Page 69 of Marriage Most Scandalous
His scowl darkened. “Why do I have the feeling you aren’t joking about this?”
She tsked. “Because I’m not. And it’s just one more night in England, Sebastian. You can leave the morning after the party.”
He made her wait for a few moments before he said, “Very well, but only if we both return to White Oaks immediately. You can send someone back to tell your maid to pack your bags.”
“That’s rather extreme, isn’t it? It would take me only a few minutes to find Edna to tell her.”
“Now, or we don’t have a deal.”
“What about your grandmother?” Margaret asked. “Aren’t you going to say good-bye to her?”
A pained expression flitted across his face. “Where is she now, the conservatory?”
Margaret nodded.
“What is your rush?” she asked in exasperation as she stood up to leave the table.
“My father is going to be coming down those stairs any moment now. Whatever convalescing he still has to do, he refuses to do in his room. And I am not going to be here when he finds out the man you married is me.”
“I see,” she said tightly as she walked out of the dining room. And she did see. The man wasn’t going to take any more chances on being forced to marry her for real.
Chapter 41
YOU’RE LOOKING RATHER PERKY,” Margaret remarked when Florence joined her on the sofa in the parlor at White Oaks that afternoon for a cup of tea. “I would have thought you’d be harried with our abrupt return, at least for a day or two.”
It wasn’t unusual for the housekeeper and the lady of the house to be sharing tea in White Oaks. Margaret refused to abide by the strict class structure in her own home. Her servants were like family and that’s how she treated them. And Florence always had been her closest confidante.
“And you’re looking a bit dour,” Florence rejoined. “Care to share why?”
“I asked first.”
Florence chuckled. That particular answer was one they’d both used all through their childhood together.
“Very well,” Florence said in a lowered tone, even glanced toward the door to make sure they were still alone. “I confess I missed John when he left.”
“John Richards?”
“Yes. We’d just been getting better acquainted when he packed up and moved to Edgewood.”
“You like him, I take it?”
Florence grinned. “You know I had begun to despair that I’d ever meet a fellow up to my standards.”
“You’re just too picky,” Margaret teased.
“No, the men around here are either too old or too young for me.”
“Rubbish. You’re too picky.”
Florence laughed. “Very well, I do have certain standards, and John meets them all. I haven’t spoken to him yet since you returned, but now that he’s back, I expect we’ll be getting even better acquainted.”
Margaret was torn. She wanted to take Florence into her confidence but realized if she did, her friend would end up being as miserable as she was. Then again, if she knew in advance, that would give her time to convince John to stay if she cared to try. Sebastian was determined to leave. That didn’t mean his valet had to go with him. John just might prefer to settle down and start a family.
“There’s something you should know, Florence. I would have told you eventually, but it might be to your benefit to hear it now instead.”
“Goodness, to go by your expression, I don’t think I want to know.”
“Very well—”
