Page 74 of Midnight with the Marquess (The St. Clairs 2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rachel dressed withcare. She thought back to this time last year and how excited she and Leah were to be finally making their come-out. They had planned their wardrobes for months and talked endlessly about the kind of man they hoped to meet and marry. Now, Leah would show up tonight as a married woman of six months with Alex on her arm.

Rachel pushed her feet into blue satin slippers and then slipped on her elbow-length gloves. She couldn’t help but think where Merrick had been this time last year. At war. While she’d danced away nights with gentlemen of theton, Merrick had been healing from his bullet wounds and then continuing to fight on. It made what happened in London tonight seem so shallow with their country still at war with Bonaparte.

She wondered where Merrick was tonight. If he would make an appearance at the Parkers’ ball. If he did, would he ask to dance with her? She doubted it. Jeremy and Catherine would be in attendance. Her brother would search the crowd. If he spied Merrick at any point, all it would take would be a single look from the duke and Merrick would never approach her.

It didn’t matter. He didn’t love her. He never would. Besides, she already had a respectable gentleman interested in wedding her. Tonight, she might add more names to her list. She would keep an open mind and find the man best suited to her. One she would learn to love, thanks to all of his wonderful traits which she would mark down on her list.

Rachel went downstairs and found Jeremy pacing. He looked quite handsome in his evening clothes.

Taking her hands, he held them out and eyed her with appreciation. “You are the most beautiful sister. Every man there will fall under your spell.” He paused. “If Merrick is present tonight, you know not to dance with him.”

“Of course,” she said, no nonsense in her tone. “I hope to dance with many men tonight and throughout the Season but he will not be one of them.”

“What are your feelings regarding Merrifield?” he asked cautiously.

“I like him a good deal. It will take someone outstanding to knock him from the top spot on my list.”

“Oh, you have a list, do you?”

“I do.” She chuckled. “At the moment, Merrifield is the only one on it. I’ve listed his good qualities. We’ll see where he stands after tonight.”

Catherine sailed down the stairs and Rachel saw her brother’s eyes darken. He greeted his wife with a tender kiss.

“I will be escorting the two loveliest ladies tonight,” he proclaimed and then amended it when Cor came down the stairs. “Make that three ravishing beauties.”

Cor’s answer was to swat him with her fan.

The coach ride only took a few minutes. As they disembarked, Leah and Alex pulled up next to them. They waved and joined them, going inside and immediately to the receiving line. Once they went through it, Leah clutched Rachel’s wrist and began dragging her off.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I must get to the retiring room.”

Rachel saw Leah had suddenly turned white as a sheet and rushed her there. They barely got inside the door and to a chamber pot before Leah lost everything she’d consumed at dinner.

“Are you increasing?” Rachel whispered.

“I am. I’ve never been more sick in my life the past week. It never comes early in the morning, as I was led to believe. For me, it starts around nine in the evening.”

She hugged her friend. “You will make a wonderful mother, Leah. Alex, too, will be a doting papa.”

“You think so?” Leah asked, some color now returning to her face.

“I know so.”

Leah swallowed and frowned. “That awful taste. I hate it. This baby better be worth it.”

“He—or she—will be. You’ll see,” promised Rachel. “Why don’t you go home? After all, you’ve already landed a titled, handsome husband. There’s no need for you to be here.”

“You don’t mind? We haven’t seen each other at all since you arrived in London. I so wanted to catch up with you.”

“There will be plenty of time for that. Go.” She kissed Leah’s cheek. “I came with Jeremy and Catherine. Luke is also here somewhere. Or he will be at some point. He can escort me home if they wish to leave early. Don’t worry. I’ll have people to talk with. I will call on you tomorrow and bring Catherine. Maybe even the children.”

“Yes, I’d like that very much.”

Rachel saw Leah back to Alex and said, “Take her home. She’s unwell.”

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