Loving the Marquess Page 10

  He turned when the door opened. His grandmother eyed his glass with obvious disapproval. He placed the drink on the desk before turning back to her.

  “You chose well,” she said. “It was almost worth the tongue-lashing I received from my daughter-in-law.”

  Nicholas’s mouth twisted in distaste. “I cannot believe everyone thought I would wed Mary. I’ve never developed a taste for self-sacrifice.”

  A strange expression crossed his grandmother’s face. For one panic-stricken moment he thought she suspected what he planned to do, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Grandmother would never approve and she would waste no time in telling him so.

  “She is going to be a fine wife and marchioness,” she said. “And perhaps, in some small way, this makes up for what Henry did to that family.”

  He hoped his grandmother never learned about Edward’s most recent proposition to Louisa. His fists clenched just thinking about it, but he forced himself to relax. A change in subject was definitely in order.

  “The Evans cottage will be ready for tonight?”

  “Of course. I can’t imagine why you would want to spend the night there. Your rooms here would be infinitely more comfortable.”

  Yes, but along with that comfort came a staff that would notice the marquess and his new marchioness hadn’t spent their wedding night together. He also knew that he wouldn’t be in any mood to continue the pretense of newly wedded bliss with the few guests who would be spending the night and departing for home sometime tomorrow.

  He shrugged, hoping the movement appeared casual. “I thought a little privacy would be nice. I am sure you understand.”

  His grandmother smiled and he experienced a twinge of guilt at deceiving her.

  * * * * *

  Nicholas waited for her at the base of the stairs, but this time Louisa was prepared for the strength of her reaction to him. He was dressed in black, the somber color stark against his white shirt and cravat. His dark brown hair, worn a little long, seemed to blend into the black of his topcoat. She hadn’t noticed the slight bronze tone to his skin before, but against his snow-white cravat it was proof that he enjoyed the outdoors. She already knew he liked to ride. He was truly one of the most handsome men she had ever met.

  When she reached the bottom of the staircase, he held out his arm and she took it. She knew to expect the frisson of awareness that went through her.

  He smiled down at her, but she noticed that his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I will be the envy of every man here.”

  She knew her dress complemented her fair coloring. The light blue silk gown, with its low bodice and skirt that flowed over her slim form, shimmered with every step she took. She had never seen fabric quite like it, and it was by far the most beautiful dress she had ever owned.

  “And I, no doubt, will be the object of much resentment from the single women present who had hoped to attract your attention.”

  Nicholas laughed at her words, and she was happy to see that a little bit of warmth had crept back into his face.

  “I will only become more nervous the longer we delay,” she continued.

  “You’ll do well. You can take comfort in the fact that Grandmother has given you her seal of approval.”

  “She has been most kind to me,” she said, though the truth was “kind” was a vast understatement. The Dowager Marchioness of Overlea had welcomed her with open arms into the family. Had it not been for her aid and tutelage over the last three weeks, Louisa feared she would be hiding in her rooms right now.

  Nicholas led the way to the ballroom. When they entered, a hush fell over the room and all eyes turned to them. Speculation hung dense in the air as everyone tried to get a good look at her. After what seemed an eternity, Sommers announced them. The words “The Marquess and Marchioness of Overlea” dropped into the room with the force of a cannon blast. There was a moment of suspended silence, then there was a cacophony of whispers, gasps, and people pushing forward, hoping for an introduction. It was too much, but Nicholas had only to raise a hand and silence fell once again.

  He drew her closer to him. “We are so glad you could all come to celebrate what is the happiest day of our lives. You will all have the opportunity to meet my lovely bride, but first I must beg your indulgence as I promised her a dance before you all steal her away from me.”

  Together, they made their way to the center of the room and Nicholas turned to face her. With butterflies rioting inside her, she stepped into his arms and tried to push back the knowledge that every person in the room was looking at her. It was her first time waltzing in public since learning the dance from the dance master Lady Overlea had hired and she sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t trip. It was soon clear to her, however, that Nicholas was not a novice to the dance. He was careful to maintain a suitable distance between them as he glided with her across the ballroom floor, but Louisa could not help but be aware of how close their bodies were. She remembered, again, that first kiss she had shared with him, when he had pulled her into bed with him, and how she had pulled away just when the kiss threatened to become so much more. Tonight, however, she would not stop him.

  Curious if he was thinking about the same thing, she looked up into his eyes and was disappointed to see that the warmth had disappeared again. He had asked her earlier if she regretted agreeing to marry him, but now she couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one having second thoughts.

  The music came to an end and Nicholas bowed over her hand, brushing a soft kiss on its back. Aware that everyone was watching them, she smiled and tried to convince herself as well as their audience that nothing was amiss.

  * * * * *

  The Earl of Kerrick stood off to the side, making small talk with some of his and Nicholas’s mutual friends. They had all been shocked to learn of Nicholas’s hasty marriage and more than a few had tried to prize the details of their courtship from him. They all assumed the bride-to-be had been compromised and that Overlea had no choice but to marry her. Kerrick knew better, but he would never reveal the real reason behind the marriage.

  It had been almost three weeks since Nicholas had laid his shocking proposal before him, yet he still couldn’t believe that his friend was serious. Under normal circumstances, Nicholas was not the type of man to stand by and allow another man to bed his wife.

  He was only half-listening to the conversation around him as he watched the newly wedded couple dance. A few others joined them in waltzing, but the majority were occupied with their speculations. He glanced toward a group of older women, some of whom had hoped to ensnare Nicholas as a prize for their own daughters. Their disdain for the new marchioness was plain to see. When Nicholas’s grandmother joined them, however, their expressions changed. They might disapprove of Nicholas’s wife, but they would never display that disapproval to the marquess or his family.

  The last notes of the song played and most of the men in his small group broke off to claim their partners for the next dance, a quadrille. Kerrick choose to keep his attention on the newly married couple. He knew no one would question his interest. As the groom’s closest friend, they would assume he was horrified at the idea of his friend having been ensnared and forced to wed.

  Kerrick was circling the dance floor, trying to see where the guests of honor had gone, when the next dance began. As he passed the refreshment table, however, his attention was captured by a woman who appeared to be arguing with a young man. Their voices were low and they were partially hidden behind a column, so their argument had not been noticed by those around him. Kerrick was appalled at how cavalierly the man was treating the woman.

  He abandoned his quest to find Nicholas and rounded the column. The pair stopped arguing and turned to look at him. The woman bore a marked resemblance to the bride. He’d only met them briefly earlier today, but the arguing couple appeared to be the bride’s siblings.

  The woman, Catherine Evans if he remembered correctly, was clearly embarrassed at having been caught
engaging in such unseemly behavior, but her brother showed no sign of remorse.

  Kerrick turned to the girl, who was just as beautiful as her older sister. Pale blond hair curled becomingly around her face, her skin creamy as silk, and her eyes… good heavens, he had never before seen eyes that were such a vibrant shade of blue. How had he failed to notice that this morning?

  “Can I be of assistance?” he asked.

  The young man answered for her.

  “Thank you for your concern, but my sister and I were merely having a minor disagreement.”

  Kerrick had two sisters of his own and he still remembered how some of their arguments had reached almost epic proportions.

  “If I noticed your argument, others might as well. You should probably go somewhere more private if you plan to continue.”

  He bowed briefly before retreating. He couldn’t help but think it was a pity Miss Evans was so young. Not yet fully out, if he wasn’t mistaken.

  Chapter Nine

  The rest of the evening flew by in a blur for Louisa. Aside from family members, she hadn’t known any of the guests, most of whom were members of the ton who had traveled to Overlea Manor for what they’d thought was a ball to announce Nicholas’s betrothal. Lady Overlea had taken Louisa under her wing and introduced her to everyone. As the hours wore on, her head began to ache from the effort of trying to remember the names of all the people she had met.

  Louisa had caught only glimpses of her husband after their dance. She’d danced with many of the men at the ball, but Nicholas hadn’t danced with any of the women. She wasn’t the only one who noted that fact.

  She couldn’t help but be aware of the glares some of the women cast in her direction. The worst were those who didn’t bother trying to be discreet in examining her midsection. She knew there was speculation about the reason behind the haste of their marriage, but no one said anything directly to her. She would have to pretend not to notice. When no baby appeared before the ninth month of their marriage, anyone who thought she was already with child would know they were wrong.

  By the time the late-night supper was to be served, Louisa’s energy was starting to flag. She hadn’t been able to sleep the night before and the nap she had taken that afternoon hadn’t been a long one. She was exhausted and Nicholas noticed. After the supper, when everyone else returned to the ballroom, he drew her aside.

  “You’re tired,” he said.

  “I’m afraid I am not used to keeping such later hours, and the nap I took earlier was not a very long one.”

  As if to give proof to her words, she yawned. The corner of his mouth lifted as she colored with embarrassment.

  “Would you like to cause a few more tongues to start wagging?”

  She wasn’t certain if she should be courting more gossip, but the glint of mischievousness in his eyes had her curious.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I think we should slip out the servants’ entrance and make our way to your cottage.”

  Louisa’s stomach turned over at the suggestion and a new set of nerves assailed her, but there was no point in putting off their wedding night. She nodded her assent.

  He beamed at her and Louisa could see a hint of what he must have been like as a child. She wondered if their son would have that same gleam in his eye when he was up to mischief.

  He grasped her hand in his much larger one and led the way out of the ballroom and down to the kitchen. They passed a few servants on the way, but he raised a finger to his lips to silence their questions. Louisa did not miss the amused glances the servants aimed at them as she and Nicholas escaped out the kitchen door.

  Caught up in the moment, she laughed as they made their way to the stables. Nicholas had thought ahead and a curricle had already been prepared for their departure. It did not take long for the horses to be brought out from their stalls and harnessed. His eyes were still sparkling when he helped her into the conveyance and climbed in after her.

  There was a blanket on the seat between them, which he unfolded and tucked in around her. The intimacy of the act put all her senses on high alert. He must have felt it, too, for his hands stilled and his eyes locked with hers for an unbearably long moment before he looked away and took up the reins.

  She’d never ridden at night before. The evening was cold, but clear, the sky filled with a thousand stars. She was filled with exhilaration as they drove away from the Overlea Manor like two thieves.

  She must have dozed during the half hour trip for the next thing she knew the curricle was slowing to a stop outside the cottage and she found herself pressed against Nicholas’s side. She straightened with a jolt, embarrassment flooding through her.

  Nicholas sprang down from the curricle and reached up to help her down. His hands at her waist were warm and they remained there for several moments after her feet were on the ground. Their gazes locked. Gone was his playful mood. He looked down at her in silence, his expression serious. She found herself hoping he was going to kiss her. Instead, he dropped his hands after several seconds and took a step back. She felt the loss of his touch keenly.

  “The grooms will be busy at Overlea Manor, so I’ll see to the horses,” he said.

  Louisa could only nod before entering the cottage. She shouldn’t have been surprised that the door was opened by a footman. She’d thought they would be alone, but the hushed voices coming from the kitchen told her that at least a few servants had been dispatched to see to their comfort.

  Other than that, everything was still as they had left it that morning. She made a mental note to speak to Reverend Harnick about donating the cottage’s furniture to other families in need.

  She made her way above stairs and headed to her parents’ bedroom, which she knew had been prepared for the wedding night. When she entered the room she was amazed at the transformation. The coverlet was a rich blue, threaded through with gold. It was turned down and she could see that the formerly threadbare sheets had also been replaced with sheets made from a fine, satiny material of pure white. She ran her hands over the cool fabric, then over the new plump pillows, and sighed. She had never imagined sleeping on such material before, but of course, sleeping was not all she would be doing on it.

  She turned to take in the rest of the room. The furniture was the same, but all the fabrics and accessories had been changed. The windows were covered with drapes in a blue brocade that matched the coverlet. There was even a new carpet on the floor. She took a peek inside the wardrobe, which now housed an impressive collection of clothing for both Nicholas and herself. She found it difficult to believe that so much work had been done for one night’s stay and wondered if Nicholas planned to stay longer.

  She closed the wardrobe firmly. She knew she was expected to call for her maid, who she imagined was waiting somewhere downstairs to help her out of her gown and into her nightclothes, but she didn’t have quite that much bravado. Feeling more than a little self-conscious, knowing she was doing this all wrong, she went back downstairs to the sitting room to wait for Nicholas.

  When he entered a short time later, he was surprised to see her.

  “You were tired. I thought you would be in bed already.”

  Louisa couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “My short nap on the drive seems to have renewed my energy.”

  And it was true. She was not feeling at all tired at the moment, though she suspected it would catch up with her soon.

  “Perhaps you would like something to drink before retiring?”

  She hadn’t noticed the sideboard was now stocked with bottles of sherry, brandy, and she didn’t know what else. They hadn’t been able to afford the luxury of having spirits in the house themselves.

  “Sherry, please,” she said. Perhaps it would help to ease her nerves, which were now in full revolt.

  Nicholas moved to the sideboard and poured a glass of sherry for her and brandy for himself. He handed her the glass and raised his own in a salute.

  “To the marquisate
,” he said before bringing the glass to his lips.

  She thought it an odd toast, but raised her glass as well, sipping at a more leisurely rate. She watched in silence as he put down his glass and walked over to the window. He seemed somehow to be more on edge than she. How was that possible? Nicholas had a reputation for having been with many women. Why would he be nervous with her?

  When she finished her drink, he walked over to her and took the glass from her hand. She wasn’t sure what to expect next, but it certainly was not what followed.

  “You should retire,” he said softly.

  She marshaled her courage before asking, “Will you be joining me?”

  He shook his head. “We need to talk tomorrow about my expectations for this marriage.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that. She wanted to press the issue now, but she could see that he wasn’t in the frame of mind for such a discussion. Besides, fatigue, aided by the sherry she’d drunk, was beginning to creep over her again.

  Confused, more than a little worried about the next day’s conversation, she bid her new husband an awkward goodnight and went up to her room. She rang for the maid to help her undress and went to bed alone.

  The sheets were a little cold at first, but overwhelmed by the events of the day, bone-tired from her lack of sleep the night before, she fell asleep right away. She wasn’t sure how long she slept before she was jerked awake. The darkness and the feel of the cool bed sheets against her skin disconcerted her and it took her a moment to remember where she was. She heard another noise, a scraping sound, and then the bedroom door slammed open. Louisa covered her mouth to stifle the scream that had almost escaped. In the dark she could just make out a shadow.

  “Nicholas?”

  There was a murmur of assent and Louisa sat up in bed.

  “Help me,” he said.

  Her eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness and she could see he was gripping the door handle to keep himself upright. She jumped out of bed and hurried to his side.