Page 5 of Marquess of Stone (Braving the Elements #2)

CHAPTER 5

“ Y ou seem quieter than usual this morning, Marian,” Lydia said, her tone friendly but curious. “Is something bothering you?”

“Not a thing,” Marian replied quickly, even if the faint color on her cheeks revealed a different story all around. Her fingers lightly tapping against the edge of her teacup, she kept her gaze fixed on the plate before her. Lydia lowered her head to study her sister with a mixture of concern and enjoyment.

“Are you certain? You haven’t even touched the lemon tartlets, yet I remember clearly you saying they were your favorite.”

Marian forced a smile, taking a small bite of her toast to comfort her sister. “I am absolutely fine, Lydia. I am just… preoccupied.”

“Ah,” Lydia responded knowingly. “Could it possibly relate to that wicked book you are treating as if it were made of gold?”

Marian’s hold on her teacup tightened, yet she managed to emit a quiet laugh. “It is a remarkable book, Lydia. You should consider reading it at some point.”

Lydia raised an eyebrow, her lips turning into a playful smile. “Perhaps, I will if you ever allow it to leave your sight. However, do ensure that no one else observes what exactly you are reading.”

Marian shook her head, even though her heart raced at the reference to the book. She had spent most of the night reading it, the words both thrilling and thought-provoking. But now, in the light of day, the memory of how exactly she had acquired it — and the man who had given it to her — made her pulse quicken for entirely different reasons.

Nicholas.

The thought of him sent a flurry of irritation, embarrassment and excitement swirling through her. What had possessed her to visit his room? And why had he been so maddeningly composed, so effortlessly charming, while she had felt like a blabbering fool?

Marian took another sip of her tea, wishing it would soothe her frayed nerves. At least, for the time being, he was nowhere in sight. The breakfast room was quite pleasantly absent of his presence, granting her a few moments of tranquility to gather herself.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Marian’s hand paused in the middle of reaching for the baked treats as Nicholas walked into the room, and her breath seized. He was dressed as usual, and his dark coat and tidy cravat gave him an effortless air of elegance. However, it was the manner in which he carried himself — confident, self-assured, and with a slight twinkle of amusement in his dark blue eyes — that made her stomach twist.

Lydia cast her gaze toward Marian, her brow raising slightly.

“Ah, the Marquess has graced us with his presence,” Lady Prudence Brandon commented, her tone polite but brusque. Marian quickly averted her eyes to her plate, pushing herself not to respond.

“My apologies for being late; I had become absorbed in some light reading and lost track of time.”

Nicholas nodded, his expression as composed as always. The statement appeared harmless enough, but Marian felt his gaze flicker toward her, lingering just long enough to redden her cheeks.

Lydia, bless her, intervened to shift the focus. “We were just going over the plans for the picnic later today. Will you be joining us, Lord Stone?”

“I would never dream of missing it,” Nicholas replied effortlessly, taking a seat near the far end of the table. “It appears to be a most delightful way to pass the afternoon.”

Marian dared a glance in his direction, only to find him watching her intently with that maddening half-smile. “And how is Lady Marian this morning?” Nicholas inquired, his voice perfectly civil but with a trace of mischief that only she seemed to detect.

Marian replied in a courteous but icy tone, “Very fine, thank you, My Lord.”

“That’s nice to hear,” Nicholas said nonchalantly. “I recently read a fascinating book about women’s education and thought it would make a fascinating topic for conversation.”

Lady Prudence, while spreading marmalade on her toast, abruptly halted. Her sharp stare moved from Nicholas to Marian, a trace of disbelief emerging in her expression.

“Education for women,” Lady Prudence repeated, her tone laced with disapproval.

“Yes,” Nicholas responded, entirely unbothered. “It is a subject I think deserves more attention. After all, a well-informed mind is an impressive thing, regardless of gender.”

Marian bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a smile. Nicholas was intentionally provoking her mother though his words carried an undeniable truth.

“What a revolutionary concept,” Lady Prudence remarked firmly.

“Perhaps,” Nicholas replied in a calm manner. “However, don’t you believe that unorthodox ideas often lead to progress?”

Lady Prudence tightened her lips and faced her plate again, evidently not wanting to pursue the discussion with the Marquess on this matter.

Nicholas turned his gaze back to Marian, and Marian briefly met his gaze before averting her eyes once more, her heart pounding beneath the constriction of her corset. She could almost hear his unspoken thoughts: I see you, Marian.

After breakfast, the guests started to scatter to get ready for the day’s events. Marian lingered for only a moment before slipping away, her brain racing. She had taken enough of Nicholas’s sharp remarks for one morning and urgently needed a moment of peace. The library appeared to be the ideal haven. It was quiet, isolated, and filled with the soothing aroma of old paper and polished wood, providing her with an opportunity to immerse herself in Mary Wollstonecraft’s writings and briefly forget about the man who had given her the book.

Marian settled herself comfortably in an armchair at the far window where the pages before her were bathed in a golden glow from the sunlight. She immersed herself in the book, her mind quickly becoming absorbed in its contents. The arguments were audacious, well-reasoned, and remarkably relevant. With every page turn, Marian sensed that the author shared her opinions and that the printed words validated her long-standing complaints. A half hour passed in peaceful silence, the outside world disappearing. Marian turned to a new page and read a particularly poignant passage, her lips quivering into a faint grin.

“I see you have made yourself comfortable.”

Marian almost jumped out of the chair, the familiar voice disrupting her tranquility. She turned quickly to find Nicholas standing in the doorway, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.

“You,” she said, her voice faintly incredulous. “Why are you here?”

Grinning, Nicholas walked into the room carrying that inherent confidence that seemed to accompany him everywhere. “I could ask you the same question.”

“This is a library. People normally come here to read in peace.”

“Precisely,” Nicholas replied, halting a few steps away from her chair. “I came to seek something else to read since it appears someone has taken the book I was reading.”

Marian’s face flushed. “I recall you giving it to me willingly.”

“True,” he concurred, his grin broadening. “But I did not anticipate you to keep it hidden away like a dragon guarding treasure.”

Marian glared at him although the edges of her lips twitched despite herself. “I am not hiding it.”

“Then I trust you are finding enjoyment in it,” Nicholas said, his tone casual but his gaze intense.

Marian paused before nodding. “I am.”

“Good,” he responded, his grin softening somewhat. “That makes two of us.”

Marian looked up at Nicholas, her annoyance simmering just beneath the surface. “If you are indeed here looking for another book, then please choose one and kindly leave me to my reading.”

Nicholas arched an eyebrow, his grin unwavering as he began to examine the shelves. “Such hostility, Marian. One might think you find my company burdensome rather than enjoyable.”

“You are burdensome, Nicholas,” Marian said without hesitation though the blush rising from her cheeks betrayed her words.

Nicholas hummed deliberately, tracing a finger over the book spines. Marian resisted turning away even though her heart quickened under the weight of his glance. The calm between them was disrupted by the faint sound of approaching feet; the noise gently echoed over the passage outside. Marian stiffened, her pulse lurching at her realization they were not as alone as she had thought.

She whispered fast, her voice barely above a whisper, “Someone is coming.”

Nicholas’s smile came back, but this one had a cheeky edge. “What do you think we should do? Should we confront our visitor together?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Marian whispered, standing up from her seat. “Anyone who finds us alone here could assume…” The thought made her face flush as she trailed off.

The sound of Nicholas’s soft laughter was irritatingly comforting. “You’re correct, of course. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize your pristine reputation. Not just yet.”

Marian glared at the mischievous tone in his voice although her unease was evident. “Leave. Right now.”

“As you desire,” Nicholas answered casually, stepping back toward a smaller side door at the opposite end of the room. But as he reached the doorway, he stopped and glanced back over his shoulder, his grin broadening. “Do try not to appear too flustered, Marian. It could give you away.”

Before she could reply, he vanished through the door, leaving her alone to confront whoever was coming. As the footsteps approached, Marian put a hand on her chest and urged her pounding heart to stop. As the library door swung open, she quickly returned to her chair, opened her book, and pretended to read.

“Lady Marian,” said a voice that was familiar.

When Marian glanced up, she noticed the Viscount of Crowton standing in the doorway, the gentle light of the room accentuating his sharp features.

She acknowledged him, “Viscount Crowton,” in a polite yet distant tone.

As he walked in, his scrutinizing gaze swept over her before resting on the open book in her lap. “Ah, the diligent one. While everyone else in the house is relishing the lovely morning weather, I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here, engrossed in a book.”

Marian managed a faint smile, even though her heart raced. “And what brings you to the library, My Lord?”

Crowton moved closer, his pace measured. “Oh,” he replied nonchalantly, “I merely sought a refuge from the disorder of the breakfast room. And to possibly gain some mental stimulation as well.”

Marian fought the impulse to roll her eyes. “My Lord, I’m certain you’ll discover much of that here.” she replied, gesturing to the nearby shelves.

The Viscount’s laughter lacked warmth. “Yes. Speaking, however, is generally lot more interesting to me than reading books, I must say. Don’t you agree?”

Marian tightened her grip on her book, her patience ebbing. “I suppose it depends on the companion.”

“Touché,” Crowton murmured as a not-so-humorous grin spread across his face. “So perhaps you might offer me the enjoyment of your presence?”

Marian’s heart sank, yet her expression stayed neutral. “If that is your wish, I have no objections,” she said, even though the words felt forced.

Crowton took the seat opposite her, his gaze lingering for far too long for her comfort. “Tell me, Lady Marian,” he asked in a lighthearted but inquisitive tone, “what is it about literature that so captivates you? Is it the stories per se or the escape from the real world they offer?”

Marian hesitated, her thoughts still reeling from Nicholas’ sudden departure and the Viscount’s unwanted arrival. “Both,” she finally said, her voice steady despite her discomfort.

Crowton nodded contemplatively although the sparkle in his eyes indicated he wasn’t genuinely curious about her response. “Maybe you could entertain me further. What are you currently reading?”

Marian’s hold on the book became firmer, her mind instantly going back to Nicholas and the side door he had quietly passed through. She could only hope that he had managed to keep his presence unnoticed. She forced her fingers to relax their grip on the book as she tilted her head upwards and met the Viscount’s gaze. “It is a treatise on philosophical ideas,” she said smoothly though her heart raced at the thought of him probing further.

Crowton cocked his head with a combination of suspicion and humor. “Lady Marian, how extraordinarily… ambitious of you. I must admit that you have surpassed me in a way that most people don’t.”

His condescension caused her to regain her composure and raise an eyebrow. “I was unaware that reading demanded ambition, My Lord. Surely, you must have gone through at least one or two books in your time?”

Crowton chuckled in a slight, unimpressed tone. ‘Oh, I allow others who are more suited for them to partake in such scholarly endeavors. I find the pleasures of life far more captivating than the dusty contemplations of philosophers.”

Marian stifled a retort, unwilling to reveal how much his dismissal grated on her. Instead, she turned a page of her book, her eyes moving over the words without genuinely reading them.

As he watched her, the Viscount crossed one leg over the other and sat back in his chair. After a time, he said, “You are quite the enigma, Lady Marian.”

Without raising her eyes, she replied, “You flatter me, My Lord.”

“Not at all,” said Crowton in a light-hearted but questioning tone. “It is true, you are different from the other young ladies of the ton. You carry yourself with such… restraint, as if you are concealing something.”

Marian’s heart raced at the slight threat in his voice, but she maintained a neutral expression. “Perhaps I simply appreciate decorum.”

“Or perhaps,” Crowton retorted, “you are afraid of truly being seen.”

The statement sent a shiver down Marian’s spine, yet she forced herself to stay calm. “What a curious observation, My Lord. I was not aware that you considered yourself a philosopher, after all.”

Crowton’s smile grew tense, and he stood from his chair, moving deliberately. “It has been a pleasure, Lady Marian. I shall leave you to your lofty pursuits — for the time being.”

Marian nodded, her relief carefully masked. “Good day, My Lord.”

As the Viscount left the library, the tension in the room seemed to fade though Marian’s heart continued to race wildly in her chest. She held the book tightly in her lap, her mind swirling with a blend of frustration and anxiety. It was only then that she caught the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the corridor outside. They were quick, light, and unmistakably familiar. Marian’s breath hitched as Nicholas appeared in the doorway once more, his dark blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Has the Viscount departed?”

She shot him a glare, getting to her feet with the book still in hand. “What are you doing back here?”

Nicholas stepped into the room, his smile broadening. “I could not leave you to confront Crowton by yourself. That would not be very gentlemanly of me.”

“You left me alone with him in the first place,” Marian snapped, her cheeks getting warm.

“Only to avoid a particular kind of scandal,” Nicholas replied smoothly, his tone unapologetic. “Though, I must confess, seeing him retreat from your sharp tongue was quite delightful.”

Marian folded her arms and squinted. “You are unbearable.”

“And yet, here I am,” Nicholas replied with a slight bow, his smirk fading into something resembling true amusement.

Marian let out an exasperated breath, turning away from him as she moved toward the shelves. “If you came here to gloat, you can save your breath.”

“I am not here to gloat,” Nicholas argued, following after her with causal ease. “I merely found myself curious.”

“Curious?”

He stopped a few paces behind her, his voice dropping slightly. “I just wanted to know why you chose to stay and confront him rather than accompanying me.”

Marian’s fingers brushed a book’s spine as she froze. She was surprised by the question and hesitated for a bit before answering. “Because running away would have only made things worse.”

Nicholas acknowledged, “Indeed,” but his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced.

Marian’s hazel eyes were angry as she angled her body toward him. “Nicholas, I don’t need your meddling. I can handle men like the Viscount.”

With a fixed look, Nicholas answered, “I never questioned that. However, I must argue that just because you can, it doesn’t mean you must, Marian.”

The genuineness in his tone sent a shiver through her, yet she quickly concealed it with defiance. “I do not require your protection.”

“Understood,” Nicholas remarked, nodding slightly. But if you’ll allow me to make one observation…”

Marian folded her arms and arched an eyebrow. “And what have you noticed, if I may ask?”

“You looked kind of… agitated when I left earlier,” he said, his lips forming a faint grin.

Her cheeks reddened, but she wouldn’t look away. “You’re making things up.”

“Perhaps,” Nicholas said breezily, “but I don’t think so.”

Marian turned back to the shelves and let out a quick exhale. She mumbled again, “You are intolerable.”

Nicholas leaned against the edge of an adjacent table and laughed. “I remember you stating that many times already, Marian. And yet, you seem to put up with my company rather well.”

Marian disregarded him, her fingers gliding over the spine of another book while she tried her utmost to calm her nerves. Her heart leaped at the sound of footsteps approaching once more, but this time they were heavy and deliberate, not as light as Nicholas’ footfall. “Looks like we’ve got company again,” Nicholas said, his tone lighthearted.

Marian’s heart began to race as she suddenly turned around. “You ought to go,” she hissed.

Nicholas smirked more broadly, but he went unopposed to the side door again. Prior to leaving, he said over his shoulder, “Try not to look too pleased to see me go.”

Marian hardly had time to gather herself when Lady Prudence Brandon stepped into the room as the door clicked shut, coinciding with the opening of the main library door. With piercing eyes, her mother said, “Marian,” looking at her daughter, “why have you entered this room?”

Marian held out her book and replied with ease, “Reading, mother.”

Although Lady Prudence’s eyes narrowed a little, she seemed content with the justification. “Come along now. The picnic is about to begin, and I expect you to make an appearance — and put in some effort.”

“Yes, mother,” Marian replied, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. As her mother turned to depart, Marian cast a quick glance toward the side door, half anticipating Nicholas to reappear with a witty comment and that annoying smirk of his, but the door stayed closed, and Marian let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding.