “They truly are a great combination, Teresa’s intellect and Merry’s address,” Huntley agreed. “Still, you know you shouldn’t hang on each other, it’s just not done.”

  Richard looked down at Teresa with a new appreciation in his eyes. “It may not be the done thing. But it is the comfortable thing. Without her there, I’m not certain I could be quite so merry.”

  Teresa looked into Richard’s eyes and felt her heart melt at the warmth she saw there. His thumb stroked her cheek ever so gently, sending shivers down her spine.

  A discreet cough abruptly reminded them that they were not alone.

  She was sure she flushed because even Richard’s face had turned slightly pink, but she turned back to Richard’s friends. “Well, if we do not return to the party, people are certainly going to begin to talk.”

  She moved to take Richard’s proffered arm, but then stopped and took Huntley’s instead. “You did just say that I should not hang on my husband’s sleeve,” she reminded them all.

  Amid the men’s chuckles, they all returned to the party.

  Somehow, after that, Richard was much more at ease. He finally relaxed, allowing his true self to emerge. His sparkling presence attracted as many admirers as Teresa’s had earlier. She no longer had Richard’s sleeve to hang upon, however, since it was almost constantly being occupied by other ladies. She didn’t mind. It simply meant that he ha
d come back into his own—he truly was the Merry Marquis.

  Teresa lost sight of her husband at some point, but had no worries about him. She was certain he was charming some lady off her feet.

  Towards the end of the evening, she couldn’t help but notice people putting their heads close together as a whisper of scandal spread quickly through the room.

  She excused herself from the conversation she was having with the elderly Lord Kendal and moved to where Fungy and Reath were standing talking with Lady Jersey. Surely, if anyone were to know what was happening it would be Lady Jersey and Fungy.

  “What is the latest on-dit, Lady Jersey?” Teresa asked, leaning toward her aunt’s good friend.

  The lady looked uncertain for a moment, biting her lower lip.

  Reath, however, had no qualms about sharing the gossip. “Merry is either being a complete idiot or is making an absolutely brilliant social move. We have yet to learn which way the wind will blow.”

  “Taken his social reputation and tossed into the lap of Princess Lieven,” Fungy added.

  “It is a daring move for anyone who values their social standing,” Lady Jersey said, nodding her head. “She has been known to destroy even the most secure leaders of society.”

  “Just a nod from her head or a frown at the right moment and all would be lost,” said Fungy, beginning to look nervous.

  “Indeed, Merry has made an exceptional comeback. To risk it all in this manner is simply foolhardy.” Reath shook his head sadly.

  Teresa felt the need to wipe her suddenly sweaty hands on her dress, but resisted the urge. She looked around desperately to see if she could spot her husband. Finally, by following the line of sight from others who were also watching Richard take his social life into his own hands, she found him.

  He was standing and talking with Princess Lieven at the far end of the long narrow room. Teresa could not make out whether the princess looked happy or not. If not, it would be the end of the Merry Marquis. But on the other hand, if he managed to charm her, it could very well set him at the pinnacle of society once again.

  Teresa’s heart leapt into her throat. It was one thing for Richard to be charming and witty when he was with her, Teresa thought, but for him to take it to the highest stickler of the ton entirely by himself was a leap of faith and the ultimate show of self-confidence. She was both terrified of what might happen and more proud of her husband than she had ever thought possible.

  As she watched, Richard took Princess Lieven’s hand and bowed low over it. He leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. And then, Teresa saw the most amazing thing, the lady smiled and fluttered her fan. All the signals were there, she was charmed.

  Teresa smiled and turned to Fungy, “He’s done it. I knew he could.”

  But Fungy wasn’t smiling, in fact he was looking even more worried than before. The orchestra has just struck up a waltz.

  “Bad luck!” Reath exclaimed, vehemently.

  Teresa turned back towards Richard and Princess Lieven. Biting her lip she watched as Richard bowed low once again. The serious expression on the lady’s face did not bode well. And when she lifted her chin up a notch as Richard said something else to her, Teresa was sure all was lost. But then ever so slowly, she placed her hand in Richard’s and allowed him to lead her out on to the dance floor.

  With a start, Teresa remembered that she needed to breath.

  As they rode home, Richard could barely remember the last time he had felt so good. He had truly, for the first time since Julia had died, felt entirely comfortable in society.

  He was back. He had put aside his mourning. Thrown off the mantle of depression and loneliness that had engulfed him for the past year. He felt like his old self again.

  He tried to peer through the darkness at his wife. She had done it. She was the one who had helped him do this. He was certain that if she hadn’t been there for him, he would never have had the confidence to be himself.

  Despite her own popularity, she had continued to stay by his side and support him. Throughout the entire evening, he’d been able to turn to her and see her smiling faith in him in order to get that spark of confidence he’d needed.

  Somehow, she had neatly turned the tables on him, supporting him and his self-confidence instead of the other way around as it had been.

  How could he have ever thought that he could live without her? Just knowing that she was always going to be there for him had helped him; had given him the confidence he needed.

  She was so vital to him and beautiful, as well. And best of all, she was his wife. The thought sent a warmth through his veins and a pool of happiness settled somewhere deep inside him.

  Silently, he reached across the carriage and took her hand. He knew that he should thank her for being there for him. But somehow he knew that she understood his silent message as her fingers intertwined with his.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Richard heard the beautiful music and felt all of his muscles relax. As he stepped into his house, the tension of dealing with ten wild young boys and attempting to teach them proper manners slipped from his shoulders.

  The scent from the bouquet of lavender and roses, which graced the hall table, added to his sense of well-being as he stopped and listened.

  The recently waxed wood floor reflected the sunlight that streamed in through a window overhead. Richard placed his hat on the table next to the flowers, and couldn’t resist running his fingers delicately over one of the feathery fronds of the lavender, releasing even more of its lovely scent.

  There was not a more beautiful sound in the world to Richard than Beethoven’s fourteenth sonata. The soft lilting melody, which used to remind Richard of Julia, now brought a picture of Teresa to his mind’s eye. He could almost see her swaying to the beautiful music she created, her eyes half closed, her long black eyelashes delicately resting on her pale white cheeks.

  He let the music lead him down the well-lit hallway to its source, but then paused with his hand on the handle of the music room door.

  The ghosts that had haunted him were gone. In his heart, he knew it was Teresa who had banished them. There was now only brightness and light where once there were shadows. She had swept clean his morbid thoughts and made him want to live. It was she who had brought light and love into his life once again.

  Love.

  He did love her. He knew this now.

  But he had promised that theirs would be a marriage in name only and that he would grant her an annulment when she found someone who loved her.

  But he loved her. He couldn’t allow her to have their marriage annulled. He would not allow it!

  He was suddenly filled with anger at the thought of anyone else holding his sweet Teresa; of loving her as fiercely as he did.

  Richard squared his shoulders and threw open the door. It flew open so hard it banged against the opposite wall.

  “Teresa, I cannot keep to our agreement.”

  His wife was so startled by the sudden intrusion that she jumped to her feet. The delicate gilt chair she had been sitting on fell backwards with a loud crash.

  “Richard! What is wrong? What are you talking about?”

  He strode into the room, grabbing hold of her hands. “I mean that I cannot honor my word, my promise to you. If you ask for it, I will refuse to grant you an annulment from this marriage. I love you and I want you to be my wife now and forever. Tell me that you have not fallen in love.”

  Teresa smiled up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. “But I have.” She paused.

  Richard was certain his heart had stopped, as his mind raced around all of the men she knew.

  Who was it? Millhaven? Corstairs?

  Pain sliced through him. He could not bear to lose her again.

  “I love you, Richard. I told you so,” Teresa said, looking up at him through her long black eyelashes.

  His heart started pounding once again in his chest, now nearly bursting with joy.

  And that
look! She was looking at him with that seductive look that she had learned from her mother.

  He couldn’t resist her open invitation. He leaned forward, slowly lowering his head to hers. He drank in her beautiful lavender scent as he kissed her sweet, pink lips, pressing her soft body to his. She gasped as he squeezed a little too tight.

  “Richard, are you sure about this?” she managed to ask when he loosened his grip.

  “I have never been so certain of anything.” He couldn’t resist tasting her sweet lips once more.

  But then he felt her stiffening, ever so slightly, in his arms. He pulled back and looked into the dark pools of her eyes.

  “And Julia?” she asked.

  Filled with his love for Teresa, he cradled her face with his hands. “Julia is gone, my love. You make me want to live. With you I can truly be myself once more. You have made me whole.”

  This time it was Teresa who moved first, pulling his head down to hers. He could feel her love flow into him through her lips.

  He could barely restrain himself. He needed to touch her, to kiss and feel every inch of her beautiful, slender body. His desire for her was becoming palpable, and he could feel hers building for him in the way she pressed herself against him.

  He could not wait even a moment longer, he had to show Teresa exactly how much he loved her. Richard swung her up into his arms. “Come live with me, Teresa, and be my wife.”

  If you enjoyed this, you’ll love Julian’s story

  An Exotic Heir

  Weaving a web of revenge can be satisfying, but dangerous to your heart.

  London society is shallow and cruel, sending Cassandra Renwick running to Calcutta, the exotic seat of the British Raj. It’s a fascinating place filled with interesting sights — including the dark and mysterious Julian Ritchie. But she never thought that an even greater heartbreak could be here in this alien and enchanting land.

  Julian has always been discriminated against for being only half English. Embittered, he plots an intricate plan for vengeance with the innocent and lovely Cassandra as his pawn. But he soon finds that payback can be painful for the avenger as well when the threads of revenge unwittingly turn into the silken bonds of love.