The Marriage Lesson -3 by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander [Alexander, Victoria]
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2010-05-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

. . . for Lord W is actively seeking a suitor for my hand. I know it is his duty as my guardian, but oh, dear cousin, it dismays me to no end.

I cannot allow his efforts to continue. I shall confront him as soon as possible, although I admit the prospect is daunting. It is conceivable he will disregard my objections along with my heart.

Yet how can I bear the prospect of being in the arms of any man save him? . . .

The Absolutely True Adventures of a Country Miss in London

Thomas peered cautiously around the library. The last person he wanted to run into was Marianne. The room appeared empty and he stepped inside, wondering if he should check the sofa in front of the fire for hidden sleepers.

He strode across the library to the cabinet housing the brandy and poured a full glass.

Marianne was furious and he wasn’t entirely certain why. Oh, he had an inkling—no, more than an inkling—but hoped against hope that wasn’t it.

She’d left the ballroom tonight on Moxley’s arm and returned on Berkley’s. How that had happened he had no idea, but from the moment she’d rejoined the festivities she’d refused to cast him so much as a casual glance. There was something different in the determined set of her chin and the gleam in her eye, apparent even from across the room. In addition, she’d made it a point to dance with Berkley, twice, and Pennington, also twice, and several other of his friends. And not once did he see her with any of the gentlemen he approved of.

He propped his hip on the desk and sipped thoughtfully.

They’d left tonight’s festivities earlier than usual and she’d been pleasant enough to him on the ride home. Unfailingly pleasant. Annoyingly pleasant. Pleasant to the point where he had to fight the urge to squirm in his seat and Becky and Jocelyn had traded wary glances. Only Lady Louella had seemed oblivious to the underlying tension in the carriage.

Thomas had always considered himself a man of both honor and courage. However, tonight discretion seemed wise, and if it was cowardly to avoid Marianne, well, he could live with that. He’d vanished the moment they’d arrived home and headed for his club to wait until it was safe to return. He hoped Marianne was fast asleep by now.

He started for the door, taking his glass with him. If his luck held, he could avoid her until late in the morning or, even better, late in the day. By then she would be calm and rational and more than willing to listen to his explanation and, yes, his apology.

He heaved a resigned sigh and headed up the stairs. If she knew what he suspected she knew—and frankly he couldn’t think of anything else he might have done—there was little chance any amount of time would assuage her ire unless, of course, he could put off speaking to her for weeks, maybe even months. No, in this instance years would not be long enough.

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