She put her tongue firmly between her teeth and held herself rigid as the marquess stood. He kept his eyes pinned to hers as he deliberately adjusted his clothing, the clothing she had mussed during their kisses. To her dismay, she found it necessary to blink several times in order to contain the sudden emotion that had sprung to her eyes.
“I thank you for your visit today, my lord.” She dipped into a low, graceful curtsy.
He shot her a searching glance. When she failed to respond, Trevor gave a curt nod of his head, turned on his heel and left the room without a backward glance. She listened intently until she heard his footsteps fade from the hallway, strained mightily to hear the front door being opened and then closed behind him.
She wondered if and when she would see him again and realized it might not be for a very long time. And if they did meet by chance, it would certainly be in a room filled with people. In all likelihood, she would never again be alone with the handsome, dashing marquess.
Strange. The reality of that made her feel hollow and empty, almost to the point of desolation.
Hoping to settle her nerves, Meredith took a long, hot soaking bath after dinner. Reclining lazily with her head propped on the edge of the porcelain tub, she let the steaming water seep into her bones in an effort to ease some of the tension. But while the soothing waters had some effect on her body, they could do nothing to ease the torment that clouded her mind.
She sought her bed soon after her bath and drifted through hours of fitful slumber, until a noise outside her bedchamber drew her awake.
It began as a low rumble, then escalated to a persistent drone. Meredith rolled over on her side and tried to ignore the sounds, but they persisted. It was a conversation. Low and hushed and whispered, but echoing through the cavernous hallway and into her room. Puzzled, Meredith looked toward the bedchamber door, and heard it again.
There were at least two, perhaps three different voices. She thought one of them might be her maid, Rose, but could not be certain. Tired and out of sorts from lack of sleep, Meredith pushed back the coverlet, climbed from her bed, and padded barefoot to the door to investigate.
She yanked open her door, fully prepared to chastise whoever stood in the hallway at this unmentionable hour of the early morning, but found it empty. Frowning, she poked her head out and glanced furtively up and down the corridor.
There was no one in sight. Questioning her eyesight, as well as her hearing, Meredith squinted intently into the darkened hallway.
“Who’s there?” she called out suddenly, nearly jumping when she heard the loudness of her own voice breaking through the quiet.
There was no answer. Meredith blinked, then saw a shadow move at the end of the hallway. A cold shiver of apprehension ran up her spine. “Show yourself at once!” she commanded, thrusting her hands deep into the pockets of her nightgown to hide their trembling.
“Beg pardon, my lady,” a quivering female voice replied. “ ’Tis only me, Rose.”
“Who is with you, Rose? Will they not show themselves too?”
Rose turned her head and whispered something to her companion.
“ ’Tis me, Lady Meredith,” a proper male voice announced.
“Perkins?” Meredith stepped back into the shadow of her doorway to avoid being seen by her butler in her nightgown.
“I apologize if we woke you,” Perkins said.
Meredith moistened her dry lips with her tongue. There was something in the butler’s tone and manner that disturbed her. “Is something amiss?”
“Oh, my lady.” Rose rushed forward, her face a mask of fear. “ ’Tis Lord Fairhurst and Mr. Jason.”
Meredith stepped forward. “What has happened?”
“Nothing,” Perkins said, as he too came forth. “A harmless incident below stairs has been given far too much attention and dramatic interpretation.”
Perkins gave Rose a pointed stare, and Meredith saw the glimmer of fear in Rose’s eyes flare.
“Please explain,” Meredith demanded.
Perkins sighed. “Apparently a member of the staff noticed your brothers leaving the house a half hour ago and became concerned. The ensuing commotion woke several other servants, and I was called upon to set things to right. I assure you the matter is under control.”
“Leaving the house? Surely they were mistaken. This is the time of the morning my brothers generally return home.”
The butler gave her a strange half smile and shrugged his shoulders. Meredith quickly glanced over at her maid. Rose’s hands were by her sides, but they were clenching and unclenching fistfuls of her skirt.
“What are you not telling me?”
“There’s going to be a duel!” Rose blurted out in a horrified whisper. “Lord Fairhurst and Mr. Jason are going to avenge the insult to your honor. One of your brothers will fight the Marquess of Dardington and the other will act as his second.”
