The Mischievous Bride (The Clearbrooks)

by Teresa McCarthy

  “Very well, Your Grace. Let us venture to the breakfast room. You are not in this alone. Your entire family is praying for you and Jane.”

  His dark eyes danced. “Ah, and you were the one they sent to get me to eat?”

  She shrugged, her lips twisting. “I do have that way with men, Your Grace.”

  He glanced back at his wife.

  “Go, Roderick,” Jane said. “I will be fine.”

  Lizzie nodded, smiling as she held Jane’s hand. “I think the doctor is wrong. It will not be a few days until we know. She will be fine now. She just needs her strength. It may take a while, but she will get better.”

  “Lizzie is better than any doctor,” Milli replied to the duke. “I daresay if I had to choose between the two, I would take Lizzie every time.”

  Roderick’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Very well, let us venture to the breakfast room, little lady.”

  His quick smile brought deep contentment to Milli as they walked down the hall. He was quite tall and just as muscular as Marcus. She felt a bit intimidated now that he seemed to gather himself into the duke again.

  “So, you have a way with men, do you, little one?” His voice was low and husky, but still a bit daunting.

  She nodded, smiling.

  He stopped her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  She looked up at him with wide gray eyes. “You are very welcome.”

  One black brow raised in discomfort. “But for my sake, and the grand facade of my dukedom, I beg you not to yell at me again.”

  She giggled. “I will try. That is, unless you need a good shove.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Jupiter and Zeus! You are quite like my sister. Proud, stubborn, and too smart for our own good. I feel sorry for the man who marries you, my girl. You will have him dancing circles around you all your life. Just like Stonebridge does with Emily.”

  She curtsied, her eyes dancing with amusement. “Thank you for the compliment, Your Grace. I shall do my best to keep him dancing to my tune.”

  He burst out laughing, almost forgetting about the lost baby and his wife. He looked at her as if he wanted to say more. Then he shook his head and headed toward the breakfast room.

  Milli couldn’t stop smiling. For once in her life, she felt she had finally done something right.

  Chapter Seven

  Marcus peered over the rim of his coffee cup as Roderick walked into the breakfast room alongside Milli. Clayton and Stephen sat across from him. Emily and her stepdaughter Gabby, who was six, were eating breakfast too. They were a family, and even thought Marcus knew they irritated each other at times, they were all there to support Roderick and Jane during this hard time.

  Roderick nodded to the table of people as he walked toward the sideboard overflowing with food. “Good to see all of you this morning.”

  Gabby looked up from her eggs. “Mama said you were sad, so we should come and make you smile. Is that not so, Uncle Marcus?”

  Marcus pursed his lips while Clayton muffled a laugh into his napkin. Stephen chuckled. But he noticed Milli hadn’t said a word. “That is so, little one.”

  Gabby tilted her head toward the duke. “See?”

  Roderick smirked. “Ah, Gabby, you always make me smile.”

  The little girl giggled and continued eating.

  Marcus watch with interest as Milli moved along the sideboard, filling the duke’s plate. “Eggs are good for the brain,” she announced to Roderick. “But you also need some coffee. Marcus, would you pour your brother a cup?”

  Marcus blinked. “What?” He stared at Clayton and Stephen whose eyes were twinkling with mirth. Milli was doing a grand job of ignoring him, until now.

  Lady Emily smothered a grin. “Yes, Marcus. Pour His Grace some coffee.”

  Marcus felt everyone’s eyes upon him, except the duke’s. “What the devil?” he remarked in a hoarse whisper. The duke seemed in another world.

  His siblings shrugged, seeming just as surprised as he that Milli was giving orders in Roderick’s home. However, not wanting to upset his brother, Marcus did as he was told.

  After pouring the coffee, he set the silver carafe back on the table and frowned. “And where are the servants, pray tell?”

  Milli turned and gave him an imperious glare. “They have been removed, so we may speak freely about the situation.”

  Roderick swiveled his head as he towered over Milli. “Indeed, Milli is correct. I gave them the morning off.”

  Marcus lifted his brows in surprise at Roderick’s attitude.

  But his brother’s glum face said it all. Jane had lost their baby, the possible heir to the dukedom. And the young duchess was at death’s door.

  Silence blanketed the room.

  After a minute of quiet, Gabby finally looked up from her meal. “I would like to go shopping today, Uncle Marcus. But you shouldn’t say bad words. You might have to sit in the corner.”

  Marcus’s silver eyes popped wide in shock. “I did not say bad words.”

  Emily pursed her lips, her violet eyes glittering with amusement. “I think you did, Uncle Marcus.”

  He reddened. “What did I say?”

  Gabby leaned across the table, lowering her voice. “You said . . .” she looked left, then right, “devil.” She gave a curt nod and returned to her eggs.

  Milli snickered. Marcus glared at her.

  “Ah,” Marcus replied, clearly reprimanded by the child, “I won’t say it again in your presence, Gabby. Forgive me.”

  Gabby smiled as she took a sip of her chocolate. “I forgive you. But only if you take me shopping.”

  Emily gasped in outrage. “Gabby.”

  The little girl blinked her innocent blue eyes. “But Mama. He said he would take me last month, but he went to the races instead.”

  Emily shot Marcus a cool glare. “I seem to recall something to that effect. I believe you will be taking Gabby shopping.”

  Marcus choked on his coffee.

  Milli sat down beside Gabby. “You must keep Uncle Marcus on his toes, Gabby. It is your duty.”

  Gabby slurped her hot chocolate and set her cup onto the table. “That’s what Mama said too.”

  Emily reddened. “Eat your breakfast, dear.”

  Gabby shrugged and took another sip, her eyes traveling over the table, watching the adults with a curious eye. Roderick was silent. He had taken his plate and sat at the head of the table, looking quite out of sorts.

  Marcus squirmed in his seat. His little niece was almost as much trouble as Milli. Shopping, indeed. “Gabby. Perhaps your mother can take you. She has a better eye than I do.”

  Gabby tilted her head and stuffed a buttered roll into her mouth. “No, you have good eyes too. Your eyes are silver and just as pretty as Mama’s.” Munch munch. “But I think you should take me. You are the best shopper. Mama told me so.”

  Marcus glared at his sister. “She did, did she?”

  Emily’s violet eyes smiled back. “Yes, indeed, Marcus. Anyway, I will be needed here for a while. And my dear husband and the baby are home with sore throats. He was under the weather last night, but things turned worse. We don’t want Gabby to become ill, so she is staying here as well.”

  Marcus frowned. He didn’t like this turn of events. “My roof is being repaired, so I have been taking my old room this past week.”

  “Oh goody!” Gabby clapped in joy. “Then you can go shopping with me every day. I want a new hat, a purple one. ’Member you promised me a purple hat on my birthday, but they were out of them. Then we can buy some more gloves. And then shoes. And then some writing paper. We will have so much fun!”

  Clayton let out a snicker. “Yes, Uncle Marcus, you are by far the best shopper in this entire room.”

  Stephen couldn’t help but snort. “I hear the ladies adore shopping with Marcus.”

  Marcus slapped his napkin onto the table.

  Roderick looked up. “Is something amiss?”

  Marcus realized th
e duke hadn’t been paying attention to a thing that was said. Even Milli was frowning.

  Marcus blew out a tired breath and turned his attention to the little girl. “Purple?”

  “Yes,” Gabby said, looking at him. “Your lady friend had on a purple hat last month at Hyde Park, and I liked it. She was in the open carriage and you were on your horse. ‘Member? I was with Papa.”

  Marcus cleared his throat. Milli raised her brows, waiting.

  “Lady friend?” Clayton put in. “Tell us about this lady friend, Uncle Marcus.”

  “A purple hat lady friend?” Stephen asked with a smirk.

  Even the duke chuckled. “Purple feather too?”

  Everyone, including Marcus, seemed surprise by the duke’s amused outburst.

  “Probably a purple face too,” Milli muttered to herself, looking at her plate.

  Gabby turned to Milli. “Oh, no, her face wasn’t purple. It was very white with red circles on her cheeks.”

  Emily’s fork clattered against her plate. “Marcus?” she squeaked.

  Marcus laughed. “Devil take it, it was Miss Canton. She had a cold—”

  “Mama! Uncle Marcus said bad words again! Are you going to make him sit in the corner?” Gabby threw two little fists to her hips and shook her head Marcus’s way.

  Milli put a hand across her mouth to hide her smile.

  Marcus looked around the table and groaned. “Jupiter! I did not say a bad word!”

  Clayton snickered. “Must say, same thing happened to me years ago. Haven’t said a bad word in front of you know who for ages. Paid my dues, I can tell you that.”

  Gabby started crying. “Uncle . . . Marcus . . . is yelling at . . . m-me.”

  Emily gave Marcus a scowl that could burn coal.

  Marcus’s lips thinned. He rose from his chair and came around the table, handing Gabby his handkerchief. “Perhaps I did say a bad word or two.”

  The little girl sniffed, peeking up at him. “Y-you d-did.”

  “How about I take you shopping today and we forget all about the bad words?”

  Gabby nodded, blowing her nose. “But no more bad words.” She handed the wet cloth back to Marcus who looked at the thing as if it had worms.

  “Very well, no more bad words.” He pocketed the handkerchief and knelt beside the child, kissing her cheek.

  From across the table, Milli’s heart tumbled. He was not stuffy at all.

  Gabby kissed him back. “If you say bad words,” she whispered loud enough for everyone else to hear, “You can get in big trouble with Mama. I said a bad word once and had to stay in the nursery all day.”

  Marcus kept a straight face. “No?”

  Gabby nodded. “And then, I had to tell Papa I was sorry. And he said I should never say bad words, even though I hear them from other people. Like you.”

  The others tried to contain their laughter with coughs and clearing of throats.

  “Come here, you little poppet.” Marcus swiped her from her seat and threw her up in the air, catching her.

  She giggled, grabbing his neck and wrapping her legs around him. “You won’t say any more bad words, Uncle Marcus, will you?”

  “No, and I think if you are ready in an hour we can go shopping and buy two purple bonnets.”

  “Oooooh, two? But my little brother won’t like purple. I think we should buy him blue! He’s a boy, and he will be the Earl of Stonebridge one day just like my papa.”

  “Blue it is.” Marcus laughed with everyone else but the duke.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Milli could see Roderick’s hand halt as he was about to raise his fork. The duke’s features were etched in stone. Blue was for the boy he might have lost, Milli thought with a frown. And then, there were the two babies before that.

  The duke’s chair scraped against the floor. “If you will excuse us ladies. I need to speak to Clayton, Stephen, and Marcus for a few minutes.”

  The words were more of a command. All the brothers stood, following the duke into his library.

  As the men entered the hall, Milli rose from her seat to follow. She tapped Marcus on the shoulder. He turned, his brows raised in surprise.

  Milli wasn’t going to hold a grudge now. It had been a terrible night, and she had to put things into perspective. Jane came first.

  “Yes?” he said, his face not showing any emotion.

  “Keep the duke busy for a while, would you, please?”

  “What?”

  “Keep him busy. Lizzie doesn’t need him in Jane’s room all day.”

  Marcus glanced at the duke and scowled. “He won’t listen to me. He won’t listen to anyone.”

  Milli’s eyes narrowed. “Well, figure something out. If you have to, take him shopping with you and Gabby.”

  Marcus lifted a shocked brow. “Hell’s teeth. You must be insane. The duke doesn’t shop with children.”

  “Maybe it’s time he did. Gabby can keep the two of you on your toes and that’s just what he needs. And I would watch that language if I were you!”

  Marcus looked down at her with a grimace. “I don’t see how I am going to get that man out of this house. He won’t leave Jane unless he knows she’s better.”

  Milli thought for a second. “Very well. I will have to take matters into my own hands then.”

  Marcus froze. “I would not be in favor of that.” He leaned toward her. “Have you been nipping at the brandy again?”

  She glared back at him. “Perhaps I will at a later time.”

  He frowned.

  And on that note, Milli strode into the duke’s library with Marcus on her heels.

  Roderick looked up from behind his mahogany desk. “Millicent?”

  “I forgot a book last night.”

  Roderick nodded and took a seat in his grand leather chair. Milli grabbed the leather bound Shakespeare book and walked toward the duke.

  He lifted his head to watch her approach. His piercing gaze made her tremble. He was back in duke mode. “Is there something else?” His tone was as frosty as the Thames in winter.

  She swallowed. Should she try two for two? “Yes, there is something else. I need you to go shopping with Gabby and Marcus.”

  A brittle silence settled over the room. She could feel the brothers staring at her as if she had just asked the formidable duke to jump in the lake.

  “No.” His reply was curt and final.

  She leaned against his desk. “It’s for your own good.”

  “No.”

  “Confound it, Your Grace! You cannot smother Jane after she lost that baby. She needs to heal. Lizzie will console her. If you sit by her side all day and night, you will remind Jane of everything she lost. Do you want that?”

  The color drained from the duke’s face. Milli thought that perhaps she had gone to far.

  “Millicent!” Marcus yanked her from his brother’s side. “Have you forgotten yourself?”

  There was a chill in the room that was not from the weather. The duke shuffled some papers, studied one in particular, then set it aside.

  Milli wanted to sink beneath the Aubusson rug and hide. But she had done this for Jane. Yet, what in the world had she been thinking? She rested her book on the duke’s desk and bowed her head, afraid to look at him. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I have a big mouth.”

  Milli knew that shopping was the last thing a Clearbrook man wanted to do.

  A few seconds of pained silence passed before the duke cleared his throat. He stared at the papers on his desk. “Perhaps I do, uh, smother her. If I had not—” He cleared his throat. “Very well.” He looked up at his brother. “I will go with you Marcus. You and Gabby.”

  Marcus’s jaw dropped. He stared at Clayton whose eyes had widened in shock. Stephen could only stare at the duke in utter horror.

  Milli pursed her lips, turned, and eyed Marcus with triumph written on her forehead as she strode from the room. Well, would wonders never cease?

  Marcus sank into the wing chair and blinke
d in awe as Roderick waited for the door to close. What kind of spell did Milli have over his brother?

  The duke glanced up from his desk, fingering the note in his hand. “Gentlemen, we have a problem that has come to my attention. This missive has been delivered from the Home Office.”

  Marcus sat forward. He had never seen his brother so fatigued, so sad, as if something inside him had died. “Perhaps it would be best to have this conversation another time.”

  Clayton agreed. “There is no need to rush matters. Home Office or not. Sometimes we must think of family.”

  Stephen walked toward the desk and put his hand on the duke’s shoulders. “We have been involved in politics so much that I fear we have lost sight of what is important. We share your loss, and if there is anything we could do—”

  Roderick’s face turned to each brother, his eyes blazing. “Are you all quite finished?”

  Marcus smiled. Now, this was the duke speaking. “I believe you have something to say. Spit it out.”

  Roderick’s eyes turned stormy. “This note is in regards to William Shelby. I received it personally, from the general last night. I meant to speak with you after the supper ball.” He tapped the paper against his desk, frowning. “But other things came to my attention.”

  “Something about Shelby’s will?” Marcus asked, thinking about Milli.

  Stephen glanced at Roderick, his expression concerned. “I thought we were done with that. Shelby was my father-in-law. The man died two years ago in his sleep. The will was read. His daughters inherited everything. End of story.”

  Roderick grimaced. Marcus puckered his brow.

  “He’s dead,” Stephen continued. “I don’t want to start anything. My solicitor firmly explored any other matters pertaining to his last will and testament. I believe we covered everything that was needed to secure the inheritance for Lizzie and Milli. Not that I care a bit. Would rather the money wasn’t there. But I won’t have my wife subjected to any more questions.”

  Roderick glared at his youngest brother. “Is that all?”

  Stephen colored. “Well, I can only assume this has to do with the money. And I can only presume someone wants a part of it.”

  Marcus felt an icy chill snake down his spine. “It does have to do with his money though?” he asked, afraid to hear the answer.