Page 31 of Marigold and the Marquess
She would say nothing to Leo afterward.
Approaching Ian, Gabriel, or Graelem tomorrow and confessing she had heard everything was the prudent thing to do. They might be angry, but they would blame and curse themselves instead of her. Besides, their wives would never allow any of them to punish her or even raise a voice to her.
But Leo?
He would hate that she had snooped and learned his secrets.
Fortunately, the foursome did not remain long afterward. They rose from their chairs still trying to convince Leo to give them more than a month’s time to figure out who was the traitor. “One month is all I will agree to give you.”
“But Leo, it–”
“I give you my word of honor. I will not interfere in your investigation for the next thirty days. But do not ask me to hold off a minute longer,” Leo insisted as they began to walk out of the room.
Marigold sighed in relief as she heard the door close behind them.
She sagged against the window pane and silently counted to thirty before daring to draw the curtain aside. But her relief immediately turned to panic when she stepped out from behind the curtain.
Standing there, as stone-faced as a gargoyle, was Leo. “Care to explain what you are doing in here, Marigold?”
CHAPTER 6
MARIGOLD SWALLOWED HARDto ease her fear. “No, I would not care to explain.”
Leo folded his arms across his chest. “You are mistaken if you believe I am giving you a choice in the matter. Explain yourself.”
Had he been a tea kettle, steam would now be pouring out of his ears.
Marigold knew better than to rile him further. “How did you know I was in here?”
“My companions are not in the habit of wearing feminine-scented cologne. I did not pick up on it right away, only as we were about to leave. Something had feltoffin here, and then I realized what it was. You forget, I breathed you in,” he said, his voice turning husky. “I would know your scent anywhere, my pet. Even the lightest trace of it. Now, your turn to answer. Why were you in here?”
“If you must know, I needed to find a quiet place to cry.”
His manner instantly gentled. “Why, Marigold? Who hurt you enough to make you cry?”
“You did.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Me?”
She nodded. “You were so cozy with your dinner companion and I could not bear to watch her flirt with you and see you flirt back.”
“I did not flirt back,” he insisted, looking quite surprised.
Well, she hadn’t actually seen him because of that enormous epergne blocking her view. But he must have done something to encourage her because she had flirted outrageously throughout their meal and then swept her hand over his shoulder with obvious intimacy when she left his side. “You needn’t deny it. I saw the way she touched you. Now you are going to meet her somewhere dark and secret.”
He laughed. “Dark and secret?”
“I believe they call these assignations. Clothes fly off because this is what one does when engaged in this sort of tryst.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I have been told it is so from reliable sources. Well, if you like that sort of woman, then enjoy yourself. She did not look at all innocent to me. In truth, she looked lean and hungry, and it was not for the food on her plate.”
“Lean and hungry? Are you quoting Shakespeare now?”
“I have read most of his works. I am not illiterate.” She tipped her chin up in defiance. “I may not ever have experienced a passionate liaison, but I do understand the significance of her looks and how she touched you.”
She wanted to remain defiant, but her tears suddenly began to flow and she could not hold them back. “You broke my heart, Leo. There, are you satisfied? I would appreciate your leaving me alone so I may now indulge in my well-deserved pity fest.”
