Page 39 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“Well, Vi, I see you have been keeping more secrets,” Juliet said, hurrying to pick up the rattle again.
Edward closed the nursery door in the Duke of Darby’s house behind him, uncertain what to say. He would have been happier had Lady Violet not been here at all so he could have a chance to talk to Juliet.
“Oh, I’m becoming quite a master of secrets,” Lady Violet declared with a giggle and raised the boy in her hands. “There, give me the rattle, and I shall take dear Henry here to his mother.”
Edward quickly deduced the boy to be the son of a friend of theirs. Lady Violet offered the rattle to the baby boy, who took it hurriedly and shook it in the air as if his life depended on it. Lady Violet laughed.
“Well, I could leave him behind to cover up your conversation, but I think that unwise. If you would excuse me, Lord Ashton. It is nice to meet you at last face to face, though I am sure you will be very glad if I do not stay for long.”
He stepped out of the way and allowed her to move towards the door, where she turned back to face them both.
“Vi.” Juliet put her hands on her hips. “Tell me once and for all what you are up to here. Poor Lord Ashton looks baffled, to say the least, and as for me –”
“Yes, yes, I know. I can read your glares well enough, for I have many years of experience of them.”
“Apparently not enough,” Juliet murmured wryly, and Edward had to fight his urge to smile at her wit.
“When I heard of what is passing between you two, and no need to look like that, Lord Ashton. We are sisters and tell each other everything. Well, most things, I do not doubt she has not told me everything.” Lady Violet paused with a knowing smile.
Edward glanced at Juliet, fearing she had told her sister about their stolen kisses. The more people who knew about what they had shared, the greater the chance of a scandal or their parents finding out.
“Why do I feel as if I am not being brought here to be reprimanded?” Edward asked, mirroring Juliet’s stance and folding his arms.
“Because you are.” Violet stood tall, that victorious smile never slipping for one second. “Today is the culmination of my own little mischief. I have sought to bring our two families together, and while I work in the meantime to try and end their argument –”
“An impossible task,” Edward cut in.
“That’s what I said.” Juliet approached his side, nodding in agreement. His head shot towards her, for he could feel something in his gut stirring at her close proximity.
“You are going to have to stop looking at her like that in public, Lord Ashton. Save it for private rooms, or all in this house will read what is on your mind all too plainly.” Lady Violet laughed once more as he looked at her with stunned, wide eyes. “I imagine it would be best if you two made an appearance of resenting one another’s presence completely at these events.
Send jibes and taunts one another’s way for now to throw our parents off the scent. I have organized this little jaunt so the two of you can spend more time together and get to know one another, hopefully without arousing the suspicions of our parents.
You can look at me with shock, My Lord, and perhaps with doubt, too, Juliet, but it is worth a chance. I encourage you both to take some time to form your plans now while I deliver little Henry to his mother. Good afternoon to you both.” With these words, Lady Violet swept out of the room, leaving Edward staring after her with his jaw slack.
Fortunately, the door swung shut of its own accord behind her, leaving him and Juliet quite alone.
“Did you have any idea she –?”
“No, none.” Juliet shook her head before he could finish asking his question. Abruptly, she laughed, turning her face up to him. “I may think my sister foolhardy at times, perhaps even overambitious, but I cannot deny tipping my cap to her in one regard. She has quite brilliantly managed to offer me a few minutes alone with you again.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, deepening his voice. “As much as I am longing for another one of those kisses, this is hardly the room to do it in, I’m sure.” Even as he said the words, he neared her. They didn’t quite touch, though their eyes drank one another in, and they both shifted their weights from side to side as if nervous to approach like skittish horses. When she bit her lip, staring up at him with mischief in her eyes, he nearly gave in.
Another kiss … how easy would it be to take now?
“Well, if I cannot tempt you now, perhaps another time?” she offered, the tension between them palpable in the air. “I currently have three gentlemen arguing over who can spend the afternoon with me, but I’d be very glad to disappoint them all if another offer was to present itself.”
“You would?” he said, smiling at her words.
“Gladly. If the offer were made …” she said leadingly, waiting for him to speak.
“Let us discuss the plans for the next few days, Juliet. With the races and all the parties the Duke of Darby has planned, I’m sure we can find more than just a few minutes to be alone together.”
Chapter 12
“Come, come, we must have more partnerships for the scavenger hunt. My wife and I have gone to great effort in preparing this little jaunt for you all,” the Duke of Darby said, clapping his hands together as he spoke, as was his habit as he marched around the drawing room. “Come, someone must volunteer.”
“I’ll be happy to accompany you, Your Grace,” Violet declared, her hand on Brandon’s beside her. “My husband and I will come as a partnership.
