The Mysterious Marquis by Karen Cogan

Author:Karen Cogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Historical romance, Clean and wholesome Historical Romance, Mystery Historical Romance, Historical Regency Fiction, Historical Mystery, Regency Romance, Historical British Fiction, Regency Romance Fiction, Clean Regency Romance, Best Regency Romance
Publisher: karen Cogan
Published: 2022-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Thomas’s display of devotion intoxicated Marianne. His eyes never left her when other gentleman requested a dance, and he reclaimed her as promptly as propriety would allow. Her feelings were so changed towards him that he had never fared so favorably in her eyes as he did at this assembly.

When the ball ended, she reflected upon the evening as they rode home in the snug coach. Marianne noted how comfortable the foursome had become with each other. Her father and Lady Alton had proved so companionable that they had rarely left each other’s side. She could not have asked for a better companion to get her father back into society than this woman she had come to think of as a particular friend and confidante. Now, with the lateness of the hour, they nodded off a bit, coming alert just often enough to pretend wakefulness.

Thomas gave her a bemused smile as he leaned toward her from the seat he occupied beside his mother. He whispered, “Now I have you all to myself just as I have wished for all evening.”

He nodded toward their weary parents. “I believe they are too soundly asleep to serve as proper chaperones.”

Marianne was shocked at such audacity, even from Thomas. She put her finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh. How can you say such things?”

“Because I have wished to speak to you all evening, to have you tell me that you cared no more for those other men than I did for my myriad of partners and that you were jealous of each one that I held in my arms.”

Marianne laughed. “Each time I looked up, I saw you looking at me. I am surprised you did not run one of your partners into a wall.”

She caught his chagrined smile as the coach rolled past a streetlamp. The shadows played across his handsome features even as the open curtains let in the night breeze.

He lamented, “It is true. I could not help wondering what you were thinking and if you had found anyone who caught your fancy.”

“I did indeed.”

She heard him suck in a breath.

“You did?”

“Yes. Every time I watched you steer your partner across the floor, I thought you the most handsome man in the room.”

Surprised by her boldness, Marianne blushed. She was glad the coach was dark again. She hoped fervently that her father and Lady Alton were fast asleep.

He sighed softly in relief as he exhaled. “It seems we were watching each other. How pleasant to find that we believe each other the most handsome of all.”

Marianne chuckled at his assertion. “Indeed. If we continue to hold each other in such fine opinion, we may each become quite unbearably conceited.”

Thomas took her small, gloved hand into his own. “Somehow I do not think you are the sort of woman to become easily conceited.”

The coach clattered to a stop before she could reply. Marianne blinked, surprised at how short the trip had been. She would have been content to continue all night, riding along in Thomas’s amiable presence.

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