Page 42 of The Marquess Match (Love’s a Game #3)
One Year Later, The Duke of Southbury’s Town House
Clare and Ash, Gemma and Lucian, and Meredith and Griffin all sat in the drawing room of Griffin’s town house. Their babies, so near in age, were all settled on their father’s laps.
“Who would have ever thought the three of you would be such devoted fathers?” Meredith said, shaking her head as she looked about the room.
“Are you quite serious?” Griffin replied, looking quite affronted. “I have been waiting to meet our son for far too long.” He bounced the baby on his knee, smiling at him with a ridiculously proud look upon his face.
“I’m telling you, Southbury,” Ash interjected, “you’ll want a daughter as soon as possible. I am in love with mine.” He stared down at the little girl who lay cuddled in his arms, rubbing a fingertip tenderly over her tiny, soft cheek.
“I second that,” Lucian said from his seat across from the settee. “I am thrilled to have a daughter.” He leaned down and kissed his baby’s forehead. “She’s absolutely gorgeous and will be even more so when she comes of age,” he finished with a wink at his wife.
“You’ll have to beat the suitors away with a stick,” Gemma replied to her husband, laughing.
“Speaking of beating someone,” Meredith interjected, clearing her throat and arching a brow. “How’s the Earl of Marsden doing?”
The three gentlemen gave each other knowing glances.
“Ahem, I hear his ribs are nearly healed,” Ash said, the hint of a smile on his lips.
“His broken nose may take a bit longer,” Griffin added, poking out his cheek with his tongue.
“Perhaps even longer than his broken arm?” Lucian speculated.
Clare shook her head and rolled her eyes. Soon after she’d returned to town with Ash, he had challenged Lord Marsden to a boxing match. Only he’d failed to inform the good earl of just how talented a boxer he happened to be.
The entire ton had purchased tickets to the event. For seeing the new husband of the previously scorned Lady Clare in hand-to-hand combat with the man who’d ruined her was far too tempting a spectacle to ignore. Apparently, it was the most well attended match the boxing saloon had ever seen.
And it did not disappoint. By the time the fight was through, Lord Marsden was a bloody heap. A doctor had been called to see to him, and it was reported in the papers later that a spectator had clearly heard Lord Trentham say to his downed opponent in a scathing voice, “ That was for Clare.”
As for the papers, they had done a magnificent job of turning Clare and Ash’s hasty marriage into a Society event instead of a scandal broth. Clare had ensured the correct rumors were whispered into the correct ears and in very little time, she and Ash had gone from the biggest scandal in an age to the most coveted couple on any hostess’s list of invitees.
Funny how a respectable marriage to a marquess could change a lady’s fortunes. These days, both she and Ash continued to do whatever they pleased, and the silly ton couldn’t seem to get enough of it. They were such a fickle lot.
But the ton ’s about-face was not Clare’s favorite thing that had happened after she agreed to marry Ash.
Her very favorite thing was Ash’s discussion with her mother when they made it back to Meredith’s town house. Nearly the moment they’d breezed through the door, he’d pulled Mama aside to speak with her privately in the drawing room.
Of course, Clare and Meredith had pressed their ears to the door to hear every word. And what a discussion it had been. Ash had begun by quickly giving Mama a rundown of what had happened at the Merriweathers’ ball. Then Mama, loud with hysterics, had claimed she needed smelling salts.
“Quick, get the salts,” Meredith had ordered a maid who had just happened by.
At Clare’s questioning look, she’d explained that she wanted to ensure that Clare’s mother remained perfectly awake and alert to hear every single word Ash had to say to her.
Mama had not fainted, of course, but there had been a great deal of dramatics that Ash mostly ignored while he informed her that he had offered for Clare, Clare had accepted, and they were to be married immediately as soon as Ash procured a special license. He further informed her mother that she had best not say so much as one unkind word to Clare for the rest of her days or she would have to answer to her soon-to-be new son-in-law.
Clare’s eyes had filled with tears as she listened to Ash defend her so valiantly. “You didn’t deserve to be Clare’s mother,” Ash had said. “But sometimes life gives us parents who are less than ideal. What’s done is done. But I will be her husband soon, and I intend to take better care of her for the rest of her life than you ever did.”
At that, Meredith had clasped her hands together over her heart and let out a loud, long sigh. “Oh, he’s wonderful, isn’t he?” Meredith said.
“So very wonderful,” Clare agreed, dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief.
By the time Ash and Mama emerged from the drawing room, Mama did little more than nod at Clare as she walked past before issuing a curt, “Congratulations on your impending nuptials.” Then she went directly to her room to pack.
Ash stepped out of the room. “I invited her to the wedding,” he informed the two ladies, who were forced to suddenly act as if they had some sort of business standing in the corridor directly outside the drawing room. “But she’s leaving for the country directly after.”
“Not a moment too soon,” Meredith replied before she and Clare had both burst out laughing. They couldn’t help themselves.
Now, as they all sat in Southbury’s drawing room together, Clare glanced around at her friends. “I truly marvel at what a difference a year has made in her life,” she told them all. “Instead of being alone, I have a marvelous husband and a beautiful daughter, friends, family, and a truly wonderful life full of love and happiness. And I have all of you to thank for it.”
“We’re happy to have you as one of us,” Meredith replied with a bright smile. “And as for the difference a year makes, the ton is so very fickle. You’ve gone from the infamous Scandalton to the beloved Marchioness of Trentham.”
“Oh, they’re not so clever,” Clare replied. “After all, I spent years learning how rumors turn possibilities into reality. I always knew how to turn the tide. I suppose I never really wanted to.”
“Until you fell in love with me?” Ash interjected, giving her a loving smile.
“Until I fell in love with you,” Clare agreed, returning his smile.
“I can vouch for that,” Gemma interjected. “The rumors of our divorce nearly disappeared overnight after Clare got involved.” She exchanged a glance with her husband.
“Yes. You know, that is quite a skill you have with public opinion,” Meredith said to Clare, tapping a finger against her cheek. “You should really use it more often.”
“Actually, I intend to,” Clare replied. “Just last week, I was approached by one of the debutantes.” She gave them all a sly smile. “She’s asked for my assistance.”
“Ooh, assistance with what? Do tell,” Gemma said, waggling her brows.
“It seems the wallflowers are planning a revolt,” Clare announced. “And I am going to help them.”
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed Ash and Clare’s story.