Page 26 of How to Cross a Marquess (The Way to a Lord's Heart 3)

Fenella smiled. “Papa would enjoy hearing that. Thank you for calling on him.”

“I wanted to see you as well.” Roger marshaled his faculties. “To apologize more…effectively.” He had written out and memorized several versions of his apology. He’d taken to doing that in the wake of certain unfortunate incidents where words failed him and disaster ensued.

She looked quizzical.

“I wrote to Doctor Fenchurch and told him I was sorry for my intemperate remarks after…after. And that he always did a fine job. Said he was welcome to share the letter, and I’d be happy to vouch for his skills.” He’d started talking too fast. Needed to slow down.

“Good for you,” said Fenella.

“And I asked Mrs. Burke about Grace. She said Arabella’s maid got a very good position in London and is happier now than she ever was in Northumberland. Do you think I should write her as well?”

“This is not my decision to make.”

“My mother said it might just remind the girl of an unhappy period of her life,” Roger continued. “And it was better to let it lie.”

Fenella nodded. “She would know what’s best.”

“So I hope you see that I truly am sorry.” Roger examined her face, but he couldn’t interpret her expression.

“You don’t have to report to me,” she said.

“You rightly pointed out my failings.”

“How smug you make me sound.”

“You weren’t. More admonitory.”

She made a rejecting gesture. And yet there was a glint in her eyes. Could she be finding a hint of the ridiculous in this conversation, as Roger was? “So there’s just you left,” he said.

“Left?”

“To receive my apologies for maligning you.”

“Maligning? How grand.”

That was the word, Roger thought. He’d written it down. Hadn’t he? He couldn’t look at his notes just now. But that was it. Yes. He hadn’t mistaken it. “Perhaps you know what I mean?” he said stiffly.

Fenella nodded. “I accept your apology. Consider the matter closed. We needn’t mention it again.” She smiled. “And I hope you don’t mean to become utterly humble.”

“What?”

“You were always a wild, free spirit as a boy.”

“I was an insufferable puppy.”

“That too.”

Roger laughed. She joined him. He felt as if a great weight had lifted off him. “About the other thing,” he dared to say then.

“Thing?”

“Our fathers’ misguided plan to marry us.”

“Oh, that thing.”

She looked rueful and amused and completely lovely. “Why did I refuse, back then?” Roger pressed his lips together. After all his preparation, a string of words had popped out of his mouth ahead of conscious thought. Did this happen to other people?

“You were horrified,” said Fenella.

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