“You noticed that?” she asked, shifting slightly, and further threatened his restraint.
“I notice everything about you,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her ear. A satisfied smirk touched his mouth as she shivered. “Including when you’re avoiding my question.”
She sighed, resting her forehead against his. “I see so much of myself in Lady Eliza. She’s angry. Bitter. Over what, I don’t know, but… I feel like she needs someone.”
Evan arched his brow. “You’re angry and bitter?”
She sat back, rolling her eyes at him. “Not anymore. But when you were a dolt… Well, I needn’t remind you of my ire.”
A loose curl had slipped from behind her ear. He tucked it back into place, fingers lingering. “I recall your ire being… intriguing.” His lips brushed her temple. “Remember that when you punish me later.”
Marina shook her head at him, stifling her laughter. “Perhaps someone was just as idiotic as you were, which would explain Lady Eliza’s disposition.”
Realization washed over Evan. He should have known. “So you aim to invite Lady Eliza and a few select suitors hoping to make a match?”
“That’s not the only reason for the party,” she admitted, lips curving into a knowing smile. “But it may have inspired the idea. Besides, I miss the excitement of social events. And if we can help friends and acquaintances find love—true love, the kind we’ve found—shouldn’t we do so?”
Evan traced lazy circles along her spine, his focus wavering between the conversation and the far more immediate pleasure of having her in his lap. He could just haul her upstairs, or better yet, push everything off their desk to the floor.
She must have sensed his distraction because she stared him down.
“Have you forgotten how your last matchmaking scheme turned out?”
“Jude and Juliana are blissfully happy,” Marina protested, a triumphant smile playing at her lips. “And soon to announce a new babe, it would appear.”
“After considerable drama,” Evan reminded her teasingly. “But Lady Eliza is a different matter entirely. If the scandal sheets are to be believed, Lady Eliza has turned down half of London’s bachelors.”
Marina laughed and playfully swatted his shoulder. “You read the scandal sheets?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?”
She rolled her eyes at him again. “Well, I believe I have a good measure of what she might be looking for.”
“Should we bet on that?”
Mischief twinkled in his wife’s eyes. “Help me make the guest list and then I shall see about taking you up on your little bet.”
She rose from his lap with a victorious grin. He might’ve been disappointed at the loss—if he weren’t so damn enchanted by his wife. She had already given him everything he wanted in life. And everything he hadn’t even realized he needed.
If a house party made her happy, then so be it.
Even if he had the nagging suspicion that there was more to it than she was letting on.
Chapter 3
Marina
Marinapracticallyvibratedwithexcitement as she planned the house party. If all went well, it would be talked about for seasons to come. And if she managed to orchestrate a few grand matches along the way, all the better.
She’d requested tea so she and Evan could work at their desk, sorting through potential guests. The missive from Lady Eliza had sparked the idea, but after the tricks her mind played on her earlier in the clearing, she realized just how much she needed a distraction. Nightmares still plagued her occasionally—remnants of her traumatic experience. She refused to put herself or Evan through that again. A house bursting with guests, conversation, and scandal would keep her mind too occupied for fear to take hold.
If she told him her fears, Evan would understand, of course, but he’d also blame himself for ever leaving her side that day. Which she couldn’t bear for him to do. He’d done nothing wrong. Convincing him of that, however, was another matter entirely.
For now, she was simply pleased he had agreed to help. It would be fun to indulge in a bit of matchmaking mischief together. But before planning any elaborate entertainment, they needed a guest list—one filled with the most intriguing, entertaining, and possibly advantageous individuals. Ones who might take advantage of a country house party to pursue a bit of scandal and passion. Nothing facilitated a good betrothal quite like a country house party rife with temptation.
Sitting across from Evan, she took up a fresh sheet of parchment. “Juliana mentioned in her letter that Lord Demming has been rather lonely. I liked him when we met at the wedding. Perhaps we should invite him?” A lonely gentleman surrounded by eligible ladies… a perfect addition.
Evan nodded. “And I’d like to invite Nick, Lord Craven. He’s been brooding over a woman for far too long—not that he’ll talk about it. I think it would do him some good to get back into society. If you’re so determined to play matchmaker, he could use the help.”
