Page 56 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

He would have to make sure to stick close to his wife, which of course would be commented on, since these parties were supposed to be about mingling with other guests. With a final brush on his coat, Devon disentangled himself from Jake and left the room. A slight knock on Eugenia’s door produced a soft “Enter.”

She rose from the bench in front of the dressing table and turned to him. Why would Lady Abernathy think he would find her enticing when he had this woman by his side?

Because, she, like everyone else in the ton, thinks you are looking to replace your mistress.

Eugenia looked stunning. Her gown of peach silk, with a darker ribbon under her delectable breasts, fell in folds along her slender legs, outlining them as she walked toward him. Her hair was arranged in a fashionable style, with an enticing curl resting on her shoulder. Excitement shone in her bright eyes, and a slight flush colored her cheeks. More than anything, he wanted to kiss those plump lips and scoop her into his arms and stride to the bed.

Forget dinner.

She tugged on her elbow-length white satin gloves. “I am ready, my lord.”

He cupped her cheek gently. “Devon. No more ‘my lord,’ remember?”

Her bright smile lit her face further, and she dipped a curtsy elegant enough for the king. “As you say, my…Devon.”

My Devon. Is that how she thought of him? Was she his Eugenia? Or had someone else claimed her bed and her heart?

Pushing aside those dismal thoughts, he extended his arm and they left the room, chatting as they descended the stairs to the drawing room where the guests gathered for the dinner announcement.

A few of the gentlemen held glasses of brandy, and the ladies sipped champagne. He snatched two glasses of champagne from a footman and handed one to her. “Here is to an enjoyable week.”

“Devon!” The screeching voice almost had him spitting out his drink. Lady Abernathy floated up to them in a gown that barely covered her breasts. If the woman bent forward an eighth of an inch her charms would tumble out.

He could not help but compare her to his wife. Eugenia looked every inch the lady. Her necklines continued to be lower than she had previously worn, but still showcased her body without appearing vulgar.

Lady Abernathy’s gown was a bright red, and her cheeks and lips had obviously been enhanced by face paint. She looked tawdry standing next to Eugenia’s freshness.

“Good evening, my lady.”

“Oh, goodness, Devon. You may call me Augusta. After all, we are very old friends, are we not?” She beamed at him, then turned to Eugenia, her smile turning into a smirk. How he wished it would not be ill-mannered for him to put her in her place. He’d never been “old friends” with the woman, and even in his day he would have never dallied with a married woman, which Lady Abernathy had been, up until about four months ago.

He placed his hand on Eugenia’s lower back, wrapping his fingers around her waist, and tugged her closer to him. If Lady Abernathy had noticed, she didn’t react. “May I procure a glass of champagne for you, my lady?”

She tsked, “Oh, you,” and tapped him with her fan. “Of course. I find I am quite parched.”

Within minutes of him handing her the champagne, dinner was announced. Lady Abernathy quickly placed her empty glass on a table and grabbed Devon’s arm. “I shall be pleased to have you escort me into dinner.”

Since married couples generally did not stroll together to dinner, he didn’t refuse, as much as he wished to shake off her arm. In a very formal dinner, they would have proceeded to the dining room in order of rank, with the highest ranking man escorting the highest ranking woman. Given the size of the group, Lady Agnes seemed to prefer a more informal tone.

“It appears I need to rescue you again, Lady Devon.” Lord Appleby stepped up and extended his arm to Eugenia.

Devon was just as irritated with Lord Appleby feeling the need to “rescue” his wife as he was with Lady Abernathy fawning all over him. Perhaps this hunting party had not been such a good idea, after all.

It would be a long week.

Chapter Seventeen

“Brandy will loosen tongues. And other things.”

Secrets of the Bedchamber, p. 28

Eugenia had just about enough of the house party. For the past several days she’d gritted her teeth as Lady Abernathy had taken every opportunity to throw herself at Devon. The woman had no shame. In all fairness to her husband, he did not seem attracted to the woman and had spent much more time at her side than he normally would at a house party.

Despite her efforts, Devon had not visited her bed, and Eugenia was growing frustrated and confused. Confused because it had seemed the more she changed her behavior in an attempt to seduce her husband, the more he resisted. His usual schedule of visiting her bed had ended, and she now had no idea when he would join her next, if ever.

Her jaw clenched at the thought that perhaps he had already replaced his mistress, but then she shook off that crushing notion, for it was while he’d had a mistress that he’d visited Eugenia on a regular basis.

The last night of the gathering, Lady Agnes stood in the middle of the room and clapped her hands. “Ladies and gentlemen. As this is the end of our event, I thought perhaps the gentlemen might be excused from the ladies’ company for the evening, while the ladies and I have a nice cozy chat with our tea.”