Page 68 of How to Cross a Marquess (The Way to a Lord's Heart 3)

“Your nefarious nonfriend?”

Roger spread his hands and shrugged. “I had no notion what a loose fish he was until that incident. He had a plan all written out, including the bribes, and at the end, a list of what he would do with the girl’s money when he got his hands on it.”

“Clearly you were right to save that young lady from his clutches.”

“No question. Why did he think I would help him?” Roger shook his head as he refilled their wineglasses. “That was one of the most offensive things about his scheme.” He sipped his wine, set down the glass. “Ah, it’s probably best to stay up here for a few nights.”

“So my brothers in-law can recognize that I’m properly ruined?”

“Adjust to the fact that you’re married, say,” he replied.

The reality of her situation had come home to her when she said it out loud. Fenella put her hands to her reddening cheeks. “What will Reverend Cheeve say? He always joked about presiding at my wedding. And Mrs. Cheeve? She will…wallow in being shocked.”

“Had a thought about that,” said Roger.

“About the vicar’s wife? Oh, and Mrs. Patterson. She’s such a model of rectitude. What will she think?” Fenella let her hands drop to her lap. “We’ll have to face the colonel at that wretched pageant. And the stares of the whole neighborhood.” She rested her head on her palm, weighed down by this vision. “We’ll be a regular raree-show. After those letters, too.”

“I’ve thought of something we might tell them. The whole pack of gossips.”

Fenella looked up. “What?”

“That we came up to Scotland for the wedding because of your grandmother. As she’s your favorite relative. Not saying outright that we were married at her place. No lies. Just talking of her and letting people assume that we were. She’d have to agree, of course.”

“But my sisters’ husbands will have been ranting about an elopement. Gissing especially. He doesn’t care who hears when he starts ranting.”

Roger nodded. “That’s a ticklish bit. We’d have to shrug it off without directly contradicting. Awkward bit of family friction. Don’t care to speak of it. That sort of thing.”

“The servants at Clough House will certainly corroboratethat,” she said.

“Or anything else you’d like them to say.”

“True. Oh, I’ll be able to look out for them now.”

“Certainly you went to your grandmother before. Did it again.”

“My invariable habit,” said Fenella dryly. “When in doubt, run away.” But as the idea sank in, she grew more and more enamored of it. “We’d have to go and see Grandmamma.”

“Right.” For the first time, Roger looked apprehensive. “Don’t suppose she’ll be pleased with me.”

“Or me. But when she hears the whole story, she’ll…understand. I think she will. I don’t say she’ll approve, but she has always been ready to help me.” Fenella marveled that she hadn’t thought of this plan herself. She’d been too unsettled by the changes in her life. “You are brilliant.” She reached out and put a hand over his on the tabletop.

He turned his hand over and laced his fingers with hers. Their eyes met and held.

They’d grown so accustomed to suppressing any feelings about each other, Fenella thought. It had been a matter of honor, and quite right, too. She’d been careful not to acknowledge so much as a spark of interest, and she knew he had as well. Caution had become habit.

That wasn’t necessary any longer. Indeed, it wasn’t advisable. They were married. She could let her hand rest in his. She could look at him, admire the strong lines of his face, meet his eyes and not immediately glance away. She could kiss him, as she had at the raspberry thicket. And more. A shiver of excitement shook her. She could let go. Not here in the inn parlor, of course, but…later.

A different kind of heat rushed through her, a flush of attraction, not embarrassment. Or perhaps both. The change was new, to both of them. It made her head spin. Unless that was the desire in his gaze, seeming to tremble in the air between them. The skin of his hand was hot under her fingertips.

“I’ve, ah, engaged two rooms here,” he said finally.

“Have you?” He would get tangled up in words now, Fenella thought. As he did. She decided to let him. For a while. The muddle was so endearing.

“So that you don’t… I wouldn’t want you to… This was all very sudden… That is, of course there is no pressure for you to—”

Fenella took pity on him. “I understand you.”

He looked relieved. “We can wait as long as you wish. Naturally.”

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