Page 10 of Her Magnificent Mistake
“They will be blooming for a few more weeks. Big purple flowers ye need to see to believe.”
She opened her mouth to respond, and suddenly a peal of laughter cut through the babble of voices around them. As Hawk swung her about, his gaze sought out the source, and when his gaze rested on his niece, Marcia was surprised to see his expression soften.
It was clear he loved his niece.
But then…his gaze flicked to the couple dancing beside Bull and Allison, his eyes lingering on the woman before flicking back to his niece, a little line appearing between his brows.
Was he…concerned about Allison? Or comparing her to the other ladies in the room? She was bold and confident, and in the few moments they’d spoken, reminded Marcia very muchof herself. But it appeared that Hawk found her lacking, when compared to the refined ladies in the room.
He now prefers the more typical Society debutante.Sophisticated, flirtatious, disingenuous? Well, that was good to know. Perhaps Marcia could use that.
As Hawk swept her around the ballroom, her mind whirled. She and Bull needed a way to prove Hawk guilty of murder, yes? Perhaps she was the one who could get closer—closer than Bull could, even.
She could use what she once shared with Hawk to insinuate herself into his life once more. It would be difficult to pretend to be someone she wasn’t, but if that was what was necessary to convince Hawk she was the sort of woman he might love, then it would be worth it.
After all, she hadn’t been the sort he would love ten years ago, so if she wanted to get close to him now, in order to prove him guilty, she would have to become someone else.
So that was that. She would seduce the murderer who had broken her heart, and ensure justice was done.
Justice for the murders, at least. Because there could be no justice for her grief.
CHAPTER 2
The closer they got to Tostinham, the more Hawk found himself craning his neck to see the landscape ahead of the carriage. There was the comforting peak of Beinn Mhòr and a small herd of red deer grazing in a field. If he inhaled deeply, he could smell the sea.
It was a balm, after the chaos of London.
After holding Marcia again.
Christ. He squeezed his eyes shut and allowed his forehead tothunkagainst the glass. Thinking of her did nothing to help the knot of worry and anticipation he’d been carrying around in his gut since he’d learned of his uncle’s death and his inheritance.
There’d been one point, many years ago, when Marcia—even the thought of her—would soothe any ache, physical or mental. A time when her smile, wit, and curves were all he lived for.
A time before she’d dismissed him.
Ye have a bad habit of thinking ye’re doing the right thing, eh?
He’d wanted to marry her. But despite their connection—the way she responded to his kisses and more, the way they spoke of a future together—she’d been more than happy to marry the man her brother had picked for her.
Apparently that marriage hadn’t gone through, but just knowing she wasn’t as committed to their relationship as he was had given Hawk the courage to walk away before her brother discovered the truth.
Bull would have killed him for dallying with Marcia, Hawk was sure of it. Their liaison had been clandestine andwrong, and ending it had been the right thing to do.
So why the hell had it hurt so much, seeing her again?
A gentle touch on the back of his hand had him twisting to see his niece smiling indulgently at him, as ifhewas the far younger one. “I know you would rather be out there.” She patted his hand again. “Thank you for riding in the carriage with me. I must confess…”
Alert now, Hawk settled against the squabs. “Confess what?”
Exhaling, she glanced away. “I was a little girl the last time I visited Tostinham, and only then because Grandmother insisted. I am grateful you consented to ride with me from the train station, rather than on horseback. I…I do not want to arrive feeling alone.”
Guilt—and worry—made Hawk’s stomach churn. “Of course, Allie.” He twisted his hand so he could grip hers. “I should have considered ye might be uncomfortable returning?—”
“Oh, not uncomfortable,” she was quick to assure him. “This is your home now, and since I am your only family, it is my duty tolive with you, and keep house for you, and just generally annoy the loving piss out of you.”
Hawk winced. He’d grown up knowing he was too coarse, too focused on his work, too awkward for polite Society…and here was his niecechoosingsuch attributes? He wasn’t sure if this was considered irony or just desserts. Probably both. “Perhaps avoid mentioning bodily fluids though?”
“Why? You curse whenever you wish.”
