How to Marry a Marble Marquis by C.M. Nascosta

Author:C.M. Nascosta [C.M. Nascosta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.M. Nascosta
Published: 2024-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

She was unsurprised when dinner led to dancing, a quartet of elegantly attired moth people setting up their instruments on the far end of the ballroom, well away from the area where they would be gliding around the floor. She noticed that most of the evening staff appeared to be moth-folk, with feathery antennae, large, graceful wings, and a trail of curious iridescent dust trailing behind many of them, quickly swept away by an exhausted-looking young girl. Eleanor wondered how many of them were related to the mothwoman from London.

Being in his arms again, her body pressed to him as they waltzed – something fluttered within her, butterfly wings once more, although she had no intention of letting them fly out of control and obliterate her good sense this time. This time, she was in control.

“After dancing at the ball, will we have the opportunity to be alone with our suitors?” She kept her voice light as possible, with a flirtatious air and coy smile, allowing his hand to slip a bit lower on her hip as they turned.

“Oh, indeed. Slipping off is de rigueur. Although, I do believe the done thing is to slip off amidst the dancing, actually. Hold each other close, whet the appetite, and then find a quiet corner to . . . become better acquainted with each other.”

“Is that our cue to leave then, Lord Stride? To become better acquainted?”

His throat rumbled in a growl, a sound for her ears only, and as they turned around the room, at the furthest point away from the musicians, once she was confident they’d not be seen, Eleanor let a sneaky hand skate down his chest, finding the bulge at the front of his snug breeches easily, giving it a squeeze. There’s no sense in pretending there’s anything left to do.

“I do believe I’ve had enough dancing this evening, yes. Perhaps we can take a stroll through the gardens, Miss Eastwick. I ought to let you retire a bit early this evening. No doubt your travel was arduous, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company a bit first. I do fear your chaperone is likely already abed.”

Eleanor shrugged, giving him a practiced grin. “I suppose I’ll simply have to rely on you to be a gentleman, my lord. It’s a relief that we are strolling at night. One does hear such tales of butterflies dipping their tongues into every flower they find out on the lawn.”

Another growl as he took her by the arm, a signal to the musicians, and then they were exiting the ballroom, moving through the conservatory and out the glass doors that led to the same stone pathway.

The gazebo was a stone and glass edifice, hexagonal in shape, the interior ringed in curving stone benches.

“I confess, my lord, I was surprised to receive your summons. You departed for Basingstone with no notice; I had assumed there must be some emergency.”

“A summons? My, that does sound formal.”

She cocked an eyebrow and gave

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