Page 45 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

“You must excuse me, my lady, but I find it necessary to visit the ladies’ retiring room.” Eugenia put what she hoped was a believable expression on her face.

“Oh, of course, dear. Do go on.” Lady Dumont waved her hand. “I shall be just fine right here.” She glanced over Eugenia’s shoulder. “I believe my next dance partner is on his way.”

There was only one way to calm herself. She would go into the garden, around the patio, and sneak a look in the card room. Once she saw Devon there, benignly playing cards, she would put all her worries to rest.

It took some time to walk in the direction of the ladies’ retiring room, then circle back and proceed in the opposite direction to the French doors. She was stopped many times, another man requesting a dance, two ladies wanting to talk about the latest on-dit. Comments on her gown, hair style, and other flattering compliments she’d never heard before, kept her insides fluttering, anxious to be on her way to the garden.

Finally, she reached the door. Taking a quick look around, she left the ballroom and smiled as the cool night enveloped her.

The card room was on the other side of the house, so she had to walk the wandering path through the dark garden. The good thing about its location was the lack of lighting on that side of the house, so she could peer into the window, and no one would see her. Slowly she made her way, careful where she stepped, lest she trip and fall.

The fragrant scent from the flowers, practically invisible in the darkness, guided her way. Finally she reached the windows, light shining from within due to the large chandelier in the center of the room, along with candles placed throughout the space. In order to get close enough to see, she would have to practically climb through bushes.

Hoping her gown would not tear, or show signs of her traipse amongst the foliage, she eased her way through the shrubbery and bent her knees to peer into the window.

…

Devon watched Eugenia from his hiding place behind the potted plant in the dim corner of the ballroom. Thank goodness it was dark, or someone might have spotted him, and coming up with an explanation for his odd behavior would be difficult.

Lord knew he had a hard enough time explaining it to himself.

Eugenia had spent the time he’d observed her speaking with Lady Dumont. The woman’s mouth never stopped moving, but he noticed Eugenia’s attention was not engaged. Eventually, she said something to Lady Dumont and moved away from her. He backed up, even though he knew it was impossible for her to see him, and banged into something solid.

“Oh, I say, old man, I didn’t see you back there.” Lord Weatherby, old as the dirt on the ground, lifted his quizzing glass and studied him. “Looks like you’re hiding, eh?”

“No, not at all. Just taking a breather from the crowd.” Weatherby was a nosy old goat. Why did it have to be him he’d run into?

He straightened his jacket and smiled wanly as he looked around the man to see Eugenia walking toward the corridor. Then all of a sudden, she turned and headed back the way she’d come, easing her way through the throng.

What the devil?

Old Weatherby moved right into his view. “Excuse me, Weatherby, I see Lord Falcon, with whom I must speak.” He tried to go around the man, but Weatherby moved to the same side Devon moved. Devon switched, so did Weatherby. They danced back and forth like a couple of boxers until Weatherby said, “Stand still, man. You young people are always in a hurry.”

Frustrated, Devon cut a wide circle around the man, banging his knee on the stone vessel holding the plant. “Ouch.”

“See. Always in a hurry,” Weatherby said as he ambled off, leaning heavily on his cane.

Devon rubbed his knee as he continued to watch Eugenia weave her way back from whence she’d come. It appeared, after being stopped a few times, she was headed to the French doors. After a furtive look around, she opened the door and slipped outside.

Bloody hell! Had she made an assignation? Why else would she be sneaking into the garden by herself?

It took some time, but eventually he made his way through the gathering and out the door. With no moon, it was hard to see, but he fumbled down the steps and listened. Nothing. Where had she gone?

He took the path toward the front of the house where all the carriages sat. Perhaps

she was meeting someone there to be whisked away to a love nest. His stomach muscles tightened.

A thorough search of the carriage area did not turn up anyone other than drivers playing cards, waiting for their masters to send for them. He rested his hands on his hips and looked back toward the patio.

Eugenia might have gone down the path that wandered around the back of the house. With no lighting on that side, it would be difficult to maneuver, but also a perfect spot for a tryst.

Yes. That must be where she’d gone. Perhaps her lover met her right outside the door, and together they took a leisurely walk in the darkness. Why right now, they could be…

Anger coursed through him, setting his heart to thumping. Determined to find them and give the man a good thrashing, he pulled on the cuffs of his jacket and, shoulders back, headed toward the darkness.

The path was not easy to maneuver. Carefully, he walked over the stones, finally able to see a bit more with the lighting from the card room. Ahead, he saw a figure back out from the bushes near the window. He’d found them!

Fisting his hands by his sides, he marched up to his wife, whose back was to him. She seemed to be brushing off her gown, and rearranging her hair. He was a mere three feet from her when she turned and screamed. “My lord!”