Page 49 of Desire and Discipline
“An accident that lefteight dukesdead? What are the odds?” The Marquess looked like he was puffing up again.
“Well, they were all drunk, and there was apparently a good bit of gunpowder at their disposal.” Anthony sighed, shaking his head. “The twits.”
The Marquess opened his mouth, raising his fist to pound it on the table again. He looked like he was about to burst.
“Sit down,” Diana said. At the very least, he needed to be off his feet. Though she knew he’d been faking the trouble with his heart this morning, she was starting to worry that he was going to be in real trouble soon.
“What?”
“Sit. You need to sit and breathe and calm yourself. Working yourself into hysterics is hardly going to be helpful.”
The Marquess narrowed his eyes at her as he lowered himself into the seat. “I am not hysterical.”
“You were getting there. Now, breathe.”
“You should marry me if you want to boss me around this much.”
“You should cooperate if you want to convince anyone to marry you,” she retorted, a flush going through her. Despite everything, he was still bringing that up. She could not help but be flattered, as much as it also frustrated her. Why did he want to marry her so badly?
Could he possibly feel the same way about her that she did about him?
Everything had happened so suddenly, she had not had time to truly think about any of it, and without his reasonings, she did not know what her answer should be. Though part of her realized that her family’s financial troubles would be over if she married him, she’d chosen a profession specifically because she did not want to be beholden to a loveless marriage. She would rather work for her income.
On the other hand, he seemed far more invested in marrying her than a man who did not care for her unless he had an ulterior motive. But she could not think of what such an ulterior motive would be.
“You should perhaps try some romance and courtship if you want to convince anyone to marry you,” Evie murmured softly enough, Diana almost did not hear her.
The Marquess clearly did, though, and he paused, an arrested expression on his face. Then he looked at Diana, and she quickly ducked her head, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest, she was sure everyone else could hear it.
Romance and courtship. And he’s considering it.
She had never been courted before.
Did she want to be courted?
If he’s the one doing the courting.
Blast.
This was not the time for this. There was a national crisis at hand, and she was thinking about being courted by her first and only lover. Good grief. Focus, Diana. On the other hand, he was thinking about it, too, which was rather nice.
“I think I will have to go out there to inspect the premises myself,” Evie said almost absently. All the dukes had died in an explosion that set the hunting lodge where they’d been staying on fire. “Ask questions of the survivors. See what I can discover and whether or not it was an assassination or a horrific accident.”
“You are not going alone,” Anthony immediately replied, looking up from his reading.
“Fine. I will take you with me.”
“I will stay here.” The Marquess scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Someone needs to be here.”
Evie shot a pleading look at Diana. She hesitated only a moment before nodding, resigned to staying at Camden House. Without Evie and Anthony there, the Marquess would need support and someone to keep an eye on him. That would have to be her.
Besides, if she left now, it would be harder for him to court her. And Diana was very curious about what that might look like.
What was the harm in staying?
8
Oliver
