A Marquis for Mary by Michaels Jess

Author:Michaels, Jess [Michaels, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: The Passionate Pen
Published: 2015-06-09T07:00:00+00:00

Mary could hardly concentrate as she bounced up on the balls of her feet and looked to the large clock beside the entrance to the ballroom. It was nearly twelve, just moments until her assignation with Edward.

The ball had been wonderful, of course, filled with friends and family who only wished her well. And her father. Who also wished her well in his own way, she supposed.

Just as that thought filled her mind, she turned to find the man, himself, standing beside her. He was listing slightly, obviously drunk on the Duke of Hartholm’s spirits.

“Hello again, Father,” she said, some of her pleasure fading as she watched him try to right himself from his cockeyed position. “You look as though you are enjoying yourself.”

He sniffed. “Hartholm is trying to corral me into a corner away from the more important folk, as usual.”

Mary could hardly contain her smile. Crispin’s brother, the very handsome Duke of Hartholm, and his wife were two of the most wonderful people she had ever met. They had helped her in her failed recent attempts at finding a mate without ever judging her or making her feel like a disappointment.

And Hartholm was very good at managing her father.

“I’m certain His Grace wouldn’t corral you,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

He caught it with a scowl. “I had a talk with your new little family, Mary.”

She froze. “With the Woodleys?”

“Yes, Lady Woodley seems to think very highly of you despite how you caught her son in a trap.”

Mary’s jaw dropped open. “How I—that was all your doing!”

“Once you are married, you will continue to sponsor me, Mary. Gemma has all this time and you will have even more access to the better life. Perhaps I could even court your new mother-in-law.”

Mary drew back in horror. “Lady Woodley?”

He smiled. “She would raise my lot considerably, wouldn’t she?”

The clock behind her chimed and Mary jumped.

“I have someone to meet, Father,” she said, her pleasure for the night rapidly bleeding out in the face of his smug satisfaction. “Good evening.”

He let her turn for a moment before he drew her back. “Don’t foul this up, Mary. If you do, I promise you’ll be sorry.”

She shook his hand away and rushed blindly through the ballroom, past the smiling faces of her friends, through the crowds preparing to dance and revel in her happiness. A happiness she couldn’t feel as she found the little side room tucked away behind a screen near the east entrance of the ballroom and stepped inside.

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