Page 9 of A Simple Marriage (Millionaires of Mayfair #2)

“What we’ve done is share an intimate kiss.” Hugh kept his expression even so as not to upset Pippa even more. He could see by her wide-eyed glare that she was panicked. Oddly, he should be as panicked as she was, but for some reason, he felt the exact opposite. Instead of alarmed or terrified, he felt oddly grounded. When had bringing pleasure to a woman ever done that to him before?

Never.

“Well, I’ve never shared a kiss like that before with anyone. I’ve never even shared a kiss with anyone but you. And it was on the lips.” She walked back a step, then buried her forehead in one gloved hand. “I have to think about this.”

He wanted to tell her that thinking about it wouldn’t make things right and might even make things worse. He could tell by how her eyes shifted from right to left that she was becoming more upset. There was only one thing to do. Put her out of her misery.

“This is just an idea,” he said gently. “We could marry,”

“Do. Not. Say. Another. Word.” Her gaze shot to his.

By her narrowed eyes, he knew instantly that he’d said the wrong thing.

“You want to marry somebody. I don’t want you to feel as if you don’t have any options,” he offered. It was a logical thought if he did say so himself.

What balderdash. He had no clue what other options might be considered. Frankly, marriage was such a frightening and foreign concept to him. Hugh was astounded that he sounded so calm and in possession of his wits.

“Options,” she huffed and started pacing in front of the orangery windows.

With the silver and gold train of her dress snapping briskly behind her, Pippa's movements became more and more agitated. She moved with such speed that she might be mistaken for a rare shooting star.

One that repeatedly bounced between two window frames.

As a gentleman, he couldn’t allow her to torture herself. He strolled forward and took both of her hands in his. “Pippa, stop. This is not the end of the world.”

She pulled one hand free and started to shake a finger at him. “Maybe not for you, but it is for me. What if Pelham finds out?” She threw her hands in the air and resumed her frantic pacing again. “Alice believes that he has eyes in the back of his head. I think she’s right. He’s omnipotent.”

He shook his head vehemently. “No, he’s not. Besides, your brother is my worry. I’m not going to let you commandeer my worry for your own.” He arched an eyebrow to mark his point. “You’ll have to find your own obsession.”

“What?” she asked incredulously. “What nonsense is that?”

He sniffed slightly and tilted his nose in the air. “You can’t worry about your brother. He’s mine. Think of something else.”

“He’s my brother.”

“He’s my best friend.”

“Brother trumps best friend.”

“Under what section of Edmond Hoyle’s rules regarding trumps, hmm?” he challenged.

She stopped and put her fisted hands on her delightful hips. “Seriously? What are you talking about?”

“Hoyle codified the rules for various card games. He wroteA Short Treatise on the Game of Whistin 1742 that included trumps. There is no mention of brother trumping best friend. Your brother has a copy. We could ask his opinion.” He sniffed to keep from smiling. “I’m always serious about trumps.”

She stood stock still with her lips parted. Just her pose made him want to grab her and plant another sensual kiss on her swollen lips. They were a deep shade of red and looked as if they’d been stung by a bee.

She looked ravishing, and he’d done that to her. Though his cock still demanded attention, he never wanted either of them to regret what they’d shared this night.

But she was smiling now, and that had been his aim all along.

“Hugh,” she said in exasperation.

“Darling,” he answered in the same tone. “Be logical about this. How could he ever find out?”

Her brow furrowed adorably. “You’re right, I suppose. He would only find out if someone told him.”

“Exactly,” Hugh agreed. He didn’t add that Pelham would find out if someone walked in on them. Which meant he needed to return Pippa downstairs as quickly as possible. He came to her side and ran a critical eye over her dress and hair. Gently, he pushed a renegade blond lock under a hairpin. “But we should return downstairs before anyone notices we’re gone.”

She nodded her agreement. Silently, they exited the orangery, then descended the same staircase they took to reach the second floor.

As the quartet faced the audience taking their bows, the guests stood clapping their enthusiastic appreciation for the performance. Thankfully, a crescendo of “bravos” rose from the crowd, ensuring that he and Pippa were not noticed entering the room.

As they joined in the applause, Great-aunt Edith turned around. Her expression of “Aha, I caught you” nailed him in place.

At that same moment, Pippa leaned close. “That can never happen again.”

“If you think that wise.” Clapping a little louder, he leaned closer to her. “Didn’t you enjoy it?”

“Too much,” she confided.

He grinned like the star pupil who’d received the well-earned praise from his tutor.

He completely agreed with her assessment.

With one caveat.

It could never happen again when they were near this many people.

Pippa wore a benign smile as she faced the quartet, but her heart was beating at such a breakneck speed that the vein in her wrist visibly pulsed under the white satin. Anyone with half a clue would see that she’d been well-pleasured that night. Her gaze skidded down her gown. At least it wasn’t wrinkled.

Heavens, she had to calm herself down. Thankfully, Grace was coming her way with Lord Stanhope in tow. She pasted on a welcoming smile as they grew nearer. Hugh had edged even closer to her as if claiming her. What a fiasco the night had turned into, especially since a potential husband was heading her way.

“There you are, darling,” Grace said happily. “I hope you enjoyed the performance.”

Hugh leaned slightly toward Pippa. “I can guarantee that she enjoyed the performance, my lady,” he said with a wicked but soft laugh in his voice.

She wanted to kick him in the shin right there. Heat marched up her neck and would soon color her cheeks. All because of the arrogant knave beside her.

Grace nodded politely at Hugh, then turned her attention back to Pippa. “You remember Lord Stanhope?”

Lord Stanhope smiled in her direction and bowed. When he straightened, he didn’t glance around the room. He kept his gaze on hers. “What a pleasure to see you again, Lady Pippa.”

With his tall, lithe frame, handsome features, golden blond hair, and sky-blue eyes, he could steal your breath.

But that was only if someone else hadn’t stolen it before. Much like the way Hugh had stolen hers repeatedly when he kissed her. Her lips still tingled, and it took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to press her fingers to her lips. She could still taste herself from Hugh’s kisses.

She could not keep thinking about Hugh. She meant Ravenscroft.

Determined to be her best charming self, Pippa dipped a curtsey. “Good evening, Lord Stanhope. The pleasure is all mine.”

“I beg to differ. Don’t forget, I had pleasure, too,” Ravenscroft whispered in her ear. Thankfully, they stood several feet away from Lord Stanhope. Hugh stood at an angle that kept Stanhope and Grace from seeing what he was doing.

“Is your brother here also?” Stanhope asked.

Pippa did her best to ignore him and continued to smile. “Alas, I’m afraid my brother is in Amesbury because of business. Lady Grace and Lord Ravenscroft’s mother are chaperoning me.”

Stanhope gestured toward the front of the room. “It was an extraordinary performance, wasn’t it? I had a front-row seat. I didn’t want to miss a single note.”

“I’ll do him even better,” Hugh murmured again. “I had a front-row seat to the most beautiful sight in the world. You coming in my arms.” Hugh nodded to someone off in the distance, but his soft voice still reached her.

Every part of her traitorous body was alert to him and his dark voice. It was as if her hearing and, frankly, her entire body were attuned to him.

She turned to him with a false smile, willing him to stop. He exhaled an exaggerated sigh.

Grace narrowed her eyes at Ravenscroft’s expression, but Stanhope was completely oblivious. He was simply happy to be in their company.

“Lady Pippa, what was your favorite piece?” At the word ‘piece,’ his voice cracked.

“What a pup,” Ravenscroft muttered.

Pippa whirled toward him with a stern look. “That’s enough.”

“I do apologize,” Lord Stanhope offered with a sincere smile. “I must be nattering on.”

Oh no. The poor man thought she was talking about him.

“On the contrary, sir.” Pippa slowly turned her gaze to his. “I find our conversation delightful.”

“Delightfully boring,” Hugh whispered. “You would never be bored with me.”

Stanhope’s gaze settled on Hugh, but the young lord didn’t stop smiling. “What was that, Ravenscroft? I didn’t hear you.”

“I was just saying delightful,” he said with a suave ease that was entirely infuriating.

Lord Stanhope’s smile grew a little brighter. He turned to Pippa. “May I call on you tomorrow, Lady Pippa?” He smiled at Grace. “If that’s all right with you, my lady.”

Grace beamed. “We would enjoy your company.”

“Indeed,” Pippa offered. “I look forward to it.”

She turned to Ravenscroft with a lifted brow. Let the exasperating marquess respond to that. It was wicked of her, but he had to know that she wouldn’t become a chess piece in whatever game he was playing. They both had agreed that what had happened to them in the orangery would never be repeated.

Stanhope took his leave. Grace became engrossed in a conversation with Lady Ravenscroft and Hugh’s great-aunt, who had joined their group. Bits and pieces of conversation floated in the air about the outstanding performance.

“Are you happy?” Pippa purposely kept her face pleasant, but the urge to scowl was fierce. “You infuriating man.”

“What did I do?” Hugh raised his hand to his heart with a smirk of a smile. “Are you growling?”

She stopped for a second. For the love of all dogs everywhere, she had been the one making that godawful sound.

“You sound just like your brother.” Hugh laughed and held out his arm. “Come, let’s take a walk around the room.”

She studied his arm and then slowly lifted her gaze to his. “And why would I want to be in your company after your appalling display?”

“Because you enjoy my company. Much more than Stanhope, I’d wager.”

“I’ll take that bet, sirrah,” she seethed. “Really, Ravenscroft, I thought you had agreed to help me.”

He winked, then leaned close. “I have agreed, and I honor all my promises.” He lowered his voice to a whisper, one that a lover would share with another. “I’ll help you find a husband and give you pleasure along the way.”

It sent a cascade of sensation down her back, much like a thousand butterflies landing on her naked skin, slowly stroking her with their wings.

She was in trouble and getting deeper the more time she spent with the man. How could he be so outlandish and then so utterly charming the next minute?

“I look forward to Lord Stanhope calling on me. I’ve met him several times, but it was always in the company of my brother. He always seemed nice and attentive when we were in his company.”

“So is a lap dog.” Hugh threw back his head and laughed. The rich sound echoed around them, drawing his mother’s and aunt’s attention. They smiled affectionately at him.

At the sight, Pippa swallowed the lump in her throat at the sight. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Their deep regard for him was reflected in their smiles and the brightness in their eyes. They loved Hugh. At that moment, she wanted what he had. It was the unconditional love from a mother and a mother figure who didn’t judge you.

She was just overwrought. She had a loving brother and sister, and that was enough.

“Stanhope has always sought Pelham’s approval.” He grew serious.

“You don’t approve of Lord Stanhope?” She forced her attention to the marquess. For some odd reason, she desperately wanted his answer.

“I didn’t say that. I…I want you to be careful.” A tender smile pulled at his lips. “Allow me the chance to redeem myself and win back your good graces.”

Then the reason for his behavior dawned on her.

He was jealous.

Then and there, she decided that perhaps this husband-hunting business wasn’t so tedious after all.