The Mischievous Bride (18 page)

After a few minutes, he lifted her to stand on the settee, so her eyes were level with his.

She couldn’t stop smiling. “Thank you,” she said breathlessly. “That was wonderful.”

He stared at her. “You are enchanting. Did you know that?” His velvety voice was laced with tenderness.

Her heart drummed like thunder in a rainstorm. What was happening? The heat between them began to sizzle. His silver eyes darkened as he moved toward her.

The next moment, he lowered his lips to hers in a shocking embrace. She instinctively wrapped her hands about his neck, kissing him back. The room began to spin as if she were still dancing.

Her emotions whirled out of control.

He lifted his handsome face and stared at her, his smoky gaze making it hard to look away. Her knees felt like jelly. As if he knew what was happening, he moved two strong hands to clasp her hips, steadying her in a gentle, but firm hold. The very touch of him filled her with yearning.

“You taste sweet and innocent, of lavender and spring.” His tender words drifted to her ears, making her feel cherished and special. He smiled and bent his head, brushing his lips against hers in a gentle caress. Words failed her as the warmth of his touch melted her resolve to forget him.

“Milli? Are you in there?”

At the sound of Jane’s voice, Marcus jerked back. With the quickness of a cat, he pulled her onto the floor. Two dark eyes stared back at her, frowning. “I should not have done that.”

She blinked, feeling as if he had poured a bucket of ice water onto her head. “W-what?”

His expression turned furious as he glanced toward the hall. “Confound it, Milli. I should not have taken advantage of you. You looked so alone, dancing by yourself. I felt sorry for you.”

Her chest tightened. Felt sorry for her? She raised her gaze. “Ah, so this is just another lesson like the one in the library?”

With a muttered oath, he walked to the other side of the room toward the doors that opened to the gardens. He suddenly stopped and glanced over his shoulder, letting his gaze roam over her in a lazy manner. “Milli . . .”

She drew a hand through her hair, pushing back a wayward lock and trying not to cry. “What?” she snapped.

“Ah, there you are, dearest,” Jane said, walking into the room. “I thought you might want to take a look at those buildings for your school.” The young duchess blushed, looking rather embarrassed. “I found, I could not take a nap.”

Milli swallowed her conflicting emotions and chuckled lightly. “I was dancing in the ballroom, preparing for all your parties. But I would love to take a look at the area.”

There was a light in Jane’s eyes that hadn’t been there for the last month. The duke’s lovemaking no doubt. Milli glanced at Marcus who had yet to exit through the French doors. He was regarding her with a curious glint in his eyes.

Jane saw the direction of her gaze and frowned. “Oh, Marcus, I didn’t see you.”

“Evidently not,” he said, raising a brow Milli’s way. “However, I was wondering if you could include me in your little adventure. You mentioned a school?”

Jane colored as she exchanged glances with Milli. “I, uh, have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Milli?” Marcus said, stepping closer. “What’s this about a school? Your school?”

Milli was still reeling from his kiss, a kiss he was obviously regretting. And now, he wanted to know about her school? It was her dream, not his! He would only tell her she could not do it without a husband.

Well, she did not care what he said!

She bit down on the back of her teeth, trying not to reveal the rage bubbling inside her. She would show him she could find a husband, and it wouldn’t be him!

“I am going to buy some property and make it a wonderful school for young women.”

Disapproval showed on his face. “By yourself?”

“No, with my husband!”

“Your h—”

Jane stepped between them. “With her husband, Marcus. Is that not the reason we are all down here? To find Milli a respectable and loving spouse.”

Marcus pursed his lips as he stared at Milli. “Yes, indeed. A respectable and
loving
husband.”

The loving part was not lost on Milli.

A half hour later, Milli and Jane stepped out of the duke’s sedan chair and scanned the property in the southern part of Bath.

“That’s it, Jane.” There were three connected townhouses.

Jane gasped. “Oh, Milli. The place is perfect. It looks like one big mansion.”

Milli let out the breath she had been holding. “I think it’s beautiful.” She waved her hand to a row of nearby buildings. “Not only that, Jane Austen, that new female author, used to live next door. She lived in Bath around 1800 and moved around seven years later.”

Jane’s delicate brows lifted. “
Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma?
The lady died a few years ago, I believe.”

Milli wrapped her shawl tighter about her shoulders. “It is not a woman’s world, Jane. We had no notion who wrote those lovely novels until a little while ago when her name was properly identified.”

Jane sighed. “I know, and I am thinking you will have to marry to have your dream come true. I could speak to Roderick...”

Milli shook her head. “No, Jane. I don’t want to come between you and the duke. He does so much for me. I will figure this out without Roderick going out on a limb for me.” She paused, her gaze scanning the buildings with a critical eye.

Jane took Milli’s hand. “Don’t worry about Roderick. We could do this together. If you want young women from Society to attend, it must be proper. If my name is attached as well as yours, it might work.”

Milli chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t know. Let me think about it. But if this works, I will look into educating the poor as well.”

“That will be a trial, but I am in agreement with you. All women should have some kind of education. The world would be a better place.”

Milli’s smile was bittersweet. “It may be an impossible task. People may think I am too young to start something like this. But by teaching young women of Society about the world, they in turn, can help the less fortunate. I believe in my dream, Jane. I think, eventually, it can become something for all women, rich and poor.”

Jane grinned. “My godmother is Agatha Appleby. She might be willing to help.”

Milli let out a snort of laughter. “I’ve met the lady . . . and her parasol.”

Jane snickered. “That parasol is a weapon when in her hands. Roderick stays far away from the older woman, I can tell you that. But dearest, you must let me help.”

Milli squeezed Jane’s hand. “Very well. Let’s do this together with the duke’s blessing. You can get it, can you not?”

Jane rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

Milli’s delicate brows lifted. “I don’t want to ask how you would obtain his blessing, do I?”

Jane’s blue eyes danced. “You are not a married woman, Milli. Don’t ask.”

Milli chuckled and put her arm in Jane’s as they surveyed the property. “Come with me, my dastardly partner in crime. Let us take a closer look at the property. I hear the owner is not the most agreeable fellow.”

Jane giggled. “Let him do his worst.”

Chapter Fourteen

T
he following day, Marcus stood in the study of the Bath home and flicked back the curtain. “Hell’s bells, Roderick. People are parading past the window in their finest clothes, making sly glances toward this place as if they are hoping to see the king. I believe they are waiting for you to show yourself.”

Roderick shrugged. “If it was up to me, never. But if we want the culprit caught, I suppose I will be taking tea, taking the waters, and taking turns watching your back.”

Marcus let the curtain drop and plopped into the wing chair next to the duke. “Hughmont is traveling to Bath this week, staying in a nearby townhouse. Knightengale has a place on the other side of town. Breadford told me he would be coming. Saw him at White’s a few weeks ago. Valford and Bennington are also on the list. There were more than a handful of men interested in traveling to Bath for the duchess’s festivities. It will be quite the crush. I have to wonder if the villain will show.”

Roderick flipped another page in the book he was reading. “With Milli’s fortune at stake, he will. Mark my words.”

Marcus scowled, thinking about Milli and the way he had left her. The female was in his blood. He didn’t like the protectiveness he felt about her. But he wasn’t about to let her get any closer. Lady Madeleine had given him a lesson he would never forget.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this plan,” Marcus said, his mouth thinning in disapproval.

Roderick looked up. “I don’t care for the scenario either. But someone murdered Shelby, and we must address it. That villain most likely has his eyes on our little Milli. And thunderation, I shan’t allow anyone to hurt that girl.” His hard stare drilled into Marcus’s eyes.

Marcus sat up. “Zeus! I have no intention of hurting her. So, you can wipe that scowl off your face right now. But just so you know, I made it known at White’s that I am throwing my hat into the game.”

“Is that the way you put it?”

“No, but I did let it be known I have an interest in Milli. However, I did not close the net. I also spread the news that she wants to look over her prospects.”

Roderick snapped his book closed. “That was the plan, was it not? I should have been at Whites the last few weeks, but with Jane having such a hard time, I didn’t want to leave her.”

Marcus rubbed his hands over his face. “Stephen was not too pleased to have Milli talked about as if she were a prize to be won. But he had to go along with it. We both did.”

Roderick leaned back in his seat and regarded Marcus with a bland expression. “He is her guardian. He should show some concern.”

Marcus didn’t like the questioning glint that suddenly jumped into Roderick’s eyes. Did he know about Milli and him? “After all of this is over, I suppose it will be my turn to find a wife. I might as well look over the pickings while I’m here.”

“You cannot do both at the same time. It is just not done. Miss Canton will have to wait.”

Marcus stiffened. “I have no need for your permission. Do you think I am enjoying this?”

 Roderick ignored his question. “Millicent is quite a prize. She may find a husband, you know.”

“She might, but not before he passes the test.”

“What test?” Roderick sounded amused, which only sent Marcus’s anger climbing.

“The devil, I don’t know! But he will have to respect her.”

“What about love?”

“Love?” Marcus scoffed. “This is no fairy tale. Although this is a fight between good an evil, love will not be on my list for a wife. I can tell you that.”

“What about Milli’s list?”

Marcus shrugged. “It’s entirely up to her.”

Marcus closed his eyes, pretending to relax. If Roderick could only read minds, the man would box his ears. Because all Marcus could think about were two huge gray eyes, a pert little nose, a sensuous mouth, and a delicate form that set his heart on fire.

Confound it. The female had him tied into knots. She was bold and talkative and did things on the spur of the moment. She didn’t think through her decisions. And what in the blue blazes was that about some school? She was the complete opposite of what he wanted in a woman.

“So Miss Canton is a possible candidate then?”

Roderick’s voice pulled Marcus from his thoughts.

His lids slowly opened. “Miss Canton has connections. I could travel as an ambassador through Europe, or even the Americas. It’s something I always wanted.”

“And leave your family?”

“I would miss you all, but let’s face it, I am not the duke.”

Roderick paused for a minute, then spoke. “What about an heir?”

“I’ve thought about that. That’s why I’m thinking about marriage more than I wanted. I could eventually have some kind of position overseas, but Miss Canton arrived on the scene at an opportune time, don’t you think?”

Roderick’s brows dipped into a deep V. “Opportune?” He swore, and looked away. “I believe the general heard of Jane’s condition and realized his grandson might be the heir to a dukedom.”

Guilt pierced Marcus’s heart. But he could not help the circumstances. “Perhaps.”

Roderick’s head jerked. “The devil! Don’t you want to love your wife? In fact, I would think Milli would want to love her husband and he love her.”

Marcus didn’t want to think of some man loving Milli. He didn’t want any man putting a hand on her. But he couldn’t love her like she wanted either. He was not the man for that.

“Let’s not get all mushy,” Marcus added, agitated at Roderick and his own thoughts. “Hell’s teeth! Let’s just get this villain and be done with it, so we can get on with our lives!”

Roderick’s eyes widened at his outburst.

Without another word, Marcus made his way across the room, wrenched open the door and disappeared into the hall.

After he was long gone, Roderick shook his head and stared at the seat Marcus had vacated. “You don’t know what you want, do you, Marcus?” he muttered. “She’s worth more than ten general’s daughters, and you don’t even see it.”

Later that day, Milli and Jane took a sedan chair to the Pump Room in Bath. It was the place where Society met to discuss the happenings in town. With all the hustle and bustle, the crowd barely noticed them walking into the room. A light concerto floated in the air, played by the string quartet in the corner of the room. Milli caught a whiff of French perfume as she passed by a group of young ladies sipping from their glasses filled with the famed healing waters of Bath.

Milli didn’t know what to think about the waters, but as long as it didn’t hurt anyone, she thought it was fine. In fact, Jane was looking a bit tired lately. Perhaps, the waters would help the duchess have another child.

Milli took a glass from the servant girl and tipped the metallic tasting drink past her lips. Jane did the same. They stared at each other and squinted at the strange flavor.

“I don’t feel a thing,” Milli said, smiling. “Is my nose twitching? Perhaps I will turn into a rabbit.”