Page 25 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

N ick had woken in Priscilla’s bed with something tickling his face.

He’d swung his arm out, and the thing screeched and landed on the ground with a thud.

He’d rolled onto his back and moaned at the pounding in his skull, the dryness of his mouth, and the knot in his stomach.

Then large white beast had come back and plopped heavily on his chest and proceeded to knead its claws into his chest and purr.

Nick winced at the sharp pain the claws caused.

He was going to have marks on his chest from the beast. He’d nudged the cat off, rolled over, rose from the bed, and caught himself before he tripped over his own boots.

The last thing he wanted to do was wake up Priscilla and have to explain why he’d shown up drunk in her room in the middle of the night.

He’d tugged on his boots and left as quietly as he could. Exiting the house, he could make out orange on the horizon. Dawn was upon them, so he’d hurried home and climbed into bed.

Ignoring the blacksmith pounding inside his head that afternoon, he visited Viscountess Norton.

He hadn’t seen her since her husband’s death, and he felt he owed her his condolences on the loss of her husband.

And a thank you for what she had done for him.

He tried like hell not to remember that she was the cause of his fall from Society in the first place.

He placed his calling card on the silver tray the butler held in his hands and was shown to the drawing room on the second level. Standing with his arms behind his back, he stared out the window which faced St. James Park.

“Lord Hollingsworth,” Viscountess Norton’s voice reached his ears. He turned to find the lady dressed in mourning, her face lit up with a smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Lord Hollingsworth?”

He bowed. “I thought it was time I paid my respects for the loss of your husband.”

“Please have a seat,” she said, indicating a chair facing the settee.

“Thank you. I will.” He sat down and placed his hat on the empty chair beside him while she sat on the settee.

“I have not had afternoon tea. Will you join me?”

“Yes, thank you,” he replied.

“A tray will be delivered soon. And please do not be so formal on my account. After all, we have seen each other at our worst.”

Her words caused him to frown. “Indeed. Has the new viscount taken over yet?”

“Reaching my husband’s nephew in America will take some time. Once he gets word, no doubt he will board the first available ship.”

“Do you plan to retire to the dower house?”

She burst out laughing. “Goodness no. I’m too young to live in the country.

My husband was most generous with his private funds, and I have purchased a townhouse several doors down from this one.

I should be settled in soon. I should be set for life with the funds he left in trust for me and my allowance from his nephew. ”

“That is good news. I would hate for you to return to your prior employment.” His comment was ignored as a footman arrived with the tray.

“How do you like your tea?”

“Black.”

He picked up the cup and saucer and studied her over its rim.

He’d never really taken a good look at her before and wondered how she had ever gotten into the predicament she had.

He surmised her age to be close to twenty-five.

She was petite with a full figure. While she wasn’t as beautiful as Priscilla, she was pretty and held herself elegantly, making him wonder about her background.

“If I might ask, where did you grow up?”

The whole time he’d studied her, her eyes had been on him.

“I can’t imagine why it would interest you where I grew up.

My upbringing was rather boring.” She held up her hand and twisted her wrist. “But since you asked, I’ll tell you.

I grew up just outside of Kent. My father was a tenant farmer.

Wealthier than most. My mother was a midwife.

I was their only surviving child.” She paused and nibbled on a biscuit.

He leaned forward in his seat. “Go on.”

“Mine is a story you have heard before, I’m sure. I fell in love with a lord’s eldest son. He seduced me, and when I became with child, he tossed me aside.” She frowned. “A story told many times since the dark ages.”

“What did you do?”

“My parents sent me away to a convent. After I delivered a stillborn child, I left and never returned to my parents. Somehow, by the grace and goodness of strangers, I made my way to London. Penniless and with only the clothes on my back, I didn’t know what to do.

I was frightened and didn’t want to become a prostitute on the streets of St. Giles. ”

“That is not a life, but a death sentence.”

“I have nightmares sometimes when I remember what those women and girls live through. One day, I witnessed an older woman being pelted by pebbles by some street urchins, and I came to her aid. She and her husband ran a tavern. She rewarded me with a pallet to sleep on in their storage room and food to eat, and I become a barmaid. ”

“How did you meet the criminals you worked with?”

“They were regular patrons at the tavern. They said I would wear beautiful clothes and attend upper-class balls. I might have to expose myself occasionally, but I would not have to bed anyone, and the money would be good. They convinced me to work with them, and I didn’t look back.”

“How long did this go on?”

“Four long years. Although I can’t complain. Everything they said was true. Except after the night with you, my conscience got the better of me. I met Viscount Norton shortly after; he took pity on me and married me. Unlike you, he preferred men, so the marriage benefited both of us.”

Nick choked on his tea. “I had no idea.”

“He kept his secret safe by having a longtime lover in his employ.”

“What happened to him?”

“He died this past year. Broke Norton’s heart. He never got over it.”

Nick picked up his hat and stood. “I should go. Thank you for seeing me.”

She stood as well and walked with him to the door.

Just as he was about to exit, she touched his forearm and faced him.

“Hollingsworth.” She leaned into him and kissed him.

“You need a wife.” She kissed him deeper.

“I can make you happy.” She trailed her fingers down his chest to his stomach and. ..

He grabbed her hand to stop her from going farther. “Viscountess Norton,” he said with an exhale. “While I appreciate your offer, I must decline.”

“Why?”

He did not want to make an enemy of her, because he remembered what she was capable of. “I’m already considering two ladies for my marchioness. I don’t need a third. I will choose from one of them.” He stepped back and bowed. “Thank you for seeing me. ”

His feet ate up the distance between the upstairs drawing room and the door.

When he was outside, he paused, inhaling and exhaling several times to get himself under control.

Her unwanted kisses and her hands had done nothing but chill his insides.

They would make a terrible couple. Not that he had even considered it when she mentioned it.

It was the farthest thing from his mind.

When Nick entered his house a short time later, the butler, Robbins, said, “Lady Hollingsworth wanted me to remind you about your monthly dinner engagement with the Duke and Duchess of Avery. She will be ready promptly at seven.”

Tension coiled throughout his body. How could he have forgotten?

More importantly, what would he say to Priscilla about last night?

Shaking his head, he ascended the stairs two at a time and requested his valet, Hughes, to ready a bath.

The vileness clinging to his body from Viscountess Norton needed to be washed off before he faced Priscilla.

Nick went to his mother’s chambers at half past seven to collect her. “You are late,” she said with a scolding look. “You know how I hate to be late.”

“Mother,” he said as he wrapped her arm through his and led her out into the hall and down two flights of stairs.

He paused to collect his hat and gloves from Robbins.

Mother already had her hat, gloves, and cloak on.

After assisting her inside their carriage, he took the seat opposite hers. “I’m thinking of proposing.”

Mother gasped, started coughing, and covered her heart with her hand. “Are you trying to put me in my grave?”

“I thought you would be pleased.”

“Pleased? Yes, I am very pleased. Yet, with you, I know there is much more to a proposal than simply asking a question. You do nothing easily.”

“Yes, well, I pride myself in taking my time and mulling over my decisions. ”

“For years. Yes, how well I know,” she said with exasperation.

“I need to be certain I am choosing the lady for all the correct reasons.”

“And who, pray tell, is the lady?”

If only he weren’t stuck inside a carriage.

He wanted to jump up and pace around. Instead, he mumbled to himself like a deranged person.

Lately, that was how he felt when it came to Priscilla.

His emotions were jumbled up inside, making him do and say the wrong thing around her.

He felt too much. She was too much, and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

Sometimes it seemed he had spent his entire life numb inside.

That is why marrying Lady Grace was the perfect solution. He could return to being numb. He liked numb. Didn’t he?

“I’m thinking of Lady Grace.” His mother sat silently, not saying a word, which told him she was stunned. “Say something.”

“I’m thinking,” she said. “While I admit that Lady Grace is a lovely young lady, her mother is another thing entirely. I had hoped...”

“I know what you hoped,” he interjected, “but I don’t know if I can survive being married to Priscilla. Lady Grace is easy and would not demand things of me. Priscilla would force things on me and not take no for an answer. She is a force of nature.”