Page 24 of Marriage Most Scandalous
And then she heard the door to the house open, and the most ominous voice said, “I hope you have an innocent reason to be hugging my wife.”
Daniel released her instantly. She didn’t manage to catch her breath because she lost it again when she saw Sebastian standing on the doorstep, looking as ominous as he’d sounded. She was reminded of how menacing he’d looked when she’d first met him. This was much worse. There was murder in his bright golden eyes, in fact, his very tone had implied that murder would be done if an innocent reason wasn’t forthcoming.
Daniel must have drawn the same conclusion, but he was too shocked to answer. He simply stared incredulously at Sebastian as he blushed profusely. Margaret’s cheeks were red as well, but with anger. When had they decided that they were going to go the “fake” marriage route? Had she missed something? She could have sworn he’d said he was going to do some investigating before they determined whether it would be necessary to pretend they were married. And, really, shouldn’t the final decision have been hers?
“Need help?” Sebastian said into the painful silence, as he slowly walked toward them. “Childhood acquaintance? Old friend of the family? Relative I don’t know about?”
Daniel snapped out of it and quickly replied, “Margaret and I are old friends—well, not so old, only a few years. But I was merely welcoming her home.”
“Innocent—I suppose,” Sebastian allowed as he crossed his arms over his chest, but added, “As a precautionary measure, though, you’ll keep your hands to yourself henceforth. It’s nothing personal, old chap. I’m merely appalled to discover that I make a jealous husband.”
Put that way, Daniel relaxed slightly. He nodded and even courteously extended a hand for introductions. “I’m Daniel Courtly. And you are?”
Sebastian turned his back on them and walked back into the house without answering. So rude! And he’d left Margaret there to do the lying. Good God, she hoped she wouldn’t blunder it. She wasn’t exactly adept at telling falsehoods.
“I’m sorry, Daniel. His behavior is inexcusable. I’m as appalled as he is to learn of his jealous nature. Never witnessed it before.”
“You’ve married,” was all he said, the shocked expression returning to his face. “I don’t believe it.”
The hurt in his tone made Margaret distinctly uncomfortable. “I find it hard to believe m’self,” she assured him. “I didn’t leave here with the intention of looking for a husband in Europe. It was love at first sight, yes, indeed, that’s exactly what it was. Quite unexpected.”
“But he’s not foreign. He’s English. Who is he?”
“Henry Raven.”
“Raven? I’m not familiar with that name. Where is he from? London?”
She blushed. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“You must be joking.”
“No. Let’s leave it at that, please. You’ll find out more about him soon enough.”
“I see—no, I bloody well don’t,” he said, angrily now. The hurt look on Daniel’s face made her feel so guilty, when she really had nothing to feel guilty about, well, other than lying about being married. She could deal much better with his anger.
“I’m devastated if you haven’t guessed,” he fumed. “I thought—obviously I thought wrong. Bloody hell, I don’t even like to ride! I merely took up the habit to be with you.”
She was about to remind him that their relationship hadn’t progressed far enough to warrant his heated reaction, when he up and left. He even shot her a look of disgust as he mounted his horse and rode off.
Margaret sighed. That had been so unpleasant, and so unnecessary. Blast Sebastian! What could he have been thinking to announce their “marriage” in such a rude way? The news was going to spread now. The visitors would start arriving that very day to wish them well and meet her new husband. And what the devil was she supposed to tell them? Yes, I’ve married. No, you can’t meet my husband, go away. Bloody hell. She was afraid this was going to cause quite a scandal.
Chapter 13
SHE FOUND SEBASTIAN IN THE DINING ROOM, looking over the selection of pastries laid out on the table, his back to the door.
“When is luncheon served?”
Margaret was nonplussed. How had he known she was there? She’d made no sound as she’d entered the room, had been especially quiet, in fact, so no servants would come out to see if she needed anything.
“The usual time, but you’re going to be served a piece of my mind first.”
He glanced over his shoulder and raised a brow. “Something wrong?”
How could he look so innocent, as if he hadn’t just rearranged her life? A ruse, no doubt, but it wasn’t going to work.
“What could be wrong? You just dashed that young man’s hopes, and most brutally. That was not the way to break the news to a man I’ve long been friends with. And about that news, how dare you change your mind about...ourmarriagewithout warning me first? I specifically recall—”
“Settle down, Maggie,” he cut in.
