Catch of the Season (The Marvelous Munroes Book 2)
Page 19
Margaret stayed out of the way. She had little interest in being one of the pack, and she doubted he’d notice her even if she did join the hordes of ladies vying for his attentions. It appeared to Margaret that the Marquis DeGuis, like most of the gentlemen of the ton, was looking for the kind of wife he could display along with his trophies for fox hunting, boxing, and riding. She refused to be anyone’s trophy.
By May, it was clear that Lady Janice Willstencraft had gained the lead. That made it all the more difficult for Margaret, who had more than a passing acquaintance with the lady. To have him court two of her friends was the outside of enough. Reggie told Margaret that betting at White’s was heavily in favor of an engagement by June. Like so many others, Reggie had lost money on that wager, for here it was early-July, and Lady Janice’s family was still not making an announcement. Margaret wasn’t sure why the marquis had waited, but she was certain it was only a matter of time. Lady Janice was beautiful, raven-haired, emerald-eyed, ivory-skinned. She was intelligent and spirited. She had the perfect flair to carry off the haughtiness required of a marchioness. The marquis would have his match at last. Reggie reported they were supposed to seal the deal within the week. The Marquis DeGuis would be forever beyond her reach, and she had never so much as danced with him.
In front of her, the dance had ended. The couples were regrouping for the next set. She could see no one she knew. She sagged in defeat. Much as she was tempted to accost a likely stranger and convince him to dance with her, she knew the deed would not go unpunished. Whether he agreed or not, someone would be sure to relay the tale to her stepmother. She wasn’t sure the resulting scold was worth a dance, especially among so sedate a fellowship.
She sighed heavily and mentally consigned herself to surviving a boring evening until Reggie reappeared to take her home.
Behind her came the sound of a struggle. She turned in surprise and fell into a sturdy male body. Stumbling backward to apologize, she felt every ounce of blood drain from her body. Finding Reggie beaming at her, the whiff of alcohol tainting his breath, was bad enough. Seeing who she had collided with was much worse. The Marquis DeGuis looked anything but pleased by the event, handsome face positively scowling. She wondered if anyone would tell her stepmother if she simply bolted.
But it was too late for that.
“Cousin Margaret!” Reggie caroled as if he had been actually looking for her instead of avoiding her all evening. “I’m so pleased to find you.”
Margaret took another step back from the powerful breath, but he reached out to snag her. Before she could pull away, she was thrust practically into the arms of the marquis, who actually cringed.
Please Lord, Margaret prayed. Could I just die of mortification now?
Her cousin by marriage had the audacity to turn his fatuous grin on her as she once more hastily separated herself from the marquis. “I was just telling my good friend the marquis how well you dance,” he explained. “Be a dear, and partner him.”
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About the Author
Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she learned a bit more about writing. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese. She now has more than thirty published works of warm, witty romance.
She and her husband of more than twenty-five years reside in the Puget Sound area of Washington State with their overactive Irish terrier. Regina Scott has dressed as a Regency dandy, driven four-in-hand, learned to fence, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research, of course. Learn more about her at her website.