Page 23 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

“W hat were you doing in the gardens with Latham?” Nick demanded between clenched teeth as he curled his hand around her wrist.

She pulled out of his grasp. “Are you trying to attract unwanted attention?” What had gotten into him? He looked ready to come to fisticuffs with someone. “You need to calm yourself.”

“Forgive me.” He scrubbed his hands down his face. “I don’t trust him.”

“That is your prerogative. But I can think and make decisions for myself,” she said while her heart still pounded.

It hadn’t stopped since David had taken her into his arms. She refused to be swayed by Nick’s dislike of the man, but in truth she had witnessed something in David’s eyes tonight that contradicted his words of caring for her.

He’d looked bored when he declared them, which concerned her.

But Priscilla wanted to believe what he said and give him a chance.

.. a real chance to court her properly.

So, she had decided she would allow the courtship with him to continue.

However, she would pay close attention for any tells or signs of dishonesty from here on out.

She refused to let another gentleman make a fool out of her.

“I’m going to find Mother.” She curtsied. “Goodnight, Hollingsworth.” As she walked away, it felt like a tether was pulling her back to him. Could he feel it, too ?

Mother sat at a table with Lady Hollingsworth and several other ladies. She greeted everyone, then said, “Mother, may I speak with you?”

Duchess Avery rose. “If you will excuse me, ladies.”

When they were standing off to the side, Priscilla said, “I would like to go.”

Her mother gripped her hand. “Is all well?”

“Yes. I have a slight headache and don’t wish it to turn into a migraine. If you prefer to stay, I will send the carriage back.”

“I will stay, but there’s no need to return the carriage. Lady Hollingsworth will bring me home.”

Once Priscilla found privacy inside her family’s coach, she leaned against the soft squabs and closed her eyes.

She concentrated on her breathing. In and out.

In and out. She ignored her chest rattling with unshed tears.

When the conveyance stopped, she heaved a big sigh of relief.

She’d never been so thankful for a night to end.

When Berkley opened the front door she asked him to send Eugenia up.

Before Eugenia arrived, Priscilla removed the pins from her hair and the blue sapphire jewelry that matched her gown and placed them on the dressing table.

She then plopped down on her bed, pulling Snowball close and snuggling him. He responded with loud purrs.

“My lady, you are earlier than I thought,” Eugenia said when she came into the room. “Do you mind standing so I can remove your gown?” While Eugenia undid the buttons, she asked. “Are you unwell?”

“Just a little headache. When we are done here, could you bring a tray of tea, fruit, and biscuits? I find I’m famished. I left before supper was served.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Priscilla was very thankful when her corset was removed and she could actually breathe freely. Next went her chemise and pantaloons and on went her night rail and robe .

Eugenia left to get her a tray, and Priscilla sat on the chaise longue facing the cold fireplace and shivered.

It was full of kindling and logs, all set up to be lit.

So she rose and did just that. As a child, she learned how to build and light a fire in the hearth.

Her mother was aghast when she found out, and Priscilla had stated, “What if I’m lost in the woods someday and need to build a fire to stay alive?

” She would admit it wasn’t the same as lighting the fireplace, but it was close.

She refused to always rely on servants when she could do things herself.

The tea tray came not fifteen minutes later. Cook always had hot water simmering.

“Thank you, Eugenia, that will be all for tonight. You may collect the tray in the morning.”

“Goodnight, my lady.”

She hadn’t lied when she told her mother that she had a headache.

Or at least, if she didn’t have one then, she did now.

She relaxed on the chaise longue, sipped her tea, and nibbled on raspberries and a delicious butter biscuit.

Just as she placed her teacup and saucer on the table beside her, she heard her door creak.

Before looking, she said, “Eugenia, please go to bed. I promise I don’t need you anymore tonight. ”

A chuckle she recognized had her sitting up and her heart thumping wildly. “Nick, what are you doing here?”

“I hate the way we left things tonight. I couldn’t go home without fixing it.”

“Are you foxed?” It was most certainly not a question.

“I may have drunk a little too much.” He hiccupped loudly.

“Come sit down before you fall.”

“Your bed looks comfortable. I’ll just lay down for five minutes, then I’ll leave,” he said in garbled words. She was surprised she understood them.

Before she could protest him lying in her bed, he fell back, his booted feet dangling off the side.

Strangely, he had worn shoes at the ball.

He must keep a pair of boots in his carriage.

His loud snores reverberated throughout the room.

And her traitorous cat curled up against his side.

Oh dear, what if her mother checked on her?

How would she explain Nick’s unconscious body draped across her bed?

Not that her mother would mind. Priscilla was surprised that, since she was a widow, her mother hadn’t pressured her to seduce Nick and force his hand into marriage.

Laughter bubbled up at remembering Emmeline telling her that her mother kept pushing her to seduce Blackstone.

What a conversation for mothers and daughters to have.

Emmeline’s mother, Viscountess Connolly, was a forward-thinking woman.

She smiled down at Nick’s relaxed and sleeping face.

She could undress him and tell him they’d made love.

She didn’t believe he would remember it at this point, even if they did.

However, she couldn’t deceive him. If they ever made love, she would want him sober and present in the moment.

She would like him to remember that when they were joined, they fit perfectly, and they belonged together for all eternity.

But that was a big if . As it stood after that evening, he was done with her.

At least, she believed so until he showed up in her chambers inebriated.

She entered her dressing room, found an extra blanket, and made herself comfortable on the chaise longue, which was toasty warm from the blazing hearth.

Snuggling beneath the soft blanket, she closed her eyes and pretended Nick’s snoring was thunder and Snowball’s purring the rain.

She always loved a good nighttime thunderstorm and fell asleep to the rhythmic sounds coming from her bed.

Coughing noises in the middle of the night startled her awake, and when she realized the sound had come from Nick, she jumped up and ran into the dressing room, came out with a chamber pot, and shoved it at him.

Snowball jumped off the bed, frightened.

“Don’t you dare cast up your accounts on my bed!

If you do, I’ll never speak to you again.

” She hurried around the room, lighting candles .

Nick rolled onto his side and sat up, his hands gripping his head. “Where the hell am I?”

“Really, Nick. What a terrible thing to say. You visit a lady in her chambers in the middle of the night, and you don’t remember?”

“Priscilla? What am I doing here?”

“That is a fine question. And I’ll tell you. You showed up around midnight quite drunk and immediately proceeded to fall asleep on my bed, forcing me to sleep on my chaise longue.” She paused. “You, sir, are no gallant knight in shining armor.”

“Please, Priscilla, stop badgering me. My head hurts something fierce. And what is the reference to knights? I’m in too much pain to make sense of your words.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but you were coughing, and I thought you meant to be sick. I did you a favor by bringing you a clean chamber pot. And if this is the thanks I get, I’m returning to my chaise longue and going back to sleep. Please refrain from disturbing me. Goodnight.”

She never realized how much fun it was to tease Nick. She thoroughly enjoyed herself, even if she was exhausted and it was the middle of the night.

“I can’t stay.” He moved to stand, swayed on his feet, and collapsed back down on the bed with a groan. One hand went to his stomach and one to his forehead. “I’ll just rest a little longer if you don’t mind.”

Before she could even reply or give a snide remark, he began snoring.

She placed the chamber pot next to him on the bed.

Her eyes fell on his boots, and feeling guilty, she tugged them off, brought out another spare blanket from her dressing room, and covered him.

It was the best she could do. He would have a dreadful headache in the morning.

She would ask Mrs. Cummings to make him the miracle drink she gave Father when he overindulged.

If she did that, though, how would she explain his presence?

Which made her wonder how Nick got into the house in the first place.

Had Berkley let him in? Did the whole household already know Nick was with her?

She would worry about it in the morning.

She returned to the chaise longue, slipped beneath her blanket, closed her eyes, and hoped to sleep.

If she didn’t, she would be exhausted tomorrow.

Not that she had plans, except for the ride in the park with David.

After several moments of staring at the ceiling, Snowball climbed onto her stomach, kneaded the blanket with his front claws, and rudely fell asleep.