Page 38 of Fatal By Design
“Lord Westbrook?”
Rather than pull back and apologize for coming upon her, the marquess remained. He wasn’t surprised at all to find her. He’d clearly expected it.
Audrey set the book back onto the table and lowered her feet—free of her slippers—to the floor. He noted the state of her stockinged feet and cleared his throat.
“Your Grace.” He made a short bow of his head. “Forgive me for searching you out like this. I must admit that I applied to a footman to tell me in which direction you had gone after dinner.”
The sensation of her blood slowing even as her pulse began to quicken made her lightheaded as she stood from the chair.
“If this is about earlier, in the duke’s study—”
“No.” He took a step forward. The small area of the alcove would not permit another step without coming into her space. “Well, yes, in fact. I wished to explain.”
His bearing was poles apart from his earlier indignance. Contrite seemed the best word to describe it now.
“Explain what, my lord?”
Had she been a debutante, this would be tantamount to an indecent scandal. Should they be discovered, they would be expected to marry to avoid any ruination on the lady’s part. However, widows weren’t subjected to such ridiculous rules.
Still, his presence unnerved her.
“My behavior. You see, I don’t wish to appear unconcerned for your sister’s safety, and if I came across as surly and rude earlier, please understand, it was all owing to that rumor your mother and uncle intimated to you. It took me by surprise.”
“As it did me,” she said. “I hope you can understand why Lord Neatham and I were perplexed by your failure to say anything at all of your intentions when Millie went missing. But if you say you don’t wish for her hand…” She didn’t know whether to believe him or not, and she knew Hugh was still suspicious.
“I do not,” he said firmly, then took yet another step closer. Audrey pressed back, but now had nowhere to go, except back down into the armchair. She managed to stay on her feet.
“I had not planned to say anything until much later on in your mourning, of course, but I feel I ought to clear the air and make you aware. You are, after all, no blushing debutante.” Audrey’s palms began to sweat as she finally grasped his intent.Oh, good heavens. This was not what she’d expected at all.
“Your Grace, allow me to say that—”
“I thought I heard voices.”
Her heart re-started at Hugh’s deep timbre cutting off the marquess. He appeared in the alcove opening. Audrey was so relieved she let out an involuntary exhalation of air.
Westbrook turned and met the hard cast of Hugh’s expression.
“Neatham. If you do not mind, I was speaking privately with Her Grace.” The marquess clipped his words, his outrage over the intrusion evident.
However, it was Hugh, remaining silent for several moments, who chilled the small space. Had it been possible, his unyielding glare would have sealed Westbrook into a block of permafrost. Audrey had seen him annoyed before. She’d seen him angry. However, she’d never seen Hugh like this—practically luminescent in his wrath.
He took the few strides necessary to come between Westbrook and Audrey, his motions dangerously calm. “I find I do mind, Westbrook. There can be no need for you to have followed her here.”
As the marquess and Hugh maintained their heated glaring match, a tacit understanding seemed to pass between them.
Audrey tried to ease the tension. “Unless you have something more to say about my sister?”
The marquess peeled his livid glare from Hugh and sent it toward her. “I have nothing more. And I can see now that there is no need to speak to you on the other matter. Good evening.”
With a curt bob of his head, he spun around and retreated from the alcove. Audrey let out another pent-up breath, deflating. “That was excellent timing,” she sighed.
Hugh remained vigilant, moving to the alcove corner, and peering out to be sure the marquess had left. “I followed him. I suspected he’d try to find you.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother got it wrong. The rumor she heard had nothing to do with her eldest daughter.”
Hugh finally relaxed, his intimidating glare softening with a sparkle of amusement as he faced her. Audrey groaned and covered her cheeks with the palms of her hands.
