Page 38 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

She dipped her head. “Thank you. And do not forget you owe me a visit.”

“I will most likely see Devon at the club later this evening. Select a date and I will even grace your dinner table with my presence. How does that suit?”

“Very well, my lord. I promised a dinner party to Mother, so we can do a lovely dinner with both of you and a few friends.” She stopped and eyed him carefully. “Shall I extend an invitation to Lady Spencer and Lady Grace, as well?”

“I would be most pleased if you did.”

Well, Nash had certainly answered that question. So Lady Grace would be her sister-in-law.

The ride home passed quickly as Eugenia thought on the evening ahead. Once she and Devon had their ride in the park, she would dress for dinner before they were to attend a rout at Lord and Lady Bennington’s townhouse in Mayfair. Her heart sped up when she thought about what might happen when they returned from the evening’s entertainment.

Disappointment replaced excitement when Bellows passed her a note from Devon, begging off their ride in the park. Last minute Parliament business had come up, he’d written. She trudged up the stairs to her room and rang for Sally to help her out of her clothes so she could rest before preparing for dinner and their evening out.

Hard as she tried, her attempted nap eluded her as she continued to stare at the canopy over her bed, wondering if she had been the only one affected by their lovemaking the prior evening. Not that she’d expected Devon to attach himself to her hip, but it almost seemed to her as if he were avoiding her.

Then she chastised herself. She’d never concerned herself with his whereabouts during the day before. Perhaps she was making too much of his continued absence. She rose and picked up the book she’d been reading and sat by the window seat, attempting to resume where she’d left off.

Was he avoiding her?

She shrugged off the thought. She was making much out of nothing. What was it her mother was wont to say in such circumstances?

A wise man does not make a mountain out of a molehill.

Her ears perked up at the sound of Devon speaking with Jake in the room next door. He was home! She had to quell the desire to knock on the door adjoining their chambers to speak with him. She had nothing to say that could not wait until dinner.

Bored with her book and too restless to sit still any longer, she left the room, intending to take a walk in the garden. After she enjoyed the outdoors and strolled among the lovely flowers, her mind would ease and then she could have her bath and dress for dinner.

Several gowns went through her mind. She cast one aside as unsuitable, another one as not eye-catching enough. The Bennington event, like all routs, would be crowded and noisy. She didn’t particularly care to attend routs, but Devon deemed this an important one because a number of Parliamentary members would be present, and he was still trying to garner support for his bill.

A bill that he’d admitted was giving him second thoughts.

About a half hour later, somewhat restored from the walk amid the loveliness that was their garden, she returned to the house and rang once again for Sally.

She’d decided on one of her new-style gowns, blue satin with a reasonably low neckline, but nothing scandalous. Her matching gloves and slippers would look wonderful with it. Perhaps she would have Sally do her hair differently again, more curls, less severe.

…

Devon was torn. When he laid eyes on Eugenia as she floated down the stairs dressed in a stunning gown, with her hair soft and touchable once again, he wanted nothing more than to hustle her back upstairs and have his way with her. Then the cold realization that she was sharing all that warmth and softness with another man gutted him. Didn’t she know she was breaking the rules?

Women didn’t take lovers until they’d presented an heir and a spare to their husbands. Even then, he had never imagined his Eugenia would fall into that category. Truth be known, he would be just as uncomfortable even if they’d already filled their nursery. Hadn’t he given up his mistress when they’d married?

Except she doesn’t know that.

“You look lovely, my dear.”

Ah, if only he alone were the person to admire her beauty. Then the thought hit him like a bolt of lightning. Will her lover be there tonight? He narrowed his eyes, taking in all the loveliness that apparently wasn’t for him. Well, he would see about that. Tonight he would begin his campaign to learn who this elusive lover was.

And then break him into bits and pieces before feeding him to the dogs.

He needed to get some dogs.

They descended the steps, the scent of her drifting to him as she chatted gaily about the upcoming event. They settled into the carriage, and he slouched in the corner. “I thought you disliked routs,” he grumbled.

She placed her lovely, delicate, gloved hands in her lap. “Generally I do. But I find I am looking forward to this one.” Her smile made him angry, b

ecause he thought he knew why she was looking forward to this one.

After making several attempts to engage him in conversation while he merely offered one-word answers, she grew quiet, and the rest of the ride passed in silence. He was anxious to get to the rout and see who was there that had her eyes glowing with excitement and her cheeks flushing with eagerness.