Page 78 of Because You're Mine
Andrew hesitated, and laughed. “Don’t worry about me—just enjoy your bloody wonderful life and your little honeypot of a wife.”
Logan stared at him with a mixture of exasperation and concern. Obviously Andrew was in trouble again. The last thing Logan wanted to do tonight was wrest a confession from Andrew and solve his problems once again. However, it was an impulse he had never been—and would never be—free of, especially now that he knew about their secret kinship.
Casting a last longing glance at Madeline, Logan sighed inwardly and turned his full attention to Andrew. “I’ve been saving a box of exceptional cigars,” he said casually. “This seems like an occasion to enjoy them. Care to have a smoke?”
Andrew’s moodiness seemed to ease. “Yes, bring them to the billiards room, and we’ll visit with some of the fellows.”
Logan made his way out of the ballroom, stopping several times to converse with clusters of guests who beckoned to him. As he finally reached the door, he noticed Madeline’s sister Justine and her husband, Lord Bagworth. They appeared to be having some kind of spat, edging to the corner of the room and talking tensely. Justine’s eyes were narrowed with fury.
Logan exited the ballroom, suppressing a pitying grin. He suspected that Justine must lead Bagworth on a merry dance. As the spoiled beauty of the Matthews family, Justine appeared to insist on being the center of attention at all times. The Matthewses had done no service to their eldest daughter by pampering and spoiling her to the exclusion of their other two children. Having made Justine’s acquaintance, Logan wondered how it was that Madeline could have been so overlooked. An ironic smile touched his lips, and he shook his head as he went to the library in search of his private stock of cigars.
Pleading for respite from the dancing, Madeline extricated herself from the crowd of gentlemen surrounding her. She caught sight of her brother-in-law, Lord Bagworth, standing near the long windows that lined the room. He didn’t seem to notice her approach, his attention focused on the formal garden outside, his round face shadowed with a frown. He was a kind, pleasant-looking gentleman, though short in stature and not possessed of an imposing physique.
“Mrs. Scott,” Lord Bagworth said, smiling as he took her hand and bowed over it. “Congratulations on a splendid evening. I must say I’ve never seen you look more lovely.”
“Thank you, my lord. I hope you and my sister are enjoying yourselves.”
“Indeed,” Bagworth said automatically, though his expression remained troubled. He paused for a long time, his thoughtful brown eyes staring into hers. “I must admit,” he said slowly, “that to my regret, your sister and I have just had a bit of a quarrel.”
Puzzled as to why he would make such a confession, Madeline frowned. “My lord…is there anything I can do?”
“Perhaps there is.” Uneasily he cupped one of his hands over the other and twisted them together. “I’m afraid, Mrs. Scott, that Justine is somewhat distressed by your success this evening.”
“Bymy—” Madeline said in astonishment. It was inconceivable that Justine should be jealous of her. Justine had always been the most beautiful, admired, and sought-after sister. “I’m sure I don’t understand why, my lord.”
He looked distinctly embarrassed. “As we both are aware, Justine is possessed of a rather mercurial nature. She seems to fear that your triumph tonight will somehow detract from her accomplishments.”
“But that could never be true,” Madeline protested.
“Nevertheless, in her unhappiness I fear she may have taken it in mind to do something…drastic.”
“Such as?”
Lord Bagworth cast a worried glance around the room. “Where is your husband, Mrs. Scott?”
Madeline’s eyes widened. What could Logan have to do with this? Could it be that Justine, in a fit of envy, would actually try to throw herself at Logan, merely to assure herself of her own attractiveness? “Are you suggesting that I go in search of him?”
“I think that is an excellent idea,” Lord Bagworth replied at once.
Madeline shook her head with a disbelieving laugh. “But Justine would never try to…there’s no reason for…”
“It is only a suspicion,” Lord Bagworth said quietly. “One that I trust will be quickly proven unfounded.”
“If Justine is worried that she will be eclipsed…there is no one capable of competing with her, least of all me.”
Lord Bagworth managed to smile through his worry. “From a long acquaintance with your family, Mrs. Scott, I’ve observed how you have always stood in the shadow of your older sisters. You deserve to be recognized as an attractive and accomplished woman in your own right.”
Madeline smiled distractedly, thinking only of Logan and where he might be. “Thank you, my lord. If you’ll excuse me—”
“Yes, of course.” He bowed to her and remained at the windows, sighing deeply.
Logan went to the library and rummaged through the sideboard near his desk. He was unaware that someone had followed him until he heard a provocative voice ask, “What are you looking for, Mr. Scott? Or perhaps I should call you Logan. We’re family now, after all.”
Logan straightened with the box of cigars in hand, watching sardonically as Madeline’s sister Justine entered the room and closed the door. “Is there something I can help you with, Lady Bagworth?” he asked, his expression unreadable.
“I would like to have a private discussion with you.”
“I don’t have time,” he said brusquely. “I have guests to attend to.”
