Page 45 of Loving a Beast of a Marquess
In total, including Zachary, there were eight members there, including a certain Mr. Trimly Emily gazed at adoringly.
Zachary was certain that he was invited only because he could not be excluded. His mother, too, appeared somewhat on edge.
An alley had been cleared down the garden, stopping shortly before the lake, and the party moved to the iron hoop that signaled the beginning. Lady Pevton gave the wooden mallet to Evangeline to begin, and Percy kissed her knuckles—for luck, no doubt—before she took her position before the ball.
It was almost impossible for Zachary to concentrate on the game when there were so many distractions. The way Evangeline’s hips moved as she swung the mallet. The way she chewed her lips as she watched the ball progress toward the other hoop at the other end of the alley.
The way her gaze flicked to him before she looked back at Percy.
Her intention was to accept him. Zachary was aware of that even as he watched their every interaction jealously. Percy was behaving toward her as a suitor, certain of his prize, might, and Evangeline was encouraging him with smiles and laughter—even if there was a false note to her mirth.
As the various members of the group took turns hitting their ball, the party moved down the alley, and Percy broke away to stand beside him.
“You look in a foul mood today,” he said conversationally. “Don’t tell me you’re still in a pet because I proposed to Lady Evangeline.”
“You could have had any girl in London, and you chose the daughter of the title I am heir to.”
“I hardly see why that should matter.” Percy peered at him. “Or is there something else going on there I should know about?”
“As though she could have feelings for me,” Zachary said scornfully.
“Then we can have no issue.”
“The issue is that you chose to pursue her despite knowing my connections to the family.”
Percy frowned at him. “Your connections to the family? Why, you are a cousin, by marriage moreover, so distant I forget you are related, and although you are heir, why should that affect the daughters?” He gave a conspiratorial smile. “If anything, I am taking one of them off your hands.”
“I should not wish to have her taken off my hands!”
Percy’s frown deepened, and Zachary knew he was making a spectacle of himself. He ought to give way gracefully. After all, he had no claim on the lady. She had made certain of that.
But Zachary could not suffocate the anger in his gut. He’d spent the better part of the last two weeks refusing to let his anger have any say in his world, and now the anger was back. It was a visceral thing with its own mind, rising when it was least wanted, taking over his body with its poisoned whispering.
Evangeline could have been yours if it wasn’t for Percy.
He stole her affection from you. Why consider him a friend when he has done nothing but steal happiness from you?
Percy backed away from him and went to hit his ball, close to the final hoop now, then it was Zachary’s turn.
“I forfeit,” Zachary said, striding away from the game to stand by the lake. If he did not cool his temper soon, he would say something he regretted.
Why regret something said to a man who offers you no consideration?
His mother came to join him, laying a hand on his arm. “You should not speak to Lord Riffy so. He is your friend.”
“My friend?” Zachary gave a bitter laugh. “What would a man such as that want with me? I have no more friendship I can offer him. All he has done is use my connection to the family to ingratiate himself with the daughters. Tell me it isn’t true, Mama. Tell me he hasn’t been visiting so often with the sole purpose of wooing Lady Evangeline.”
His mother looked at him, oddly, with his same sorrow mirrored on her face. “You know it is time he chose a wife—”
“But must he chooseher?”
“Zachary, my love, are you—”
“Harley?” Percy strode toward them. “The game is waiting for you, dear fellow.”
“I forfeit,” Zachary snapped, the familiar heat rising through his body. “There is little point in playing a game I cannot win.”
“Now, Zac, you can’t—”
