The Mischievous Bride (23 page)

Hughmont let out a cackle of laughter. “She has you there.”

Marcus glared at the man, keeping his amusement to himself. What the devil was the female reciting? He didn’t think she knew either.

“Take a look across the room,” he said to Hughmont. “If you dare pour her any more of that champagne, my brothers, Stonebridge, and I will have you drawn and quartered.”

The blond man paled. “I say, that is not civil.”

Marcus shrugged. “It is what it is.”

Milli gave her back to Marcus. She grabbed the champagne bottle and poured the liquid into her glass herself. “He has nothing to say about it, John.”

“John?” Marcus asked, almost smiling at her defiance. “You are quite familiar with the man.”

Milli waved her hand, wobbling a bit. “Oh, go and make Miss Canton happy. She has been ogling you all evening.”

Marcus felt his anger rising. She wouldn’t even look at him. Unless he wanted to make a grand scene in front of Jane’s guests, he had best leave Milli to an aching head tomorrow. Valford was gone. Hughmont was a twit, and his brothers were watching the two with eagle eyes.

“Very well, Millicent. Don’t say I did not warn you.” His chair scraped against the floor, and he stood, making his way toward the general’s daughter.

Milli almost choked on her champagne when Marcus strode directly to Miss Canton’s side. “How old is she?” she asked Lord Hughmont. She could not believe Marcus was trying to tell her what she could drink. Who did he think he was? My goodness, her head felt a bit dizzy. This was the first time she ever had more than one glass of champagne.

Hughmont smiled, watching the scene unfold. “Oh, Miss Canton? She’s an old maid. Almost twenty-five, at least.”

Milli’s eyes narrowed on the couple as Marcus took the lady’s hand and kissed it. Jealousy rushed through Milli’s veins. She grabbed another glass of champagne as Bennington took Marcus’s empty seat.

“Have you tasted the lemon cake, my dear?”

Milli shot a grin in Bennington’s direction. The man was almost as tall as Marcus, with powerful shoulders and sandy brown hair. “No, I have not tried any of the cakes.”

“Ah, then perhaps you would like a taste of mine?” He lifted a spoonful from his plate for Milli to taste.

She caught Marcus looking her way and let Bennington feed her. She batted her large gray eyes at the man in the most flirtatious manner she could. “I declare, that is quite delicious.”

He beamed with pleasure. “So glad you enjoyed it. Would you like me to fetch you an entire piece, my dear?”

Hughmont leaned forward. “If anyone is going to fetch Millicent anything, it will be me.”

Bennington’s face turned hard. “If you think—“

Milli touched Bennington’s hand. “I believe Lord Hughmont should fetch my cake, do you not?” Her smile widened in adoration.

The man blushed. “Well, well, anything you want, my dear.”

Lord Hughmont went off in a wake of triumph. “I shall return in no time.”

Milli felt rather exhilarated when Marcus kept darting curt glances her way. She turned her attention back to Bennington. The champagne made her feel, well, rather daring tonight and a bit lightheaded.

She picked at her skirt, trying to gather her thoughts. Things felt a bit off. “Do you mind taking a stroll outside, sir? Perhaps some cool air will clear my head. I was there earlier and found the freshness of the outdoors did help.”

Lord Bennington looked her over in an appreciative manner. “Say no more, Miss Millicent. I would be delighted. There is a nice little maze where we can lose ourselves.”

The man took her by her arm, and they slipped outside.

Milli was vaguely thinking over her words.
The freshness of the outdoors did help
. In the vague recesses of her mind, she realized that was not quite true. Going outside with any gentlemen always proved hazardous lately.

Oh, dear, she thought as she swayed against Bennington’s side, perhaps this wasn’t the wisest decision she had ever made. And what had he said about the maze?

She giggled. Well, drat. She would just blame it on that silly champagne. She had seen the maze and it was nothing special at all.

“Lord Marcus, I am delighted my father had business in Bath.” Miss Canton fluttered her fan about her beautiful face, then snapped it closed. “The Duchess was so kind to invite us to the festivities this month. Of course, I knew you would be here.”

Marcus let out a devilish smile. “Miss Canton, your presence brightens any event you attend.”

The lady let out a sly grin, tapping his shoulder with her fan. “You do say the prettiest things to me. I daresay you spoil me as much as my father.”

Marcus looked over his shoulder to see Clayton mimicking the lady.
Lord Marcus
, his brother mouthed, batting his eyes and splaying his fingers like a fan,
you do say the prettiest things to me.

Marcus’s lips curled into a grimace.
Where the devil was Milli? His dimwitted brothers were supposed to be watching over her, not him!

“The table is quite the spread,” Miss Canton said, slipping her arm in his.

Marcus turned back to her. “You will have to forgive me. I thought one of my brothers wanted me. Evidently, he had his thoughts on something else. Well, I hope you have brought an appetite.”

He led the lady to the food table that was lined with a multitude of meats, cheeses, fruit, potatoes, peas and a dessert platter.

“A little meat and cheese, if you please,” Miss Canton said primly. “Oh, and perhaps a small slice of cake. The duchess is such a wonderful host.”

Marcus agreed, but inwardly, he was wondering where the devil that mischievous female had gone to now. He should never have left Milli’s side.

He glanced at Stephen who was talking to Roderick. They seemed oblivious to the missing girl. Lord Hughmont was speaking to Captain Argyle and Lord Valford. Breadford was engaged in conversation with the duchess. Where was Bennington? Had he left? Or was he with Milli? No, she would not have the gall to enter those gardens again. Not after her last fiasco.

His muscles stiffened. And where the blue blazes was Knightengale?

He tried catching the attention of Clayton or Stonebridge with a curt glance in their direction. Nothing.

Thunderation! What the devil were they thinking? Did they believe he needed four confounded bodyguards?

His concerned gaze wandered over the desserts as Miss Canton talked about her father’s work. Perhaps, Milli had retired to her chambers. That had to be it.

“My father says that he may have that position for you if you are still interested. It seems the Home Office needs a man in the Americas, someone who can aid the Crown.”

“I see.”

Confound it! Where was that woman? His worried gaze traveled over the room. He didn’t see Hughmont either. He caught Jane’s smiling face as she sat with Elizabeth.

“The Duchess is such a dear,” Miss Canton said, following the direction of his gaze.

“Yes, she is.”

The lady turned to him and lowered her voice. “I hear she lost a baby.”

Marcus’s hand stopped over the food. He glanced up at Miss Canton, his eyes sharp. “The subject is not something she likes to talk about. Frankly, it’s not something Society should be talking about either.”

Miss Canton colored. “Forgive me. I was only trying to say how wonderful she looked after such . . . well, you know.”

“I know,” Marcus said, feeling a bit guilty. The woman probably knew more than he wanted, but it wasn’t her fault. Society liked to talk about anyone’s pain as long as it wasn’t their own.

“Let us change the subject then,” Miss Canton said with a light laugh. “It’s quite the talk that the Clearbrooks are trying to find a husband for little Millicent. She is such a small female. I daresay it is a wonder the girl is even eighteen. Looks more like a child to me. Rather scrawny, is she not?” Miss Canton gave a careless shrug. “But she is an heiress, after all. I suppose that balances any faults. She is quite a bold little thing they say.”

Marcus’s eyes went up. “I find no faults with her person and hold her in the highest regard.”

The lady chuckled. “Lord Marcus, I am a bit older and a bit wiser than Miss Millicent Shelby, and I have not the dowry she has. So, I will be honest. I want to marry you, and you know it. I have had my pick of gentleman, but they do not hold a candle to you.”

Marcus stared at her. “I like an honest woman.”

He had to admit, the lady was candid and pretty. It was a hard combination to find in the
ton
these days. Of course, Milli was candid and pretty in her own way, he thought, his mind wondering where she had gone. But with his brothers and Stonebridge still watching, he could only conclude that she had retired.

“Papa wants me to marry Lord Gadonwood,” Miss Canton said, brushing up against him. “But he likes you too. You are my first choice.”

Marcus lowered her plate and took her hand. If it weren’t for that little termagant’s disappearance, he could think through this better. “I won’t vow to love you, Miss Canton.”

She smiled nervously. “La, love is for people who are not right in their minds. Money, power, good looks, that is what makes the world go round, don’t you think?”

Marcus barely heard what the woman was saying. His glance moved over his brothers. Clayton was whispering something to his wife. Briana kissed him on the cheek and gazed lovingly into his eyes. Emily and Stonebridge stood hand in hand, brushing up against each other, as if there were no one else in the room. Stephen was gazing into Elizabeth’s face that was glazed over with adoration. And then there was the duke.

What the devil was wrong with him? Roderick was scowling at Captain Argyle as the man bent over Jane’s ears, making her laugh. Yet his brother was doing nothing but standing there, letting the handsome captain woo the duchess as if the lady were not married at all.

“Lord Marcus?” Miss Canton asked again. “Do you not think that’s true?”

What the devil was she talking about? “Yes and no,” he responded.

She pursed her pretty lips. “But I thought we were in agreement.”

Marcus smiled at her. “In many things. But I daresay a few more weeks should be enough time before we decide.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, I see,” she whispered. “You have no wish to trump Millicent Shelby’s situation.”

He nodded. But his gut was telling him the little princess was not sleeping. He could not sit here and eat lemon cakes when Milli was trying out her womanly wiles on some murderer.

He gave Miss Canton a seat near Breadford. He glanced over his shoulders toward the back doors, making his excuses to the lady. Breadford seemed to join in the conversation with Miss Canton easily enough. Marcus sent Stephen a menacing glare as he left the room.

He would have to see for himself if the villain had taken the bait or not.

Milli hiccupped. “I think . . . I think I have had too much to dink.”

Hughmont laughed. “To drink.”

“That too. How long have we been outside? I think I’ve been here before.” She blinked past the evergreens, recalling Marcus holding her in his arms. She frowned. She was supposed to be mad at him. “Is this a dream?”

“You’ve been here ten minutes.”

“Oh.” She squinted in the dark. A sliver of moonbeams fingered onto the stone walkway as they stood by a wooden bench inside the maze. “What happened to that other man?”

Hughmont scoffed. “Took care of Bennington. I was to be your escort. Not that nincompoop.”

She nodded, feeling woozy. “I sssss . . . see.”

Hughmont took her hand in his. She felt her lips turning numb as she tried to smile, and his face was starting to blur. Too much champagne, she figured, eying the glass in her other hand.

“Miss Millicent, do you think you could ever love me?”

She hiccupped again, feeling rather ill. The fresh air hit her like a splash of water. “I do love you . . .” She burped, her eyes going wide. “Oh, excuse me.”

He squeezed her hand. “You love me then?”

“L-like . . .a brother.” Another burp. “Oh, forgive me. Not feeling so well. Feel a bit wooooooozy.” She swayed and Hughmont sat her on the bench.

He sighed, sitting next to her. “Well, I thought we had something special.”

“We did. We do.” She hiccupped again and put her drink on the ground beside her feet. “I daresay, I think . . . I th-think I should stop drinking this.”

“Oh, Millicent.” The next moment, Hughmont crushed his mouth against hers.

Milli felt dazed and a little numb from the night air and the drink. She pulled back, looking up at him, her brows frowning. “Wh-what play was that from?”

He snickered. “
Romeo and Juliet
.”

She shrugged, leaning against the bench. “Oooh, there is an evergreen poking at me. It is ever so prickly.”

Hughmont’s hand trailed up her arm. “
‘These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triump die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume.’”

“
Romeo and Juliet
?” she remarked, leaning over her feet and staring at her glass. Or was it two glasses?

Hughmont grinned. “Indeed. Do you have any idea how pretty you are, Miss Millicent?”

She frowned, closing her eyes. “He doesn’t . . .” Hiccup. “Think so.”

She squinted, feeling herself sway. “Do you know there are two of you? I don’t recall two Romeos?”

“Who doesn’t think you are pretty? I will call the man out.”

Milli bent down and picked up her glass, emptying the contents, then shoving the glass in his chest. “Can you fill that again? I didn’t want it to spill. But it makes me forget.”

Hughmont looked at her, confusion crossing his face. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

She batted her long, dark lashes at him. “Please? I think I might cry if you don’t.”

He shot upward. “I say, don’t want that. I shall return as quickly as I can.” He lifted her legs, placing them on the bench. “Now don’t move an inch.”

She leaned against the bench. “Y-you could help me, you know. “

Hughmont turned. “What?”

“I love h-him. I want to marry him.”