Page 47 of Marriage Most Scandalous
“Well, no, actually. But I certainly heard an earful about him this morning when I called on the duchess.”
“I can imagine. But there was nothing brave about my marrying him, I do assure you. He is, quite frankly, one of the most handsome men I’ve ever known. And charming. I really couldn’t help but fall in love with him.”
“Really? But what about Daniel Courtly? They say he’s shattered over this, that he was courting you himself before your trip to Europe, and now’s he’s gone off to London to nurse a broken heart.”
“Nonsense. Daniel and I were just friends. Any courtship involved was purely in his mind. He never once implied he had serious intentions.”
“Goodness, I’ll need to set a few ladies straight on that, then.”
Margaret smiled to herself. She hadn’t expected to find a good use for an avid gossip. But then she hadn’t expected to be accused of breaking Daniel’s heart, either.
The ladies stayed for lunch, of course. The hour was that late, they had to be invited. And they lingered afterward. Margaret had no doubt they were hoping for a look at the black sheep of the family, but he remained conspicuously absent.
Her suspicion was confirmed when Alberta said in parting, “I believe a party is in order. Marrying abroad as you did, we missed the prenuptial festivities. No, no, Maggie, you have your hands full here,” she added when Margaret started to look appalled. “I’ll see to everything. Say this Friday at my house? And no excuses. You and your husband will be the guests of honor.”
“This isn’t the best time for a party, because Douglas isn’t well enough to attend,” Margaret pointed out.
But Alberta was too used to getting her way to agree and simply said, “Nonsense, Douglas might be quite well by then, and if he isn’t, he certainly wouldn’t want to stand in the way of your new husband’s reintroduction to society.”
Margaret groaned. There was nothing she could say to that. Mentioning that Sebastian probably wouldn’t agree to come was out of the question. You just didn’t say things like that to Alberta Dorrien.
But the dowager duchess did surprise her with one final remark, which she whispered. “I haven’t seen Abbie look so perky in years. Obviously having her grandson home is responsible, so I do hope all works out well here when Douglas is on his feet again— for her sake.”
So did Margaret, with all her heart.
Margaret took a break later that afternoon from sitting at Douglas’s bedside. He still hadn’t awakened, though if he’d done so briefly she might not have noticed, she was so distracted by her own thoughts. Sebastian figured in those thoughts, too prominently.
It wasn’t the first time Margaret missed having a mother she could talk to about such things. But hers had died so long ago that she had no memories of her. Eleanor had tried to fill the role from time to time, but she’d been too young herself to know how, and anything of a “mature” nature that she’d tried to impart she’d merely picked up from her friends who didn’t know any better either.
So Margaret knew next to nothing about lovemaking that she could state clearly was a fact and not hearsay, other than what she’d gathered from nature. But she knew there was no comparison there. Animals were governed by a different set of rules or no rules, merely instincts. Yet people had choices, and aside from needing children to carry on lines, they still chose to make love regardless. So they must like it or they wouldn’t keep doing it.
Would she like it? She blushed, remembering how intrigued she’d been by Sebastian’s suggestion of a trade. But she shouldn’t even be thinking about it. She knew in her heart it was wrong to trade sex for money. She’d come up with that blasted money for him somehow!
Besides, she didn’t even like Sebastian, merely found him handsome. She was attracted by his looks. But she was repelled by his personality. And there were her old reasons for not liking him, a dislike that had been compounded since she’d met him again. And yet, what he made her feel . . . She couldn’t deny that those few minutes in his arms had been sublime and more exciting than anything she’d ever experienced.
Her dratted curiosity was urging her to find out more about those exciting feelings. That was the trouble.
Chapter 26
MARGARET CAUGHTSEBASTIANjust as Mr. Hobbs let him in. She wasn’t sure how to break the news to him about Alberta’s party, but she did have better news to impart first. But then John followed him in, luggage in hand.
She raised a brow at Sebastian’s valet. “Moving in, when we might not be here another night?”
“Optimism, Lady Margaret. I’m full of it.”
She grinned, liking his attitude. With Mr. Hobbs taking John off to get him settled, she turned to Sebastian, to find him still standing in the open doorway. “We brought your mare with us from White Oaks. Care to go for a ride before dinner?”
What a wonderful idea! “Yes, actually. That was rather thoughtful of you, to bring Sweet Tooth.”
“I have my moments, I suppose.”
He said that so dryly she couldn’t help but laugh. “If we’re not going far, I won’t have to change.”
“Just out to the cliffs. Timothy has a hankering to see the view and will chaperone us.”
“Splendid. Shall we be off, then?”
The ride wasn’t long. It actually took only a few minutes since they ended up having a little friendly competition getting there. It was merely a raised brow on her part that started it, but Sebastian had understood perfectly and obliged her. A race to the cliffs, and she won! How exhilarating. She was laughing when he reached her.
