Her Devilish Marquess

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “I’m glad,” he said. “I don’t want our marriage to be like the others in London. I want ours to be better than that.”

  “I do, too.”

  “Good, because I’ve never been the kind of person who wanted to do what everyone else is doing.”

  She returned his smile. “Do you feel better about that thing you overheard today?”

  “I feel better because I have you.”

  It wasn’t quite the answer she had expected, but his mood had considerably lightened so that was enough.

  ***

  Malcolm sat next to Warren Beaufort, the Earl of Steinbeck, at the large table at White’s.

  “I hope whoever gets voted in is reputable,” Warren whispered. “You know what they say: bad company corrupts good character.”

  Robert Byron, the Earl of Dunnaby, sat on Warren’s other side with a glass of brandy in his hand. “Are you still moping about the fact that the gentlemen voted to keep that book in this establishment?”

  “No, this has nothing to do with that obscene book,” Warren said, though Malcolm suspected the results still bothered him. “Do you know how difficult it was to get Malcolm voted into White’s? Half the gentlemen want someone like those cads over there.” He gestured to Ethan and Christopher, who were laughing with Malcolm’s brother-in-law, Logan, and a couple of others. “How much do you want to bet they already have someone in mind?”

  “You do, too,” Robert replied.

  “Yes, but Lord Worsley will benefit the group.”

  “Because he’s like you?”

  Warren turned his gaze to Malcolm. “Is it my imagination, or does Robert want a reprobate to be voted into the group?”

  “I didn’t say I wanted a reprobate to be voted into the group,” Robert argued. “I’m just saying there’s no harm in a little fun from time to time. I see no reason why everything has to be so serious with you.”

  Malcolm’s eyes grew wide. He had suspected Robert was developing a more lenient stance on issues that once bothered him, but this only confirmed it.

  Apparently, Malcolm wasn’t the only one who noticed because Warren asked their friend, “What’s gotten into you?”

  “Nothing,” Robert said.

  Usually, Malcolm wouldn’t press the issue. He had a sister and mother who would claim nothing was wrong all day long, and until they chose to come out and say what it was, there was no getting them to talk. But Robert wasn’t a lady, so maybe Robert could be encouraged to talk.

  Malcolm leaned forward in his chair to give Robert a better look. “Something’s troubling you. Come. Out with it.”

  In all fairness, Malcolm never would have spoken that way to his sister or mother, but this was Robert he was speaking to. Gentlemen didn’t require all the tenderness ladies did.

  And as it turned out, Robert let out a sigh, indicating that he was going to tell them. “All right. But you asked for it.”

  Malcolm fully expected Robert to direct that last statement to him, but he gave a pointed look at Warren instead.

  “You’re starting to upset me,” Robert told Warren.

  Warren blinked in surprise and pointed to himself. “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” Robert said. “I’ve been seeing Miss Carlisle quite a bit lately. Do you remember her?”

  Warren paused for a moment and then shrugged. “I recall hearing the name.”

  “She’s a good friend of Lady Iris.” When Warren’s expression remained blank, Robert added, “Lady Iris is the Duke of Hartwell’s daughter.”

  “Oh. The Duke of Hartwell! Yes, I know him. He’s a wonderful gentleman. I could talk with him all evening and not get bored.” Warren glanced at Malcolm. “He’s not as good as you when it comes to making money, but he has plenty of it and has kept abreast on the things happening in Parliament.”

  Robert groaned. “I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about Lady Iris.”

  “Really?” Warren asked. “Why?”

  “Miss Carlisle was right. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “Do you even remember the evening I brought Miss Carlisle to your townhouse for a dinner party? Malcolm and his wife were there, and so was Lady Iris. Through the whole evening, you ignored Lady Iris.”

  Warren’s draw dropped. “I did not!”

  “You most certainly did. I admit I was too stupid to realize it at the time, but Miss Carlisle assured me it was the case. More than that,” Robert gestured to Malcolm, “his wife saw the whole thing, and urged Lady Iris to never speak to you again.”

  Malcolm didn’t know this. Why didn’t Regan tell him?

  Before Warren could say anything to Malcolm, Robert continued, “You were fortunate Lady Iris didn’t take his wife’s advice right away. It’s not every lady who’ll give someone who treated her so rudely another chance, but she was willing to do that. And how did you act at the next dinner party? Just as abhorrently as you did before. Except, this time it was worse because I noticed it.”

  Warren’s jaw dropped, and it took him a full thirty seconds before he could reply. “I don’t believe what I’m hearing. If Lady Iris wasn’t happy, she should have said something.”

  “If she had, I doubt you would have listened to her.”

  Malcolm shifted in the chair. This conversation had been going poorly as it was, but he had the sinking feeling it was going to get worse.

  And he was right.

  “If you feel I’m such a rude gentleman, then why do you talk to me?” Warren asked.

  “You bring up a good point,” Robert said then rose to his feet. “Until you can start treating people like Lady Iris with respect, I don’t have anything else to say.”

  Robert headed off to the other side of the table and sat next to Lords Roderick and Clement.

  Warren huffed and straightened his cravat. “What did he expect me to do with Lady Iris? Carry her out of the room and have my way with her?” He shook his head. “If he had such a problem with the way I was acting, he should have mentioned it at the dinner party. And honestly, it’s not like there’s not much one can do with a lady at a dinner party. Once the meal is over, the gentlemen go into one room and the ladies go into another.” He looked at Malcolm, as if expecting him to agree.

  Thankfully, Lord Clement chose that moment to stand up and clap his hands to get everyone’s attention. “It appears that we’re all here,” he began as soon as everyone grew quiet. “As it turns out, we have two openings.”

  “Two?” Ethan asked.

  “Yes. Lord Garrett decided to stay in India. In light of the fact that he won’t be returning, we’ll be giving his slot to someone else.”

  Warren glanced at Malcolm. “This could be good or bad. Lord Garrett wasn’t much of a member, but at least he didn’t get into trouble.”

  “Think of it this way,” Malcolm began, “you have a better chance of getting Lord Worsley into the club.”

  At this thought, Warren’s worried frown relaxed. “That’s true. I just know Ethan and Christopher are going to try to get some scandalous cad in. The most we can do is balance it out with someone decent.”

  “All right,” Lord Clement said. “If no one has any objections, we’ll start nominating gentlemen we want here.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Ethan and Christopher stopped Derek the next day as he was passing by the marketplace on his way to a patient’s residence.

  “We have good news,” Ethan told him.

  “The best,” Christopher added, looking as if waiting to tell Derek was killing him.

  “All right,” Derek obliged, gesturing for them to come out with it. “What is it?”

  “You’re the newest member of White’s!” both exclaimed in unison.

  Derek’s jaw dropped. Surely, he couldn’t have heard them right. “What?”

  “The vote was in your favor,” Ethan replied, “and you’re now a proud member of White’s.”

  “Thank goodness, too,” Christ
opher said, “because the Viscount Worsley also got voted in.”

  “B-b-but I thought there was only one opening,” Derek stammered, tripping over his words as he struggled to make sense out of all they were saying.

  Christopher grinned. “As it turned out, there were two. Worsley is just as bad as Steinbeck, so we need someone like you. If it was up to Steinbeck, we’d only discuss money and the Parliament all day.” He gagged. “Can you imagine anything more boring?”

  “No, I can’t,” Derek admitted. He’d spent enough time listening to his brother and father while growing up, and those were the only things they cared about. He used to sneak off to spend time with the servants’ children in order to have something interesting to do.

  “You need to come by White’s soon,” Ethan told him. “The sooner we introduce you to the others, the better. Steinbeck is bringing Worsley over today.”

  “Are you going to be there when he does?” Christopher asked.

  Ethan grimaced. “I’d rather suffer unbearable torment. That’s why I offered to go shopping with my wife.”

  Since Ethan gestured to one of the tables in the marketplace, Derek glanced over and saw Ethan’s wife. At the moment, Catherine was selecting pencils and drawing pads. Next to her was Christopher’s wife, Agatha, who seemed more interested in studying a nearby table with reticles and gloves.

  “I’m not here because I like to come to the market,” Ethan added, turning his gaze back to Derek.

  “Oh come now,” Christopher admonished. “You’re spending the day with your wife. What could be more relaxing?”

  “I do enjoy spending time with my wife,” Ethan said. “It’s just that when those two get together, I barely get a word in edgewise. It’s like I don’t exist.”

  Christopher chuckled. “It’s good our wives get along so well. It means we get to have a lot of dinner parties.”

  Realizing the two were going to start rambling, Derek said, “As much as I hate to end this conversation, I need to get to my next patient.”

  “We won’t keep you,” Christopher said. “But please get to White’s as soon as you can. Let one of us know when you’ll go, and we’ll be there to introduce you to the gentlemen there.”

  “Yes, do come soon,” Ethan added, a hint of desperation underlying his pleasant tone. “I don’t know how much longer I can bear with Steinbeck. That gentleman doesn’t know when to stop.”

  “I’ll see when there’s an opening between appointments and carve out a time to come.” Then, before they could say it again, Derek promised, “I’ll do this as soon as I can.”

  Noting they relaxed, Derek bid them a good day and continued his walk.

  ***

  On the evening Danette and Derek were due to go to Regan and Malcolm’s dinner party, Danette thought she just might throw up. It took all of her strength to sit still while her lady’s maid worked on her clothes and hair. Finally, when the lady was done, Danette was able to pace back and forth in her bedchamber.

  What if Derek and Malcolm didn’t get along? The two were so different. She didn’t know if they’d find any common ground. What would this mean for her and Regan? Would it be awkward to see her if their husbands didn’t get along? Or would she and Regan have to only see each other when their husbands weren’t around?

  She rubbed her stomach. Her mother wouldn’t be at all pleased with her for worrying so much about this. Her mother was right. She looked for the worst. She needed to be positive about things. But even as Danette took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down, her stomach churned in protest.

  The knocking between her bedchamber and Derek’s made her sigh with relief. It was easier not to dwell on all the bad scenarios playing in her mind when she was with him. She crossed the room and opened the door.

  Her breath caught in her throat. He was good looking as it was, but when he dressed in his best clothes, he was magnificent.

  “I heard ladies take longer than gentlemen to get ready to go somewhere, but it looks like I made you wait,” Derek said.

  “Oh, I don’t mind waiting,” she replied, stepping aside so he could enter.

  “Well, my father used to say the reason ladies take so long is because they need to make themselves beautiful. In your case, you’re already beautiful. It’s no wonder why you had to wait for me.”

  Pleased by the compliment, she got ready to thank him, but he brought her into his arms and kissed her. Without any prompting, she relaxed in his embrace and kissed him in return. It was easy to forget all about scandals and trying to please a friend’s husband when it was just the two of them.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t freeze time. All too soon, the kiss was over, and he was leading her to the door. She tried to keep up with his pace, but on their own accord, her steps slowed.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked, turning to her.

  She hesitated to tell him, but something in his tender gaze prompted her to answer. “You’ll think it’s silly.” Taking her eyes off of his, she pretended to be distracted by some imaginary lint on her gown. “I’m worried this evening won’t go well.”

  He put his hand over hers and clasped it, his touch gentle and reassuring. “I know what the Ton expects. I can play the part of the perfect gentleman. You have no need to worry about this evening.”

  She turned her gaze back to his and realized he was going to do it for her. She should have felt relief, but instead, she experienced a twinge of guilt. Was it really fair to ask him to be someone he wasn’t for the sake of appeasing other people?

  “Come,” he softly encouraged. “We don’t want to be late. I’d like to get better acquainted with your friend and her husband.” When she didn’t make a move toward the hallway, he smiled. “You have nothing to worry about. This evening will go well. I promise.”

  ***

  “This evening won’t go well at all,” Malcolm told Regan as he tapped the edge of his chair in the drawing room fifteen minutes later. “I just know it.”

  Regan glanced up from the tea she was pouring. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because Warren’s been in a bad mood ever since Danette’s husband got voted in White’s. He worries Lord Dodsworth will influence the gentlemen into moral depravity.”

  At her husband’s mournful sigh, Regan laughed. “Oh, that’s absurd. One gentleman can’t have such an impact on an entire group. Besides, who cares what Warren thinks?” Recalling how much her husband idolized the gentleman, she offered an apologetic smile. “I know you respect Warren, but his opinion is only his opinion.”

  “You think I put too much emphasis on it?”

  “Would you like me to tell you the truth?”

  He frowned, seeming to weigh the pros and cons of hearing it. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Tell me the truth.”

  “Warren thinks much too highly of himself. The world doesn’t exist to cater to his every whim. If he keeps it up, he’ll push everyone away from him. I’m surprised you manage to bear with him as often as you do.”

  He stopped tapping the edge of the chair’s arm and leaned toward her as she added lumps of sugar to her and Danette’s cups. “Did you really tell Lady Iris she’d be better off if she didn’t continue to let him call on her?”

  “I did, and,” she added before he could argue with her, “I won’t apologize for it. Marriage is a lifetime commitment, and a lifetime is much too long to spend with a gentleman who holds you in contempt.”

  “He didn’t hold her in contempt.”

  She sat back in the chair and gave him a pointed look. “Yes, he did. She knows just as much about money as he does, and yet when she tried to engage in the conversation you, he, and Robert were having at the dinner party, he ignored her. If you ask me, the only reason he invited her was to get in the good graces of her father.”

  Malcolm stared at her for a long moment then asked, “You really think he ignored her?”

  Only a gentleman too engaged in the conversation would have missed the obvious, a
nd as much as she loved Malcolm, she wasn’t so stupid she couldn’t see his faults. “Yes, he did. I felt sorry for the poor lady. She’s very intelligent. If you and Warren had paid more attention to her that evening, you two might have learned something new about money. Her father is a shrewd businessman. Evidently, he taught her what he knows.”

  “I don’t understand it. If my behavior was so deplorable, why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because my concern was with Warren. I wanted to protect her from a lifetime of misery.”

  “Warren’s not all bad. He does have some good qualities to offer a wife.”

  “Sure, as long as the wife prefers a gentleman who only sees her as a brood mare.”

  She could tell by the way his eyes widened that she’d caught him off guard, but if she didn’t tell him how Warren was acting, then who else would? She’d been willing to put the matter aside about that evening. In fact, she hadn’t said a word about it to Malcolm out of respect to him. Warren was his friend, after all. However, if he was going to ask for her opinion, then she saw no reason to hold back.

  “I make no apologies for telling Lady Iris to run as fast as she could from Warren,” she added. “If I had to do it again, I would. Maybe this way she’ll meet a kind and sensitive gentleman who will appreciate her.”

  The butler came into the drawing room and announced Danette and Derek had arrived. Glad for the reprieve from the awkward conversation, Regan hurried to greet their guests.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Derek thought the dinner went well. Regan did most of the talking, and he couldn’t help but note she made it a point to include everyone in the conversation. Between her and Malcolm, this proved she was the more social of the two. And it was easy to like her. She had an easygoing nature mixed with fun and compassion. It was no wonder Danette considered her a good friend. The two seemed to balance each other very well, and he suspected Regan benefited just as much from their friendship as Danette did.