Page 44 of Marrying the Wrong Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 2)

Nash shook his head as he watched her skirts flying down the corridor. Right now, he had more important matters on his mind. “Quinn, please have Cook send in coffee and a bite to eat. I’ll be in my library most of the day.”

“You have the Kendall ball this evening, my Lord.” Andrews descended the stairs. “Please allow yourself time to dress.” With those ominous words, Andrews marched past the two men and headed out the front door to continue supervising the unpacking of his lordship’s trunks.

A sinking feeling landed in Nash’s stomach. The Kendall affair would be the first time he and Arabella appeared in public since their hurried-up wedding. There was nothing to be done for it, though. They had to eventually face Society as a married couple. Hopefully, Arabella would present herself in a dignified manner. Aside from her indiscretion in rescuing the kitten at Blossom’s farm, she’d done quite well in the country, but Town could be as dangerous as a battlefield, and just as bloody. Gossip, rumors, and innuendoes had never affected him before now, but he knew women, for all their softness and delicacy, were as vicious as the top commanders in the military. Except their weapons were their tongues, as sharp and dangerous as any saber.

If word of his countess’s continued activities with injured animals reached the ears of some of the ton, it would be a social disaster for them both.

“Send for my solicitor, Mr. Manson.” Nash nodded at Quinn and entered the library. He sat behind his large wooden desk and surveyed the room. Perhaps it was his marriage giving him a sense of settling down, perhaps not, but he found himself wishing to be back at Clarendon Manor.

It had been good seeing his tenants again and catching up on local gossip. Arabella seemed content there, as well. Of course, once they returned there after the Season, she would be sure to keep at him to build a larger kennel for her animals. Pushing all those matters aside, he removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Pulling the large ledger book from the bottom drawer of his desk, he opened it, frowned at the numbers there, and set to work.

Nash impatiently brushed away Andrews’s hands. “Enough. I am ready to go.”

“My lord, this is your first appearance as a married gentleman. You do not want to disgrace Lady Clarendon.”

Nash snorted. He would be lucky if Lady Clarendon didn’t disgrace him by talking about her animals and the surgeries she’d performed. With his help, no less. Or perhaps a mouse would make its way into the ballroom, and she would find it necessary to crawl under furniture to retrieve it, her lovely bottom up in the air for all the men to admire.

He studied himself in the mirror. Black evening coat and breeches, with a silver and white waistcoat covering the stark white of his shirt. His intricately tied cravat made the freshly shaven skin on his face appear darker, swarthier.

He passed through his dressing room and gave a slight knock on Arabella’s door. He stopped just inside the entrance, his eyes flickering from the top of her well-coiffed head to the dainty pink slippers peeking out from under her gown.

Arabella certainly looked the part of her ladyship, the Countess of Clarendon. Head held high, her eyes glimmered with what he could only surmise was determination. Was she ready to face the ton? She appeared to be.

“You look lovely, sweeting.”

He pushed back his hair from his forehead and approached her. “Turn around, I have something for you.”

She did as he bid. “These are the family jewels that rightfully belong to the current countess.” He fastened the latch and kissed the back of her neck, his warm breath causing gooseflesh to rise where his lips touched. “They look beautiful on you.”

He held her shoulders and turned her so she faced him. He stood so close, he could smell her faint aroma of lavender and lemon. As he gazed down at her, her sparkling hazel eyes smiled more than her lips. Lips that urged him to kiss her. Warm, soft, moist. She opened her mouth at his slight nudge, and he entered, sweeping along, touching sensitive spots.

Arabella’s tongue tangled with his, and he pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist. His muscles tensed as he held her. Slowly, his hand came up, and he cupped her face, moving her head so he could take the kiss deeper. Her fingers wrapped around his arms, holding on.

Nash released her mouth and stepped back, his eyes eating her up. He ran his fingers down her cheek. “So sweet.”

She closed her eyes at his gentle touch, and he reached into his pocket and took her gloved hand. After sliding a ring on her finger, he added a bracelet to her wrist, as well. “These are all part of the set, including these.” He held up a pair of ruby and pearl earl bobs that matched the necklace, ring, and bracelet perfectly.

Taking the earrings from him with shaky hands, she slid them onto her earlobes. “It appears we are ready.” She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out, as if she were about to face her executioner. Perhaps that was how she felt.

He extended his arm, Arabella took it, and they left the room together, descending the steps to where Quinn held Nash’s belongings. Once they were settled in the carriage, facing each other, Arabella began to fidget with the fasteners on her pelisse. “Since this is our first public appearance since the Ashbourne ball, I must admit to a small case of nerves.”

“Understandable. However, we’ve nothing to be concerned about. We are married now. You are my countess. You wear the family jewels. My mother approves of you. No doubt, after the first few minutes of gossiping, all attention will focus on the next scandal.”

His jaw tightened. “However, please remember this is Polite Society, not the backwoods of my estate. No rushing to rescue an animal.”

“That is the furthest thing from my mind right now. I do not like being the current scandal.” She twisted her hands in her lap, staring at his shoes before turning her attention to the black sky outside the carriage window. “Do you intend for us to remain in London the entire Season?”

“I have my Parliamentary duties to see to. With the wedding and our trip to Suffolk, I am afraid I have missed a couple of important votes. I feel as though I need to be two people. One for Parliament, and one for Lord of the Manor. So, to answer your question, for the most part, yes.”

Arabella nodded, lips tight, almost as though she knew that would be his answer. The ride continued in silence for a few minutes, the clopping of the horses’ hooves bringing a rhythm that did not seem to soothe his wife.

“Arabella.” Nash extended his hand to her. “Come here.”

After a slight hesitation, she rose and moved next to him. He took her hands in his. “Even through our gloves I can feel how cold your hands are.”

“Being the center of attention alarms me. Prior to now, I spent most of the Season courted by old men selected by my mother, fading into the background as much as I could otherwise.”

“You are a beautiful woman, Arabella. It confuses me as to why your mot