Page 16 of Loving a Beast of a Marquess
The Marquess’ gaze flickered to her for an instant, and she read something like disbelief in their depths. Oh, so he didn’t think she was beautiful? Thenerveof the man.
“I understand your intentions, but I hardly see how you consider them likely to come to fruition,” the Marquess said, turning that burning gaze back to Lord Mountsby. “If she is to marry, it will not be to the likes of you.”
“Excuse me, My Lord, but I am capable of speaking for myself,” Evangeline snapped. She had no intention of marrying Lord Mountsby, but the thought that theMarquessof all people had the right to tell her whom she could or could not marry—that was beyond all reason. It could not be borne.
The Marquess smirked at the steadily purpling face of Lord Mountsby. “My advice to you would be to leave,” he said. “This young lady has a lot of callers, and a mere Baron is not likely to entice her father into giving you her hand. As for the Lady herself”—his smirk deepened—“you can be certain she has no intention of standing against her father when you have so little to recommend you.”
“Well, I—” Lord Mountsby spluttered. “How dare you!”
“Quite easily, I assure you.”
Evangeline stepped back. Although the Marquess seemed to be amused, there was that strange anger flashing in his eyes again. Something about this encounter had irritated him, and this was his method of handling it.
“I advise, once again, that you leave,” the Marquess continued, his voice hardening and some of that rage seeping through. “You are not welcome here.”
“This is not your house,” Lord Mountsby said, drawing himself up. “When the Duke returns, he will hear of your heavy-handed ways, and be assured, you will not get away with this.”
“If that is the case, no doubt you will be permitted back into this house when the Duke returns.” The Marquess’ smile held no humor; rather, it held glittering promise of violence. “Must I ask again?”
Evangeline folded her arms as Lord Mountsby, his tail figuratively between his legs, scurried from the room. “What right do you think you have to do that?” she demanded.
“You didn’t want him to touch you,” he said, still with that rage in his voice.
“And does that give you the right to cast him from the house? A house that, need I remind you, you are staying in as a guest?”
The Marquess took a step forward. Evangeline held her nerves and kept her place. “If you don’t like it, you’ll have to try harder than toads in my bed,” he murmured, something seductive about his voice even as it throbbed with anger. She looked up at the expression in his eyes and was shocked to see heat there. She was even more shocked to find anticipation curling in her gut in response. Her body clearly could not be trusted.
“Fine,” she snapped. “This is not over,Lord Harley.”
“I would not have it be,” he said as she stormed from the room, slamming the drawing room door behind her.
It was only when she reached the gardens, rain speckling across her face, that she realized the feeling across her shoulders was relief. Shehadn’twanted Lord Mountsby to touch her, and she certainly didn’t want to marry him. The Marquess had taken dismissing the Baron on his shoulders, relieving her of that unappealing responsibility. Thetonwould pity her, being trapped in a house with the most disagreeable man in society, but they would not blame her for turning away a suitor.
That didnotexcuse the Marquess for being so heavy-handed. But… Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing in this case. This one, specific case.
She folded her arms. Not that this made her dislike him any less, of course. And she would still do everything in her power to make him leave this house before he discovered the truth about her father.
Or, indeed, before he could chase away every one of her suitors. She had to marrysomeone, after all.
* * *
Zachary hadn’t intended on letting his temper get the better of him, but when he’d seen that leering, pasty man kiss Evangeline’s hand with such a self-satisfied way, he hadn’t been able to hold back.
Part of him had been surprised that she hadn’t turned the Baron away with as much vehemence as she had spoken to him, but that hadn’t mattered. He’d been determined to turn the man away, and so he had, defying every social rule. Of course, he’d rarely adhered to those rules anyway, but Lord Mountsby had been correct in saying the Duke would likely have something to say about his behavior.
His mother entered the room as he cradled his head in his hands. “What troubles you?” she asked, sitting beside him. “Have you done something more to offend this good family?”
“Why, are you worried about your position?” he snapped, raising his head. She flinched back, and he sighed. “My apologies.”
“We could leave and go to another house.”
“And give up now?” To give up would be to let Evangeline win. “You know I cannot do that.”
“But you are unhappy here,” she said, laying a hand on his arm. “Why must you persist in making yourself unhappy? It gains you nothing.”
“You would not understand, Mama.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I would not understand—and I do not. But never mind that now. I was wondering, My Love, whether you would consider marrying one of the daughters. You are connected to the family by marriage only, after all, not blood, and it would show good intentions—especially as you are set to inherit.”
