Mistletoe, Mischief, and the Marquis by Amelia Grey

Author:Amelia Grey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2016-11-28T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

It was difficult for Lillian to keep her eyes off the marquis. His black wool cloak fit perfectly over his wide, straight shoulders, giving him a commanding air few gentlemen could match. His shiny black knee-high boots made him look like a scoundrel of the highest order and added a dash of mystery to his appearance as well.

The open carriage was quite fancy for the half-mile journey to the paddock and stables. Black-lacquered doors painted with fancy gold lettering and elaborate swirls, plush seats covered in a dark-green velvet fabric, and ornate brass-trimmed handles completed the elegant traveling coach.

After a bit of shoving, a thrown elbow or two, and a few words of arguing who would be the first to climb onto the conveyance, the boys settled onto the backseat with the fully packed picnic basket between them. They tucked the wool blankets around their legs while the marquis helped Lillian into the front. She arranged her skirts and opened her matching dark blue parasol, resting it against her shoulder.

A chilling wind blew from the north but there wasn’t a cloud, white or gray, to mar the promise of a splendid day ahead. Seldom did the sun beat down so brightly upon the earth from a clear sky when it was so late in the afternoon and so blasted cold.

The marquis had been a perfect gentleman since their kisses at the top of the stairs a few days ago. Their encounter had left her breathless, not to mention stunned by the intense desire she’d felt for him. She’d been held in a man’s arms before but never completely consumed by his embrace. She had been kissed. Softly. Briefly. Never so thoroughly that even remembrance of it caused delicious shivers to overcome her.

Oh, she feared she might have done the unthinkable and fallen in love with the Lord Wythebury despite her feelings that he was not the kind of man she should marry.

They’d exchanged long glances and polite conversation the past couple of evenings in the drawing room before dinner and later during the evening’s meal. Every time she looked at him, she remembered their kisses and hoped there would be more, but it wouldn’t be today. Not with the boys along.

Lillian had been attracted to Lord Wythebury the instant their eyes met. For a short time, she’d even thought maybe he was the one she’d been waiting for to fulfill all her dreams. But no, she could never consider marrying a man who was so strict and unyielding of his ways with children. They would constantly be at odds. Reluctantly she must resign herself to simply enjoying the marquis and his loveable nephews for only as long as their visit at Hurst lasted. She would do what she could to make sure Fallon and Heron, along with their schoolwork, had a wonderful visit as well. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about how heartbreaking it would be when she said good-bye to them.

The marquis took the ribbons from the driver, dismissed him, and then climbed up onto the seat beside her.

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