Page 17 of Marquess of Stone

Marian pulled a face at her sister, but Jane merely smiled, obviously unfazed.

“Perhaps it is the company,” Marian said dryly, eyeing the path Lord Crowton took with several other guests, his laugh cold and grating.

Jane made a face. “I can’t fault you for that; he is truly intolerable.”

As they got closer to the lake, Marian sighed and smoothed the folds of her dress. The picnic had been a great idea to promote friendship among the attendees and take in the scenery. But to Marian, it seemed more like a circus performance with every gesture and word carefully crafted. The lake itself was stunning, its surface gleaming in the midday sun like glass. The guests were already mingling, their laughter and teasing combining with the gentle rustle of leaves. The estate servants had set blankets and baskets in a shaded grove by the lake, awaiting the guests.

Marian felt slightly better when she saw the Pall Mall set erected on the grass. It was a wonderful diversion, she thought as she recounted the countless hours she and her siblings had spent playing the game during their carefree summers.

“Could I entice you to take a dip in the lake, Lady Marian? The water does seem exceptionally lovely today.” As they got closer to the gathering, Nicholas’ soft, smooth voice cut through the clamor.

She glanced at him, and when she realized he was looking straight at her, her heart skipped a beat.

“I am sure it is, My Lord, but I would rather play Pall Mall with my sister,” she replied, her tone composed, despite the obvious betrayal of the color spreading on her cheeks.

“So, no takers then? Such a shame.” A slight smirk formed on his lips.

Marian glanced away, not wanting him to know how unnerved she was by his remark. She did have the lake on her list of things to do, but this was hardly the time or place to entertain that idea.

A burst of activity occupied the remainder of the day. Guests had settled on blankets around a lavish spread of food, sharing laughter and stories while children splashed in the shallows of the lake, their giddy laughter filling the air.

Marian and Jane were entranced in their game of Pall Mall, and their competitive spirit soon turned into an entertaining show. Marian’s concentration increased as she got ready to shoot and hit the ball with a satisfying crack.

“Impressive,” Nicholas whispered behind her, surprising her enough to affect her next shot.

She stood up straight and turned to see him staring at her with those intense, dark blue eyes. “My Lord, you seem to have a knack for throwing people off their game.”

“Only when the opportunity presents itself so perfectly,” he said causally.

Marian’s lips formed a faint smile, but she rolled her eyes at him. He lingered, his presence unavoidable though she tried her best to ignore him and turned her focus back to the game.

Suddenly, a disturbance near the refreshment table stopped their game. Marian turned just in time to see Diana step back abruptly, her face a mask of horror as Viscount Crowton let out a sharp exclamation of surprise. “Watch where you are going, girl!” he snapped, glaring down at Diana as he lifted his foot as though she had just stomped on it with all her might.

Diana stammered, her face flushed. “I am so very sorry, My Lord! It was truly a mishap on my part. I —”

“Amishap?” Viscount Crowton scoffed. “Or just mere clumsiness, perhaps. Honestly, I have seen wild animals more graceful than you, young lady.”

Marian saw the embarrassing flare in her sister’s eyes as Diana’s face flushed. Before her sister could reply, Marian moved over and stood in front of her. “Diana,” she said, urging her sister to stay quiet. She then turned to the Viscount and spoke in a soft but firm tone, “My sister has expressed her apologies, My Lord. I believe that is sufficient.”

Viscount Crowton’s eyes were cold and contemptuous. “Sufficient? Hardly. If she had practiced the decorum expected of a noble lady, such an incident would never have happened.”

Anger rushed through Marian’s chest, and she lost her composure for a moment. “If only some gentlemen could manage to conduct themselves with the decency befitting their titles, they might find such trivial mishaps less concerning.”

The Viscount’s face twisted in aggravation, and his jaw tightened. “Lady Marian, it would be wise for you to think carefully on your words,” he warned, his voice hard as steel. “It is most disrespectful for a lady such as yourself to criticize a gentleman of my standing.”

“It would be wise for you to keep in mind, My Lord,” Marian said, her eyes narrowing and her posture stiffening, “that respect must be earned rather than demanded.”

All eyes were on the two of them as their disagreement heated up, and the guests around them fell quiet.

“Is there a problem here?” Nicholas’ steady, unflinching voice sliced through the air, uncharacteristically serious. He took a step forward, first directing his gaze at Marian and then at Viscount Crowton.

Viscount Crowton quickly regained his composure though his lips had settled into a tight sneer. “Nothing to trouble yourself with, Lord Stone. We merely had a miscommunication.”

With a trace of amusement on his lips, Nicholas arched an eyebrow. “Indeed. I must say, I find it rather amusing that you should allow a simple mistake, made by a young lady that is half your age, unsettle you so.”

The Viscount’s sneer disappeared, and his eyes became cold and hard, but he said nothing.

“I would rather think,” Nicholas continued smoothly, “that a man of your stature could withstand a slight without retorting to insults.”

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