Page 20 of Her Magnificent Mistake
Hawk glanced down in apprehension at the woman on his arm. Marcia’s blue eyes were full of amusement, sparkling brightly enough to match the strange glass pendant she wore around her neck.
Now she glanced up at him, her lips twisted into a smirk as if they shared a secret joke.
Did they? They shared many things, but most of them heartbreaking.
She was really here, after all these years. On his arm. At his home.
Hawk swallowed past a tight throat.
“Aye,” he murmured weakly. “Welcome to Tostinham.”
By the time the dinner gong rang, Hawk wasn’t certain he understood what was going on…and didn’t know if he cared.
All he knew was that he’d spent the afternoon with Marcia on his arm, and it had been wonderful. Her smiles, her teasing…it had been just like old times, before she’d toyed with his heart, before he’d walked away from everything they shared. Everything he’d loved.
But…this Marcia was different, too.
Aye, of course she’s different, it’s been a decade!
But was that enough time to change so completely? Why hadn’t she married the man Bull had found for her? And had it changed her?
This new Marcia was flirtatious instead of direct, coy instead of daring, and she giggled dismissively whenever he tried to ask her opinion, as if she had none.
The Marcia he’d fallen in love with that very first Hogmanay Bull had introduced them was opinionated, bold, daring, and strong. She hadn’tneededto flirt, because her unschooled and unconsidered confidence had been an aphrodisiac to him.
So he could admit that this new Marcia was a conundrum to him.
And he was looking forward to finding out the truth about her, even though he knew he shouldn’t.
It was like a man finishing a buffet with an array of delicious-looking desserts. He knows he will regret eating each one of them, but can’t seem to stop shoving them in his mouth, and feeling horrible about not feeling horrible about it at all.
That made nae sense.
Aye, well, it had been a strange day.
Strange enough to compare her to pudding?
Apparently.
Yes, a delectable, frothy, creamy?—
“Uncle Maxwell,” Allie called, lifting her skirts to hurry toward him across the hall. “Artrip tells me we have visitors!”
Wherehadhis niece been all day? Frowning, Hawk offered his arm to lead her into the dining room. “Aye, auld friends—actually, ye met Lady Marcia at the ball last week.”
“Did she bring her brother?” Allie’s bright eyes had lit further.
So his scowl deepened. “Bull’s too auld for ye.”
“I told you I have no interest in marriage. I just thought he was a delightful conversationalist, and he made me laugh. He would not shy away from penises of the natural world.”
Aye, Bull was a charmer alright, but a good man. A better man than Hawk, at least. When Bull eventually settled down, he’d make a fine husband…to someonebesideshis niece.
“Well, he’s no’ here.” Hawk stepped into the dining room, where their guests awaited. “Allie, this is Marcia’s other brother, Rupert—damn, wait, that’s backwards, is it no’?” Rupert was an heir to a dukedom, although he didn’t hold a courtesy title currently. The entire Dukedom of Peasgoode was a little strange, truth be told.
Marcia laughed—a tittering, dismissive little laugh that didn’t sound at all right coming from her, and swept around the table, tugging her brother after her.
“Do not fret, dear Hawk, we do not stand on ceremony. Allison, if I may, how delightful to see you again,” she beamed. “Allowme to introduce my younger brother, Rupert Calderbank, heir to the Peasgoode duchy. Rupert, this is Hawk’s niece, Miss Allison Hawthorne.” She paused, her smile fixed. “Rupert, try to be polite.”
