Page 14 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

“I’m forever grateful you never met me then. Out of many of the people I know and knew then, only a few have good things to say about me. I will take my embarrassment and regret to my grave.”

As they talked, his steps became less forceful and his body less stiff. She believed he only needed to practice dancing to become comfortable at it. He had the steps and the rhythm she noticed. Not that she was an expert. Quite the contrary.

“Do you still want to ride in the park tomorrow if it’s not raining?”

“Yes. Did I not make that clear this afternoon?”

He snorted. “Yes. But I didn’t know if you said it to annoy Hollingsworth or if you meant it.”

She smiled. “Of course I meant it. I rarely say things I don’t mean. I have been accused many times of being outspoken and blunt.” Again, she was tempted to look at Nick as they came close on the dance floor again. Her eyes stayed on David.

He looked taken aback. “Who would say such a thing?”

She giggled. “My parents, my husband, Jasper, God rest his soul, and who else but Hollingsworth.” She paused. “Oh, and perhaps Lady Langford and the Duchess of Blackstone. That may be it.”

“At least they are people you know and care about. It is different when it comes from a stranger or someone who is barely an acquaintance. They only say those things to be mean and hurtful.”

“Indeed.”

The music ended, and David escorted her to an adjacent room where refreshments were being served. Supper wouldn’t take place until midnight, and she suddenly felt parched.

“Which would you prefer, wine or punch?” he said inquisitively as he stared at the choices.

“I think punch would quench my thirst better than wine,” she replied.

He picked up two glasses of punch and led her outside onto the veranda.

The torrential rains of earlier had dissipated, along with the clouds, leaving a bright sky full of stars and a tiny piece of the moon.

He handed her the glass of punch as she stood at the railing looking out into the pretty gardens beyond. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said, downing half his glass in one sip. “Finally, someone who knows how to make punch. It has a nice fruity flavor.”

“I suspect the duchess would serve nothing less than a flavorful punch,” she said as she sipped. “Hmmm. It is good.”

He finished his glass and gave it to a servant circling with a tray on the terrace.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said as he stared into the gardens, his body close to hers. Her eyes fluttered to him, and she admitted to herself how handsome he looked in his evening attire. If nothing else, David had a good eye for fashion. If nothing else. Not very nice, Priscilla.

“There isn’t much to tell. I spent much of my childhood in London.

My mother preferred it to the countryside.

Probably because her closest friend, the Marchioness of Hollingsworth, did as well.

I was introduced to the theater and opera at a young age.

Other than that, I was bored. I had one close friend, Lady Sophia Spencer, to play with, but my mother disapproved of her mother, so we didn’t see each other often until we both came out at the same time.

She is married and living in the country, so I still don’t see her, but we write to each other frequently.

She is the one who instigated my relationship with my husband by suggesting we begin corresponding by letter. ”

“Tell me about your husband. Is it true you eloped to Gretna Green?”

“Yes.” She explained how the marriage came to be.

“It was Jasper’s idea to elope. It sounded exciting and romantic.

I also didn’t want to allow my parents to deny his proposal.

So off to Gretna Green we went. They thought I was spending several days visiting my friend, Lady Sophia, who was in London at the time.

Needless to say, when I returned married, they were unhappy with me.

But they said they would welcome him into the family.

After all, they knew his family. His father is the Earl of Barnstable.

” She paused, ready to steer the conversation into more cheerful waters.

“There is one more thing I should mention. Before I married Jasper, I was quite the spoiled, demanding brat, according to some.”

He chuckled. “I find that hard to believe. You are nothing at all like that now.”

She giggled, and she meant to giggle. It wasn’t false.

“Yes, well. Perhaps I still have a little bit of the spoiled, demanding girl in me. And I left the most shocking detail for last: I insisted Father hire a tutor for me. So I have learned most things young men have. For years, I have begged my father to let me take over his accounts, but he refuses. Not because he doesn’t think I’m incapable, quite the contrary.

He knows I’m better at figures than he is, but he refuses to admit it. ”

“I would turn my books over to you immediately. I don’t have a head for figures, nor am I organized. I will hire a secretary to take care of those duties as soon as I can. Or, if I have a wife who...”

His words had her insides jumbled up with contradictory emotions.

She was flattered and excited at the slip of his words regarding a wife, because she knew he had to mean her.

And at the same time, part of her hungered for Nick.

Caring for two men was very confusing. Could her feelings for David overtake the ones she had for Nick?

That was the biggest obstacle she had to overcome.

“Now it is your turn to tell me about your life growing up with your brother, Caldwell.”

He turned his head and smiled at her with soft blue eyes.

“James and I were inseparable. I’m only fifteen months older than him, so we were each other’s best friends and playmates when we were young.

” He chuckled. “We were holy terrors, according to our mother and our governess—not in a mean way, but in a mischievous way. We liked to put things in our governess’s bed.

Of course, she anticipated it and never climbed into bed until she’d stripped the bedding.

She loved us, and we loved her. She stayed with us until we no longer needed her.

” Sighing, he continued. “I remember the day she left like it was yesterday. It was right before I left for Eton, and I was embarrassed that I hugged her and cried real tears.”

“Real tears. As opposed to fake tears?” Priscilla teased.

“You know what I mean.”

“Do continue.”

“James was unhappy that he had to wait another year before going to Eton. It was the first time we came to blows. He was so hurt and angry it came to fisticuffs, and we both sported black and swollen eyes. Mother and Father weren’t happy sending me off to school looking like I was beaten.”

“My days away at Eton were fine. There’s not much to say about my time there.

When James did join me the following year, he made friends with Blackstone, Langford, and Mr. Aiden Fitzpatrick, the Duchess of Blackstone’s first husband.

I had my friends by then. Sadly, we were no longer as close as we once were. ”

“That is sad,” she said wistfully. “I’m an only child and would’ve given anything to have a sister or brother. ”

“Even though I’m the eldest, James has come to my rescue too many times to count. It is something I am truly ashamed of. I’m also very proud of James for his accomplishments with Blackstone and Langford. He knew what he had to do to secure his future, and he did it.”

“He has accomplished much. He seems happy being married to Lady Beatrice.”

“He does.”

“We should go back inside. I did promise Hollingsworth a dance.”

“Go on in. I’m going to enjoy the peace outside a little longer.”

Entering the ballroom from the veranda, Priscilla looked around the crush of bodies for Nick, and her stomach dropped when she couldn’t find him. Her feet moved forward, having spotted Emmeline and Lilly together.

“Priscilla,” they both said together when she stood beside them.

“Emmeline, Lilly, have your husbands deserted you?”

“Caldwell wanted to speak to them, so they went to my husband’s study. I thought it was business talk, but Hollingsworth accompanied them, so perhaps not,” Emmeline replied.

“Oh.” This time, her heart fell alongside her stomach. Soon, she would be hollow inside. It didn’t appear that she would waltz with Nick tonight.

Before the gentlemen returned to the ballroom, her mother and father approached to inform her that it was time to leave.

While sitting in the carriage, Priscilla realized again how disappointed she was that she didn’t get to dance with Nick, although she did enjoy her time with David.

The more she got to know him, the more she enjoyed his company.

And the more difficult it became to visualize him as the wastrel and debauched gambler he once was.

*

“What is on your mind, Caldwell?” Blackstone asked as he poured and handed out four glasses of brandy once everyone was settled inside his study.

“I’m worried about my brother,” he said as he downed his glass and refused another.

“Is he . . .?”

“No,” Caldwell interjected before Langford could say more. “Not that I believe. I haven’t seen him drunk, nor any proof that he is gambling. However, I believe he’s taken a mistress.”

Every nerve and muscle in Nick’s body tensed up. How dare Latham keep a mistress while courting Priscilla? And how the bloody hell could he afford a mistress? “I’m not sure I want to hear this. Not since he’s courting Priscilla, and she likes him.”

“Perhaps you should leave,” Caldwell said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“Bloody hell if I’ll leave now!” Nick bellowed louder than he intended. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell.”

“It’s all right,” Blackstone said. “I understand. You feel responsible for Lady Priscilla.”

“I’m wondering where his influx of coin is coming from to afford a mistress,” Caldwell asked no one in particular. “I’m paying for his household and Latham House’s expenses until his estates start thriving again. I can’t imagine any profits coming in yet.”

Langford took a sip of his drink. “You know it’s not from gambling since you pay spies at all the gambling hells to report to you if they see him.”

“Right,” Caldwell agreed. “So where is the coin coming from?”

“How convinced are you that he took a mistress?” Nick asked.

“Not completely. It’s just a feeling,” Caldwell began.

“Since Beatrice and I moved into Latham house, I’ve become accustomed to his routine.

There are nights he doesn’t come home. The only reason I can come up with is a mistress.

That and he sometimes reeks strongly of lady’s perfume at breakfast. ”

“He could be visiting a brothel. He used to frequent them often enough,” Blackstone said.

Caldwell frowned and looked thoughtful. “That is true.”

“Well,” Langford began. “How can we help you?”

“You can’t. I just needed to vent my worries.” Caldwell stood. “Sorry to take you away from the soirée.”

“Think nothing of it,” Blackstone said as all four men exited his study.

*

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Please sit,” Viscount Norton said to his late-night guest.

“I understand you require funds and have many connections with...” Norton paused, “...how can I put this delicately—the seedier side of the ton .”

“I do. Or I did until recently. I’m trying to prove to my brother that I’m a worthy gentleman and have left my vices behind.”

“And have you?”

“For the time being, I have. I’m courting the daughter of a duke in the hope of marrying her.”

“Will that give you the funds you desire? Enough to live the life you want?” Norton asked.

“Truthfully, no. But it’s a start.”

“What if I said I’ve run a lucrative business for nearly fifteen years, giving me the life you see before you?”

“I would wonder if this business is legal.”

The old man laughed, then coughed. “Far from legal. Does that bother you?”

David took time to answer. What if Lady Priscilla found out he was doing business illegally? If he joined Norton in business, could he marry Lilly and still keep his mistress? It would be ideal. “Illegal dealings don’t bother me.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Norton asked with beady eyes that saw all.

David didn’t think the man missed anything. “You wouldn’t have invited me here if you didn’t already trust me. Nor would you have sent me money to keep, regardless of whether I took the job or not.”

“Correct. Let us have a whisky, and I’ll tell you a story.”