Page 109 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“No, but is it one in which a woman often falls short.”

“I could spend all his money,” Eve said.

Lady Rushton laughed. “Not unless you have a weakness for gambling. Do you play cards?”

Eve grimaced. “Too tedious.”

“Marvelous. Then you cannot condemn Rush to the poor house.”

“I could harangue him mercilessly.”

“Many a wife has done just that to her husband, but if you succeed you will, indeed, be rid of him.”

“Does the earl share these same philosophies?”

“Certainly not about being nagged into an early grave, and I imagine that if he truly thought you were spending too much money he would leave you here on Mull.”

The idea gave Eve pause. Grace believed it was a woman’s duty to spend her husband’s money. Lord Rushton hadn’t batted an eye over the clothes they purchased in Belfast, but the truth was, they hadn’t spent a great deal of money. Grace had no idea what a budget was. Eve had realized that the earl and Grace were a lot alike, but men didn’t want a woman who was like them. Men might view marriage as a business, but they expected their wives to view them as their masters.

“Many wives take lovers and spend their husband’s money frivolously,” Eve said. “It is the way of Society.”

“Indeed it is,” Lady Rushton replied. “But Rush would not tolerate it.”

The door unexpectedly opened and Eve jumped before realizing the newcomer was a maid and not her father or the marquess. The girl scanned the room and when her eyes lit on the marchioness, she started toward them. Grace rose and she too crossed to their seats.

She arrived as the maid did, and the marchioness said, “What is it, Adrian?”

“The laird says not to wait up for them.”

“Is everything all right?” Grace asked.

“I am sure everything is fine,” her ladyship said. “Thank you, Adrian.”

Grace stared after the girl as she left the room. “I cannot understand what could possibly be taking so long.” Grace’s gaze shifted to the couch where Lord Rushton slept.

“How are you doing at cards?” Lady Rushton said. “Are you winning?”

Grace looked at her and smiled. “I think Lord Somerset is letting me win.”

“Then he is a true gentleman. Are you tired? Do you wish to retire? Or would you prefer to continue playing a little longer?”

She glanced at Lord Somerset, who waited at the card table. “We are in the middle of a game…”

“Then you should finish,” Lady Rushton said. “It would be rude to leave a gentleman in the middle of a game.”

Grace glanced again in Lord Rushton’s direction, then said, “You are right, of course. We shall finish this game, then I will retire—if that is all right with you?”

The marchioness smiled. “Quite all right.” Grace returned to the game and the marchioness said to Eve, “What of you, my dear? Should you retire for the evening?”

“I should like to see my father before I go to bed.”

Lady Rushton’s gaze shifted and Eve followed her line of sight. Lord Rushton approached.

“Erroll.” His mother’s eyes lit with pleasure and she extended her hands. He caught both hands, brought them to his lips at once and kissed her fingers. Eve didn’t miss the squeeze he gave her fingers before he released them or the delight in his eyes.

He pulled one of the chairs from the nearest card table and placed it near Eve’s side of the settee. “Getting nervous, Miss Crenshaw?”

She scowled. “Do not goad me, sir. You will make me look bad in front of your mother, which will only force me to make you pay later.” Eve looked at the marchioness. “Forgive me, ma’am. I have no doubt he is a paragon of a son, but he is a beastly suitor.”