“Please, don’t say anything now. I know it is very sudden and we have not known each other for long, but I do hope that you will consider it. Talk to Lady Osbourne, or the duchess if you prefer. Either can give you a glimpse into my character.” He looked away. “I won’t pretend to still harbor an affection for my late wife these past three years she’s been gone, but I would not be averse to trying to start a family once more.” He smiled slightly as his gaze returned to hers. “If nothing else, a wife would keep me moving about society, rather than wasting away in the countryside with only the birds and wildlife to keep me company.”
Dulcenia thought that the picture he presented sounded rather nice, but since he had given her a lot to contemplate, she said, “I will not keep you wondering for long, my lord. I shall give you my answer by dinner.”
As they parted ways a short time later, with the book of horticulture that Lord Everly had recommended clutched to her chest, Dulcenia headed toward her chaperone’s chamber. While she had truly been interested in reading it when he’d mentioned it in the duke’s collection, now it was merely something to grasp onto as she attempted to gather her jumbled thoughts.
She knocked on Lady Osbourne’s door and waited anxiously. Granted, she had talked to the lady that morning, but things had changed drastically. For one, the man she had intended to persuade to her side was not the one who had just offered for her hand. However, she supposed one husband was just as good as the other, and she should be grateful that a kind man like Lord Everly had looked beyond her spectacles and her awkwardness to find a suitable companion.
When there was no answer at the lady’s door, Dulcenia sighed heavily and headed for her room, intent on talking to her at the earliest opportunity.
However, when she was crossing the landing at the top of the stairs, the sound of combined laughter drifted to her ears. She glanced over the railing and her heart clenched in her chest when she spied Lord Dalhousie coming in with Lady Jane on his arm. She was hanging on to his every word and by the sparkle in her eyes, she was enjoying every moment with him.
Dulcenia stiffened when the marquess leaned down and whispered something in the redhead’s ear that caused her to giggle unabashedly once more. Dulcenia stood frozen in place, keeping to the shadows, unseen, as the couple below continued on their way. She kept the book clutched to her chest as a calm assurance slowly settled over her. She might not have the same flutters in her stomach around Lord Everly as she did with the marquess, but at least she could be assured of his loyalty. For the few moments she’d spied on Lord Dalhousie, it was apparent that he wouldn’t be giving up his rakish ways anytime soon. A few more days at a house party certainly wouldn’t cause that leopard to change his spots, so it was obvious what she had to do.
She had come here with Lady Osbourne to find a husband, and once she gave Lord Everly her answer, she could content herself that the mission had been accomplished. She would no longer be a burden to her father in his old age, nor would she be a spinster left alone after his death.
Instead of returning to her chamber, she laid the book she’d been holding aside on a nearby table and set out to find her future betrothed.
Carew wasn’tsure he could abide any more of Lady Jane’s laughter in his ear, nor the way she was always doing everything she could to keep his attention solely on her. He forgot how exhausting debutantes could be when they were trying to attract a husband. While he didn’t think that Lady Jane was actively seeking a mate, but rather just some additional fun during her time at the house party, he found that although he’d told himself that was exactly all he wanted, the appeal of her charms was sadly lacking. Whenever he looked at her, he kept seeing brown hair and intelligent dark eyes behind a pair of spectacles. His mind wandered off, picturing a future scene where he sat in the parlor smoking a pipe and enjoying a book, while he enjoyed some quiet companionship with Dulcenia by his side.
Lady Jane would do nothing but plague a man’s poor hearing until the end of his days.
His mood had steadily darkened as the day lengthened, until the moment Dulcenia walked into the parlor—with Lord Everly at her side. Carew felt a growl rising up within his chest, until he noted the particularly proud grin on her companion’s face. Then, when the host of the party, the duke himself who had remained contentedly in the background until then, asked for everyone’s attention, Carew had the feeling he knew what was going to be said.
“I have a wonderful announcement to make.” The Duke of Ross’ strong baritone sounded throughout the room as he stood beside his half-brother. “It can be wonderful when affection strikes the heart, but I’m proud to say that I have received the most thrilling and surprising news.” He clapped Lord Everly on the shoulder. “My brother has asked Miss Dulcenia Hargrove to be his bride, and she has accepted!”
A few gasps and light applause went about the room, but Carew didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. His focus was wholly on the lady at Lord Everly’s side. He studied her, hoping to gain her reaction and what he saw made him breathe a bit easier. Granted, she was smiling, yet it wasn’t the appearance of a happy, blushing bride-to-be, but rather a woman who had resigned herself to what she could have. Carew didn’t doubt that Lord Everly would treat her kindly, but there was only one problem with the upcoming union.
Miss Hargrove washis. While he had hoped to get her to see sense before now, it was obvious that he was going to have to take matters into his own hands. The first of which was reminding her that although Lord Everly might be the “safe” choice, Carew would bet everything he owned that passion didn’t play a major role in the bedchamber. He would likely take Miss Hargrove in the dark, still half-clothed and never even know the exact shade of her nipples for the entirety of her days.
No, that just wouldn’t do.
“I’m not sure if either one of us won this bet,” Marcus drawled from beside him. “Quite clever of her to use her wiles to ensnare another unsuspecting gentleman. But this way, at least you’re off the hook, my friend.”
Carew murmured something in return, but his gaze never left the lady. It wasn’t until her intended started to lead her into the dining room that she finally allowed herself to glance at him. He offered her a silent salute, to which she quickly looked away.
Carew’s grin only grew. She might be considered a betrothed woman now, but she wasn’t getting away from him that easily.
Chapter Eight
Dulcenia had trouble eating any of her meal that evening. Even if she might have been famished, her skin prickled because she knew that Lord Dalhousie was staring at her. It was proven at one point, for Lord Everly had bent down to whisper in her ear, “I don’t think the marquess was very pleased by our announcement.”
She had merely stabbed at her chicken with her fork and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if he is or not. His opinion is inconsequential.”
The conversation had been stilted after that and Dulcenia’s anger rose, for she had resigned herself to have a nice evening, and yet, LordDollhousecouldn’t even grant her that small bit of consideration. Instead, he was brooding as if someone had taken away his latest plaything. She quickly reminded herself that Lady Jane had smoothly accepted that role, so there was nothing that she should feel upset about. Besides,hewas the one who had said he didn’t intend to ever marry, so she had merely taken him at his word and accepted another.
Feeling in control, Dulcenia left the table with the rest of the ladies, but rather than going to the parlor, she slipped into the library. The smell of the leatherbound novels were soothing and exactly what she needed to ensure that Lord Dalhousie didn’t have the power to unnerve her further.
The sound of a door shutting firmly behind her, along with the decided click of a lock, had her spinning around. The marquess was leaning against the door, arms crossed, his blue eyes fixated on her. She clenched her fists. “Open that door at once!” she demanded.
His eyes flashed. “No.”
She huffed in aggravation and walked toward him, but when she would have reached for the lock, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against his chest. Reversing their positions, he effectively trapped her against the hard wood. “Release me!” she said hotly, her face heating. She told herself it was only because of her anger. She refused to admit any other reason.
“No.” Again, his refusal was clipped, final.
She released a heavy breath. “Why are you doing this? Do you want to ruin my reputation?”
He frowned. “I want you to see reason. You won’t be happy married to that old codger.”
