Page 56 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
“I have to agree,” Neil sighed, limping forward towards the wide stone parapet. It was high enough for him to comfortably rest his elbows upon, and he did so, sighing with relief. “At the last moment, Aunt Thomasin told me to leave the walking stick behind. She said that everybody would notice, and would all talk about it, and guess at how ill I was.”
Patrina frowned. “Who cares what they think? You ought to be comfortable and safe above all else. Does your mother know she said that? DoesHarryknow?”
“Harry disapproved, but I believe he’s rather afraid to speak up. Patrina, do you… do you think my cousin Clayton might havethreatenedHarry?”
Patrina blinked, taken aback. “What? Has Harry mentioned anything?”
“No, but I see how nervy he is around Clayton. He generally is uncomfortable around them, more so than usual.” Neil sighed, clenching his fist and pressing it against the stone wall. “It infuriates me that they refuse to consider Harry family. I’ve made it clear that heisto be considered as family. I only gave Harry the steward job because he refused to accept an allowance or anything from me. I need a capable man who I can rely on to help me run the estate, and frankly I trust Harry with my life. He is my friend. So why can my cousin and aunt not understand this?”
“I’m sorry, Neil. This must be difficult for you.”
Neil bit his lip. “The more I see of my cousin, the more I understand that… that Clayton cannot be allowed to inherit the role of Lord Morendale. There’s so much involved, so much work. Clayton would raise all the rents, ignore the tenants, and it would be a disaster.”
“Can’t you…” Patrina paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Can’t you disinherit him?”
Neil shook his head. “I cannot. If I was healthy, I wouldn’t worry so much. Oh, I’m sorry, Pat. This is your first soiree as Lady Morendale, and I’m ruining it.”
“No, you aren’t,” she laughed, looping her arm through his. “Frankly, this is a rather tense event. I’ve never hosted my own party – it was always Mama who managed that. And is that your new sobriquet for me?Pat?”
He winced, shooting an apologetic glance at her. “It just slipped out. Do you hate it?”
“Hate it? No, it’s sweet. For some reason, I’ve never had a sobriquet. I like it.”
Neil smiled, face relaxing. “I never had one either. I suppose one can’t really shortenNeil.”
Patrina considered. “We could call youEel. How about that?”
He grimaced. “That’s… terrible.”
Patrina gave a gurgle of laughter, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, it was the first thing I came up with.”
“Well, it’s awful. If you ever call meEelin public, I might fling myself off the top of the house.”
She laughed harder, pressing a gloved hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. Neil watched her laughing, grinning.
“It’s good to see you smile properly,” he said at last, once her giggles had subsided. “I think perhaps you’ve had a difficult time since you came here.”
“Mayhap,” she acknowledged, “But life can’t be easy all the time, can it? It would be dull if there were no challenges at all. Besides, I’m not sure I’d change a thing.”
He stiffened at that, eyes scanning her face as if searching for signs she was lying.
“Truly? You wouldn’t change anything? Not even… not even marrying me?”
The warmth spread through Patrina’s chest, and she met his eyes squarely.
“Especially not marrying you,” she heard herself say, the words rasping on their way out of her mouth.
Am I really saying that to him? Do I truly feel this way?
Yes… yes, I do. This is how I feel.
I believe I’m falling in love. Goodness, how strange does it sound. Falling in love with my own husband. Who would have thought it?
Once the idea had arrived in her head, Patrina understood just how true it was, and how dear the man had become to her. Herhusband. Herfriend.
Before Patrina could say a word or formulate any sense out of the chaos in her head, Neil dived forward. His fingers skimmed the soft skin of her neck, breath sweet and warm.
Before Patrina could fully understand what was happening, he was kissing her.
