Page 49 of Marriage Most Scandalous
“There were a couple of minor falls I’d thought nothing about. Mere bruises he blamed on tripping. Then he was almost run over on one of his trips to London. A passing carriage driving too fast, though the driver never stopped to apologize. Douglas didn’t even mention that one. His own driver brought back the news. But that was one accident too many for me. And Juliette and Denton had gone with him to London that time. That was when I finally began to suspect that some skulduggery was afoot and that Juliette and Denton might be involved.”
“Well, since nothing you’ve mentioned can be looked into after all this time, I’ll have to use other means to investigate. But enough about that. You really are too single-minded, m’dear. I invited you out here to relax and have a little fun, not to discuss unpleasantries.”
She was warmed by that “m’dear” when she shouldn’t be. This charming Sebastian really was much too likable.
Chapter 27
MARGARET ANDSEBASTIANhad just returned from their ride and were entering the parlor when she vaguely heard a coach pull up in front of the house. But neither of them could mistake hearing Mr. Hobbs say, “Welcome home, Lady Juliette.”
Margaret quickly moved out to the entryway. She certainly wasn’t going to warn Juliette that Sebastian had come home. She just wanted to witness the lady’s reaction when she first clapped eyes on Sebastian. If Juliette really was trying to get rid of Douglas so she and Denton could inherit their new titles, then the possibility that the elder son might patch things up with his father would definitely put a wrinkle in her plans.
“Hello, Juliette,” Margaret said.
Juliette turned and smiled. She was an extremely lovely looking woman. Her blond hair was artfully curled, her figure as trim as ever, her green eyes sparkled. She wore makeup, but only enough to enhance her beauty. She always dressed in the height of fashion, but then she frequently visited the seamstresses in London to assure that.
“Maggie! How good to see you back. I did not expect you to return so soon. If I had gone to Europe, I certainly would not have hurried home. But I would have hurried home from London if I had known you were here.”
Juliette hugged her. Margaret expected it. Juliette had actually taken to her during her time at Edgewood. She was aware that Juliette considered her a friend, quite possibly the only one she had in England. The other women in the neighborhood had never forgiven her for her part in The Tragedy. They might not shun her, because she was a Townshend, after all, but they’d never warmed to her. She wondered if Juliette thought that might change once she was an earl’s wife and enjoyed a higher rank than many of the neighbors.
Juliette stood back and eagerly asked, “So did you enjoy your trip? And visit all the places in Paris that I mentioned? Come now, I wish to hear ...every—”
Her words trailed off. Sebastian had come to stand in the parlor doorway. Apparently Juliette had noticed him and had turned so pale that she could have been witnessing her own death—or seeing it in Sebastian’s expression. Margaret turned to glance at him and was taken aback. This was The Raven, cold and deadly. He looked even more menacing than when she’d first met him in those old ruins he called home. It was his eyes. There probably wasn’t anyone, with or without an active imagination, who would doubt there was murder in those golden eyes.
Mr. Hobbs must have thought so. Margaret had never seen him move as fast as he did just then, disappearing down the hall. She too felt a distinct urge to leave, and Sebastian wasn’t even looking at her. So she could imagine what Juliette must be feeling.
“Run along, Maggie,” Sebastian said, his tone even—until he chillingly added, “Denton’s wife and I have some unfinished business to discuss.”
“Stay, Maggie, please,” Juliette whispered urgently at her side.
“Maggie, go!” he bit out.
She bolted up the stairs and hurried to Denton’s room, where she pounded on the door.
When he opened it, she simply said, “You might want to go downstairs and prevent your brother from being charged with murder.”
“Murder?”
“Your wife is home.”
“Bloody hell!” was all he said as he rushed down the corridor.
Margaret followed, though she remained at the top of the stairs. Juliette, seeing her husband coming to rescue her, ran up them herself and into their room.
Margaret heard Denton tell his brother, “You can’t kill her.”
“Why don’t you divorce her, then?” Sebastian demanded.
“You think I don’t want to?”
“Well?”
“I can’t. So leave it alone, Seb. Please, just leave it alone.”
Denton said no more and returned to his room as well. He barely glanced at Margaret in passing. He looked like a defeated man. That was the first time she’d ever heard him say that he wanted quittance from his wife.
Margaret was reluctant to meet Sebastian’s gaze as he mounted the stairs. Now would be a good time for her to hide in her own room, but the trouble with that was he’d just follow her. She stared at her feet instead, feeling quite guilty now for calling Denton and cutting short Sebastian’s talk with Juliette.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Why did you do that?” he asked her.
