Read The Marquis At Midnight for Free Online Page B

lord.’ She
returned coolly, retrieving her hand and fighting the urge to wipe
it on her skirts. ‘She has told me all about you.’
    Something flickered in his eyes. Grace had
just told him that she knew about Hester’s situation. He was far
too skilled a conversationalist to be thrown off by the unexpected,
however, and his smile remained firmly in place.
    ‘I trust you are enjoying your stay in
London?’
    ‘It has been most entertaining.’
    ‘And do you share dear Hester’s love of
piquet? I occasionally hold small, intimate evenings at my place.
It would be a pleasure to have you attend one.’
    Grace blinked, astonished
by the sheer boldness of the invitation, which was no only
inappropriate, but, quite simply, should never have been extended to a new
acquaintance.
    Hester hastily laid a hand on her arm.
‘Grace does not enjoy card games. Do you Grace?’
    ‘Not the ones where I am in danger of losing
money I do not possess, no.’ Grace agreed flatly.
    ‘What a pity,’ Lovington purred. ‘Hester has
always found them vastly entertaining.’
    Beside her, Grace heard Hester’s soft gasp,
but she did not break eye contact with Lovington. ‘Such amusements
can be entertaining for a time, I suppose,’ she said with an airy
shrug, ‘but they soon pall. I do believe Lady Woodward has lost her
taste for games of chance. Hester? I particularly wish for you to
meet Mrs. Baverstock, who lives just a few miles from me at
Scotton. I’m sure Lord Lovington will excuse us.’ She shot the man
an icy smile.
    Lord Lovington hesitated for a moment, then
bowed. ‘But of course. I’m sure Hester and I can have a little chat
later.’
    As they walked away, Hester
cast her friend a look of mingled admiration and astonishment.
‘Good heaven’s Grace! I’ve never heard you be so… so haughty before.’
    ‘That is a very unpleasant man.’ Grace was
still quivering with a variety of emotions, most of them
unfamiliar.
    ‘Yes,’ Hester hesitated, ‘I do not think he
is the kind of man of whom it is wise to make an enemy.’
    ‘He has no intention of exposing you just
because I did not humor him,’ Grace said, a little more sharply
than she intended. Beside her Hester fell silent. Grace sighed and
slipped her hand through her friend’s arm. ‘He is a really hateful
creature Hester. I’m so sorry.’
    ‘For what?’
    ‘You’ve had to deal with him by yourself for
weeks. It must have been very difficult.’
    For a moment it appeared Hester might cry,
but then she rallied and gave Grace a smile. ‘I am so glad you are
here.’
    ‘Of course I am.’
    ‘So where is this Mrs. Baverstock?’
    ‘I daresay she’s in Yorkshire. She is not
fond of travel.’
    Hester gave a small gurgle of laughter, her
spirits partially restored. ‘Well, where are we going then and in
such a hurry?’
    ‘I’m sure I spotted your ridiculous cousin
earlier,’ Grace said quietly. ‘I think we need to talk to
Bertie.’
     
    Morvyn came to the ball late and, almost
immediately, wished he had not come at all. It had all the elements
he most disliked in a social function: a great many people, a large
amount of noise, and the unwelcome interest of his peers who
appeared to be intrigued to find him there. He could only imagine
the gossip tomorrow.
    The Marquis of Morvyn was at the Hartwell
ball. He must have decided to finally find himself a wife.
    It was exactly the same each and every time
he turned up at anything, unless he had his mother or Judith on his
arm. Everybody knew that, upon occasion, he was bullied into
accompanying them and did not speculate, but despite the fact that
his parent and his sister were present, he had not accompanied
them. Actually, he had told them that he’d changed his mind and
wasn’t going after all.
    Which he had.
    Then he changed it back again.
    Morvyn was growing increasingly frustrated
with his sudden inability to concentrate on the day-to-day business
at hand. And why was he having difficulty in