Chapter Fifteen
Lord Hughmont greeted the ladies just as Jane fell into conversation with Captain James Argyle, a friend of Roderick’s, who was an earl and owned a shipping line.
“Have you had the waters?” Milli asked Lord Hughmont, trying to keep her composure after her conversation with Jane and the added Pump Room gossip.
With a woeful expression, Lord Hughmont rested a hand on Milli’s sleeve. “Have you heard the news?”
“News?” she asked with a calm she didn’t feel.
He combed a hand through his wavy blond hair. “‘My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.’”
She felt a grin tug at her lips. “The Taming of the Shrew?”
“Yes, indeed. But confound it, Miss Millicent. All of London knows Lord Marcus has set his cap for you. I thought he had no interest in you. I heard it weeks ago and thought it a mere rumor. But it has been confirmed.”
Her stomach plummeted. “He wasn’t. I mean, he isn’t. I mean, it’s pure gossip.”
He lowered his voice. His eyes turned a frosty blue. “It is not gossip. Lord Marcus informed me, man to man, that he would be trying to win your hand.”
Milli’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Not only that,” Hughmont continued, his hands tightening by his sides, “the man also informed Knightengale, Breadford, Valford and Bennington, and anyone else who was within listening distance. I vow, the race for your hand is becoming quite the spectacle. With Lord Marcus in the running, your suitors will be more devoted than ever in setting their cap for you.”
“A spectacle now, am I?” Milli looked over her shoulder at Jane who seemed quite interested in Captain Argyle’s conversation. The duchess seemed oblivious to Milli’s tête-à-tête with Hughmont.
“That is not what I meant,” Hughmont said gently. “Do you think you will still attend the theater group this month? Most of our people have moved to Bath for the festivities. They have all been invited to the duchess’s parties, including Valford. The man is quite enamored with you, you know.”
“I shall be in attendance.” She wasn’t going to talk about Valford or any of her suitors. Things were in such a coil right now, anything she said would probably make it worse.
Hughmont exhaled a contented sigh. “Knew you would not disappoint us. We are going over Romeo and Juliet. I was hoping we could play the parts of the hero and heroine.” His darkened gaze dropped to her lips.
Milli took a step back. Oh, for goodness sakes. She had a funny feeling Hughmont wanted to kiss her.
She may have told Marcus that she wanted to test a few frogs, but in reality, she had no interest in kissing anyone else but him.
Hughmont was waiting for her answer. She looked at him, trying to think of something to say. She had forgotten what he was talking about. “That’s sounds, uh, intriguing.”
His expression lit with pleasure, and he puffed out his chest. “Lord Marcus may seem overbearing, but rest assured, I can hold a candle to him on the boxing floor.”
Milli felt her temper snap. “I am not the least bit interested in your boxing skills or Marcus’s.”
Hughmont’s chest deflated. “Well, then . . . until Saturday. That is the first ball given by the duchess. I expect to have a dance with you.”
“Until Saturday,” Milli said flatly. At that moment, she wished she hadn’t started this husband hunting plan at all. And she was ready to murder Marcus!
By the time she and Jane had made their way home, her brain was exploding. Though an enormous building, the Bath house was not big enough for Milli. She strode toward her bedchambers, fury pumping through her veins. If Lord Marcus thought it amusing, informing London that he was setting his cap for her, he had another thing coming!
“Hughmont is in need of money. Not only that, the man follows Milli around like a needy puppy.” A cool breeze ruffled Marcus’s hair as he slowed his horse and turned toward Roderick while they took to the trails outside Bath.
Roderick pulled back on his horse’s reins, letting his gaze roam the countryside. “What the devil are you really saying, Marcus?”
Marcus stared at the rolling green hills, not able to hide his grimace. “What do you think I’m saying? The man has a good amount of debts. He follows Milli. Looks at her like some tasty morsel.”
Roderick smothered a laugh. “Tasty morsel?”
Marcus clenched his teeth. “They take tea together more than they should.”
“Ah, tea. A rather dangerous game, is it not?”
“You won’t be laughing when he runs off with our little Milli.”
Roderick scowled. “I hate to admit it, but you may have something.”
Marcus patted his horse’s neck and looked over the town. “Did he know Shelby two years ago?”
“He may have been an acquaintance. I believe his father knew him.”
“We have no proof that he is the murderer though.”
“There are others on our list. We cannot narrow it down to one man right now.”
The terrifying thought that someone might hurt Milli tore at Marcus. Should he warn her? His expression darkened as he rode his mare down the hill. The duke followed. The horses trotted beside each other as they neared the town.
Marcus nodded to some riders about twenty feet away. He waited for them to increase the distance between them before he spoke. “What about the other suitors?”
“Knightengale, Valford, Breadford, and Bennington are still vying for Milli’s hand. I would put them at the top of the list. But we’ve known Knightengale since we were children.”
Marcus clenched his reins, as he recalled how his friend had kissed Milli in the gardens back in London. “But he isn’t sin free, Roderick.”
“And you are?” the duke laughed.
Marcus stilled. Knightengale was a good man and would probably make Milli a good husband. But would she love him? Could she love him? Could Knightengale ever love her? The entire situation didn’t sit well with him at all. “Any suitor knows he will be gaining a good sum when marrying Milli.”
“Not all men consider the money. Are you interested in the money then?”
Marcus’s eyes flashed. “Hell’s teeth! You know I don’t care a pinch about that.”
Roderick raised his right brow. “Ah, I see. Not money, but what about other things? Jane told me that Miss Canton would be attending the festivities.”
Marcus managed a wry twist to his mouth. “She isn’t wealthy, but she has connections. I thought we had this conversation already?”
“I suppose the general could obtain that position for you overseas.”
“You could buy it for me with the family money too.”
“Ah, so the lady is on your list.”
Pushed to the limit, Marcus raised a challenging brow “If I didn’t have to marry, I would not be in this predicament.”
Roderick looked away, but not before Marcus saw the color drain from his face.
Marcus felt about an inch high.
“I think I helped you by my predicament,” the duke said in a harsh tone. “You have to marry now. That saved your conscience the trouble of making the decision yourself. “
“What the devil do you know?” Marcus retorted angrily.
A glazed look passed over Roderick’s face as he stared down the trail. “I know what it is to love a lady. I know that marriage is accepting the good times and the bad.” His dark gaze jerked to Marcus’s face. “But Hell’s bells, Marcus, I never had to force myself into marriage to a woman I didn’t want. You shouldn’t either.”
“You are a duke,” Marcus shot back.
“And that makes me not human?”
“It gives you more leeway. You have land, money, a princely title . . .”
Roderick glared at him. “You have land. You have money. Very well, the amount may not be as much as me, but it’s plenty to live the life of luxury. What more do you want? You can have your choice of the ladies. Don’t choose one just to make it simple. Not even for me.”
“Simple?” he scoffed. Marcus may have been young, but Lady Madeleine’s infidelity had broken something inside him. “I loved once. It bit me back. I don’t want that again.”
“That’s too bad. I cannot think what I would have done without Jane. She is my world, and will always be my world.” The duke’s entire demeanor changed. His expression turned somber as he shifted his gaze back to Marcus. “I love her and don’t want anything to hurt her, not even me. Do you realize I have to consider that every time I touch her? Another baby could kill her. I cannot take that chance. So, I cannot love her like I want for the rest of our lives. How do you think I feel about that, brother?”
With those last words, Roderick turned his mount and left Marcus staring at his back.
Marcus felt sick with shame for thinking about his own problems. He road his horse hard, and returned to the house, tired and hungry. He should never have bared his soul to Roderick. The man had enough troubles with Jane and Milli.
Marcus smelled the lavender scent drifting near the front hall. Milli’s scent. The thought of her filled his mind. Her light laugh. Her clear gray eyes that a man could drown in. Her pert little nose, so stubborn and cute. Her shiny chestnut hair that framed a heart-shaped face. Her soft white skin. Her berry lips. Her delicate body. Her pure heart. Her vibrant personality. His blood surge with wanting. But he could never have her. Because he could never love her. No. She deserved better.
He balled his hands into two tight fists. Before he did anything else, he needed to find the murderer of William Shelby. Then he could move on with his life. And so could Milli.
Milli caught a glimpse of Marcus in the hall. Her entire body started to shake with anger. After Lord Hughmont had left, the fury that she had held at bay began building inside her like a loaded cannon ready to explode.
She thought of Marcus’s kisses, and his teasing laughter. Did he think he was helping her by pretending to set his cap for her? Or did he think it another lesson in men? She didn’t know, and frankly, at this point, she didn’t care.
“Marcus,” she said. “Could I have a word with you?”
The man whirled around and smiled. “Ah, did you take the waters with Jane?”
Milli searched his face. A sliver of doubt played with her brain. Perhaps he had said nothing at all. “We heard a few things while we were visiting the Pump Room.”
One black brow rose. “Did you?”
Every muscle in her body stiffened. He seemed rather amused. “I think I will have to be blunt.”
Silver eyes danced. “And that is something new?”
She blushed.
He took that moment to stride toward her. His tall, powerful body took her breath away. He smelled of horses and hay. A lock of hair hung over his right eye, giving him a rather rakish look. He must have been riding, she thought, casting a quick gaze toward his boots.
She frowned, taking a step back when he moved closer, his pale silver eyes narrowing on her face. The manly scent of him sent her heart racing. She hated her vulnerability to this man. She cleared her throat and tossed her head to meet his gaze. “It has been said that you are setting your cap for me.”
He rocked on his heels, his expression amused. “Well, well, how wonderful for you.”
She clenched her hands against her skirt. “It is not funny!”
“Is there anything else you needed from me?” His brows lifted suggestively.
She reddened, thinking about his last kiss. A wave of fury overtook her. “What else? How can you stand there, acting as if nothing happened?”
“Are you talking about our last kiss or something else?”
Annoyance rushed through her veins. He seemed a tad bored with her interrogation, as if she were a minor irritation that he wished would go away.
“I am not talking about that . . . kiss,” she said, lowering her voice and looking around. She clasped her hands in front of her. “I want to know if you started the rumor.”
His silver eyes sparkled with mischief. “Ah, the rumor?”
She clenched her teeth, wanting to scream. “Yes, the rumor.”
With a nod, he ushered her into the small reading salon and closed the door. The pink accents in the room were quite out of place with the handsome man standing in front of her.
“Well?” she asked impatiently, glaring at him.
His expression turned serious. “It is not a rumor. I happened to mention that my attentions will be directed your way while we are in Bath.”
She blushed. “As a possible husband?”
“Indeed.”
She was flabbergasted. She grabbed hold of the wing char beside the fireplace. “Why?”
He paused for a second too long and shrugged. “Why not?”
She grabbed a pink pillow and squeezed it. “Ooooh, you are impossible! This is another lesson, is it not?”
He stood there, not answering. A frosty stillness filled the air.
Tears flooded her eyes. How could he do this to her?
“Y-you think I am some play thing?” she finally snapped. “You think because I don’t have a title, you can do this to me? How could you? If you cannot think of my feelings, what about Stephen’s? What about Jane’s? How do you think they will take this?”
With a smothered sob, she pushed the pillow into his stomach and ran for the door. Before she could take two steps, he reached out and gently pulled her around to face him.
“It’s not like that. I, uh, thought that if I put my hat in the ring, the suitors who truly want to marry you would come to Bath, and you could have your choice of gentlemen.”
She stared at the guilty look on his face and sniffed. A cold knot of anguish twisted in her chest. “How very generous. You started a competition, is that what you are saying? May the best man win?”
Even through her sarcasm, he seemed relieved. “Yes. You deserve the best man. I aim to see you get him.”
She glared at him. He wanted her to marry another. He had no intention of ever marrying her. When would she get that through her thick head? “You are not interested at all? Is that what you are saying?”
His silver gaze studied her for a few taut seconds, then he tucked the pink pillow back onto the chair. “Didn’t say that.”
“Ah, so you plan to continue this farce until I am married? Is that it?”
He looked up. “Something like that. If the man is worthy, he won’t care about my involvement at all. He will win your heart and take you into his arms, vowing his unending love and devotion.”
Her heart shattered. “I thought you didn’t believe in love?”
He didn’t want her. He didn’t want her. He didn’t want her.
His pale gray eyes softened as they roamed her face. “Perhaps, I have found a change of heart.”
Milli was more confused than ever.