Page 23 of A Simple Scandal (Millionaires of Mayfair #3)

Twenty-Two

D ane inhaled sharply as he thrummed his fingers on one knee. Waiting for a worm to emerge from the ground was less tedious than waiting for Marbury to attend him. Frankly, with the décor a mud brown and black accents, it looked as if the said worm had decorated the room. Marbury needed a sense of fashion and a dose of good judgment.

He’d been waiting for the pup for over a quarter of an hour. By all rights, he should be offended and give the man the cut direct the next time he saw him, but he’d wanted to ease the worry of his darling Gracie.

The young earl was an honorable man, but Dane could understand the temptation of Athena living under his roof. The man was undoubtedly smitten with her if the way he had stared at Dane during their dance was any indication. Perhaps Marbury would see that he couldn’t let Athena go if Dane shared his regret over losing Grace all those years ago.

A sly smile tugged at his lips. Even he would admit that the matchmaking business had its perks. It was a worthwhile and somewhat entertaining pursuit. He could understand why Grace enjoyed it. It felt like giving fate a boost. Perhaps she would be gracious and thank him by doubling the Jolly Rooster’s profits for the next month.

Dane smirked as images and snips of conversation with Grace rushed through his thoughts. The woman could tie him up in knots, and he’d be willing to stay there as long as he could be in her presence. That’s how deep his affection and commitment were to her. Sometimes, he couldn’t believe he’d been so lucky to find his way back into her life. He would not dwell on how much time they’d wasted sniping at one another. They were hurting in their own individual ways, but the present offered a perfect opportunity to make amends for lost time.

A thud sounded against the wall, accompanied by the shattering of glass. Instantly, Dane stood to investigate the noise, but Marbury entered the room propped up by his butler.

“No real harm, sir. You never cared for that vase even if King William gave it to your family,” the butler tutted as he escorted a wobbly Marbury into the room.

Marbury swayed slightly as he pulled down his waistcoat and regarded Dane.

In return, Dane stared at him. The man reeked of whisky. With a slight sniff, Dane could also detect the odor of brandy. With his scraggly beard, bloodshot eyes, and wrinkled clothes, it didn’t take a genius to deduce that Marbury had been utterly foxed last night and didn’t bother going to bed.

What a waste of good brandy.

“What do you want?” Marbury sneered.

His butler’s eyes grew wide. “Sir,” he muttered softly. “It’s the Duke of Pelham.”

“I don’t care if he’s King William himself.” Marbury stumbled his way to his desk and plopped into the seat.

“It’s not what I want but what you want and how I’m going to help you from throwing your future away like rubbish.” Dane leaned back in his chair and accepted a cup of tea from the attending footman. “Thank you.” Dane waved a hand at Marbury. “He appears to need something a tad stronger.”

“Brandy will do me fine,” Marbury added.

“It’s done you a bit too fine, my friend,” Dane admonished. He turned to the footman. “He needs coffee.”

The footman looked for direction from the butler, who nodded his agreement with Dane’s assessment. Without hesitating, the footman placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of the earl.

“Forgive our lack of expediency in serving you, Your Grace.” The butler bowed. “The household has been in an uproar since Lady Athena departed for Cornwall.”

“No need to apologize. That’s why I’m here.” Dane took a sip of tea.

Marbury instantly grew alert. “You’re here for Athena? After your debacle with Lady Grace at the house party you invited us to?” He huffed his disapproval. “Naturally, you’ve come around to put a claim on Athena after you destroyed Lady Grace’s reputation.”

Dane counted to five, then smiled serenely. It was enough time to get his anger under control before he ripped the man’s head off. “Have a care, Marbury. I’m here to keep you from making the biggest mistake of your life. I suggest that you finish that coffee before you speak again.” Dane adjusted the lace at his wrists. He’d always loved this shirt design. It reminded him of Grace and the first time they’d kissed. She’d said it was soft against her skin when he held her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers. He’d ordered ten more immediately after that and still did every year.

“Before I give you some much-needed advice, you must correct your thinking about Lady Grace. She and I are to be married, and I will not tolerate anything to be said that might hurt her or her reputation.” He didn’t miss the slight grin on the butler’s face at Dane’s admonishment of the young earl. Dane had never really enjoyed giving lectures. But this young pup deserved one. Hopefully, it would clear the cobwebs out of his head so he could see his way clear to Lady Athena. “Lady Grace attended me at Pelham Hall when I was ill. I assume that you didn’t know the particular situation, so I won’t hold it against you.” He wrinkled his nose at the stale smell of alcohol. “Has an animal died in here? Or is that you?”

The butler chortled at the comment, then bit his lip to keep silent.

“Whose side are you on?” Marbury directed at his servant.

“The right and ethical side,” Dane drawled, then turned his attention to the butler. “My good man, would you leave us alone? What I have to say to his lordship is private.”

The butler nodded. He and the footmen attending them closed the door behind them in seconds.

“You asked why I was here.” Dane placed his empty cup on Marbury’s desk and leaned against the back of the chair. “Athena came to see Grace. I happened to be there…”

Marbury rolled his bloodshot eyes.

“Careful,” Dane growled softly, but the warning was clear. “I will not tolerate any slight to Grace.”

Marbury nodded sheepishly. “I apologize.”

“As I was saying, I caught the tail end of the discussion, but I heard enough to understand that the young woman is despondent. You know you’re the reason she’s leaving town for Cornwall?”

Marbury ran both hands through the mess of dark curls on his head. “I was jealous and lost my temper with her.” He shook his head and tilted his head to stare at the ceiling. “She’s beautiful and kind and?—”

“And everything you wanted but didn’t know that you needed. Am I correct?” Dane asked softly.

Marbury exhaled painfully and nodded. He directed his gaze to Dane. “I am the real reason that she left. She was distressed when she came to me. I know she’s in some kind of trouble.” He rested his elbows on the desktop and buried his head in his hands. After a moment of silence, he regarded Dane. His bloodshot eyes had filled with tears. “I didn’t want to hear that she’d fallen in love with another man and had somehow found herself compromised.”

Dane cocked his head. “Had she fallen in love with someone prior?”

He thickly swallowed as he nodded. “Me. When we were younger, I knew that she’d developed feelings for me that I could not return.” He chuckled morosely. “Or, at least, I wouldn’t allow myself to return.” He lifted his sad gaze to Dane. “But all those efforts were in vain. I thought if I introduced her to gentlemen or had Lady Grace introduce her, she would find someone else, and my own feelings for her would lessen.”

“I see.” He felt sorry for the young lord for the first time since he’d entered Marbury House. He’d inherited the title and the responsibility of Lady Athena’s guardianship before he had come to grips with his place in the world. “So, you were close to Athena.”

He nodded. “We practically grew up together. Our parents were close, and so, we became close.”

“You and Athena are somewhat similar to Grace and me. We grew up together, and she was my best friend. I always thought we’d marry. I’d asked her to marry me when I finished my studies and returned home. I was ready to start my life, but I knew the only way to do that was with Grace by my side.”

Marbury leaned forward. “I thought the two of you were at odds.”

Dane laughed. “We were, but we’ve always loved one another. You see, there is a significant difference between you, Athena, Grace, and me. Your parents would have welcomed the match between the two of you. My father and Grace’s father hated one another. They couldn’t agree on anything inside the House of Lords or at White’s when they happened to be together. Nor could they agree on which side of the street to walk on when they saw one another. My father forbade me from marrying Grace.” Dane held the young man’s gaze. “I planned to circumvent my father’s wishes, but I didn’t share them with Grace. I gambled at the Jolly Rooster and made a fortune the night my father refused to allow a match with Grace. I was intent on proving him wrong. This led me to make a bad error of judgment, which hurt Grace.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “I thought she would leave me, so I ran like a coward instead of handling it like a man. She despised me for it.” He swallowed as the familiar shame crawled up his throat. “I deserved her loathing and so much more. I lost years with Grace because of my stupidity. I was too headstrong.” He cleared his throat and smiled. “I don’t want the same thing to happen to you and Athena.”

Marbury’s brow wrinkled as he considered Dane’s words. “I didn’t leave. She did.”

This time, it was Dane who wanted to roll his eyes. Instead, he took a deep breath, gathered every spec of patience he possessed, and then continued, “But you see, Athena left, and you didn’t try to stop her. Why do you think she left London? Why do you think she left this house, the refuge she found after she lost her parents? You were the one common thread that ran through her life. She saw you as her past, present, and future. Do you really think she was about to tell you she’d fallen in love with another man?” He softened his voice. “Especially after what you both shared?”

Marbury slowly lifted his head and held Dane’s gaze. “She told you?”

Dane shook his head. “No. But she told Grace, and I overheard. Athena is in love with you. It was apparent the first time I met her. Just as it was that you were in love with her when you demanded that I tell you what my attentions were toward her when I asked her to dance.”

“Well, I was trying to protect her reputation.” By the slight wobble in his deep voice, his initial reluctance turned into accepting Dane’s wisdom. “I know you’re a duke, but she deserves the very best of men.”

“Of course she does,” Dane encouraged. “I feel the same way about Grace. Don’t keep yourself from her because you’re scared. I was scared too and thought that I’d lost the love of my life.”

“But you didn’t if you’re marrying Lady Grace,” Marbury pointed out.

“That’s true.” Dane grew silent and stared at the design on the carpet but didn’t really see it. All he saw was Grace’s beautiful visage. “But I did lose years with her that I have lost forever.” He raised his gaze to the young lord before him. “But I won’t lose anymore. Don’t make the same mistake that I did. Go find Athena and tell her how you feel. Give her the chance to share everything with you.”

“Even if it hurts?” The vulnerability in Marbury’s voice was unmistakable.

“Even if it hurts,” Dane repeated, tapping his forefinger on the young man’s desk. It wasn’t his place to tell Marbury that Athena was expecting a child. That news belonged to her, and Dane would not take that away from either of them. “If it offers comfort, I believe you’ll be overjoyed.”

Marbury released a breath and smiled. Just as quickly, he frowned. “I don’t know where to find her.”

“She told Grace she wanted to make the Red Swan before nightfall.” He tilted his head and arched one eyebrow. “If you left within the hour, you could meet her at the inn.”

“What if she doesn’t want to see me?” Marbury sighed with apparent pain in his voice. “I acted abysmally toward her.”

“Apologize, take her in your arms, then kiss her. When you do, make certain you pour every feeling you have for her into the kiss. Then tell her in words.” He stood with a smile. “It worked for me.” He couldn’t resist provoking the man. He deserved it for being so aggravating. “Though you only possess half my charm, I’m confident it will also work for you.” He scrunched his nose. “But take a bath first before you find her.”

Marbury stood as well. “I owe you an apology.”

Dane nodded, encouraging the young earl to continue.

“It’s about Lady Grace.”

Dane’s voice dropped as he stared at the earl. “Pray tell, what about her?”

Marbury dipped his head as if struggling to find the words. After a long moment, he lifted his head. “I offered her money to convince you to choose Athena as your duchess.” He sniffed and shook his head. “I thought if you married Athena, then I wouldn’t be tempted anymore.” His soft laugh betrayed his embarrassment. “I’m an absolute idiot for doing it.”

“She did what?” This time, it was Dane’s turn to struggle. He narrowed his eyes as everything came into focus. That was why Grace had been adamant about Athena being his perfect duchess. “I assume Grace accepted?” He tightened his stomach, preparing for whatever answer Marbury would give him.

He nodded. “Before I left Pelham Hall, I told her I would still pay her. Your snubbing of Athena and me shouldn’t reflect poorly on Lady Grace. She tried to bring both of you together. You can lead a horse to water and all that.” Sheepishly, he smiled. “Of course, that was before she spent the night with you. Thank heavens you didn’t get attached to Athena. But Lady Grace returned the money. I heard from my bank this morning.”

It felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. His ears rang as he reflected on Marbury’s words. Grace had been uncertain about marrying him for a long time, but he had dismissed her concerns. Fool that he was, he allowed his love to deepen and wrap its tendrils around his heart, a situation he had been thrilled with. He swallowed, but it did nothing to soothe the ache in his heart. She had broken that feeble organ once, but he never thought she would do it again.

Dane closed his eyes. Perhaps Grace didn’t want him like he wanted her. Perhaps money was her prime motivation instead of love.

He had to leave before he said or did something he would regret. “I appreciate your time today.”

Marbury shook his head. “It’s me, Your Grace, who will forever be in your debt.” He rang the bell, calling for his butler. “I must prepare to travel so I can meet Athena tonight. May I show you out?”

“No, thank you.” Dane took his hat from the chair next to him. “I know my way.”

The next several moments were a blur. Somehow, he made it to his carriage without casting up his accounts. He waved off the footman who was there to open the carriage door. He wanted to do the simple task himself.

“Where to, Your Grace?” his coachman called out.

“Ardeerton House,” he murmured. He needed distance. He breathed in and out as he settled the riot of emotions. It was the only way he knew how to confront the chaos that Marbury’s words had unleashed.

As the coach lurched forward and out of the Earl of Marbury’s drive, Dane rested his elbows on his knees and placed his hands over his face. One thing was certain. Too much was at stake to make a half-cocked decision. He’d done that once before, and he’d suffered for such a rash decision. Like he’d advised Marbury with Athena, Dane had to give Grace the benefit of the doubt. In his heart, he and Grace were committed to one another. He still had to tell her everything he’d learned when he’d called upon the Earl of Webster-Harnly. Then he’d ask her about her agreement with Marbury.

As the carriage and four slipped into the London traffic, deep in his heart, Dane knew that Grace was his, and he was hers, which meant one thing. There was only one reason why Grace would make such an arrangement with Marbury, and that was for the security it would provide for her and Theo’s future.

The woman that he loved more than life itself constantly worried about security, a basic need that she’d lost because she thought her father had gambled hers away. He took it for granted every day. He vowed then and there. He would not lose Grace again. He would prove to her that she was safe with him—always and forever.

He leaned out the carriage window. “I’ve changed my mind about Ardeerton House. I need you to take me somewhere else and wait for me.”