Page 40 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“Excellent, excellent. That makes six partnerships already, a good number. Lady Juliet? Can we persuade you?” the duke asked, stepping towards her with a hopeful smile.
Juliet tore her gaze from where she had been staring across the room. She and Lord Ashton had been making faces at one another when they knew their parents weren’t looking, though they were sure to keep their distance. She had been somewhat distracted, admiring him sitting there without a tailcoat and his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows thanks to the heat of the day. The flash of skin and the toned forearms made her mouth rather dry.
“Oh, yes,” she said, struggling to concentrate on what the duke had said. “Yes, I’ll be glad to join in, but I am afraid I am at a disadvantage, for I have no partner.”
Lord Nosterley and Mr Beaker both sat forward on their settee, looking ready to volunteer and then argue over being her partner.
“You will need a partner who is a fan of the outdoors then, Juliet,” Violet said beside her, but loud enough for both Lord Nosterley and Mr Beaker to hear, for it was well-known they preferred to stay inside and watch such games from affair.
“Yes, indeed,” the Duke of Darby said with eagerness. “Ah, I know one such gentleman fond of the outdoors.” He crossed the room towards Lord Ashton, who Juliet now noticed was glaring at Lord Nosterley and Mr Beaker.
Why is he glaring at them?
“Lord Ashton, can we persuade you?” the duke asked. A moment later, his wife stood up and elbowed him as if to remind him of the rift between the families.
The Duke of Lantham and Robert glanced at one another across the room.
“Do not pressure the man to play the game if he does not wish to,” Robert said, clearly putting on a front of politeness though he moved protectively to stand beside Juliet. She glanced at her father, a little resentful of his interference now.
“There is no pressure,” Lord Ashton said. “I’ll be glad to join the game.” Far behind him, Amelia started waving madly at him to reject the offer, but when the Duke of Darby turned around, her movement catching his eye, she dropped her hand and smiled instead as if nothing would give her greater pleasure than to see her son partnered in a game with her enemy’s daughter.
“Then it is settled. All those willing to play along, come with me, and I shall give you your first clue.” As the Duke of Darby left the room, with others following behind him, Juliet was careful to hang at the back of the group, waiting for Lord Ashton to follow him.
Before they could join one another’s side, the Duke of Lantham appeared beside them.
“Forgive me, Lady Juliet, but I must just urge my son that he need not feel hehasto play.”
“Pray, do not bother with pretence, Your Grace,” Juliet said, deciding it was best to cut through this awkward over-politeness at once. She didn’t like the way the Duke and Duchess of Lantham kept shooting suspicious glances her way. “You do not wish your son to accompany me because of our family’s history.”
The duke merely sighed, clearly not content to have it expressed so explicitly. Lord Ashton laughed, though the sound died when the Duke of Lantham looked sharply at him.
“Worry not, Father. I have agreed to play to please our host. I am sure I can bear with Lady Juliet’s company a little while.”
“Bear with it?” she asked. “Oh dear, are you of a weak constitution?” she challenged him, noting the way he was trying not to smile, for she saw his cheek twitch. “Do you regularly tire of the company of ladies who like good conversation?”
“A challenge indeed.” He rubbed his hands together. “It seems I must prove myself of a strong constitution and put up with your company after all.”
“Put up?” she repeated, acting up her affront.
“This is not a good idea,” the Duke of Lantham muttered.
“All will be well, Father. Trust me,” Lord Ashton added, then gestured for Juliet to lead the way out of the room. “Please, take the reins, My Lady.” She nodded and walked ahead, aware that he followed behind her, even as many pairs of eyes followed them out of the room.
As they stepped into the corridor, he caught up with her. They hadn’t yet caught up with the Duke of Darby’s scavenger party, so they were able to exchange amused glances with a smile.
“Take the reins?” she repeated with a grin.
“Well, I have a feeling you are one who rather likes to take control, am I wrong?” he asked as they reached the entrance hall where the others were gathered. She reached for a spencer jacket, and as he took it from her to help her into it, he bent down and used it as a cover to whisper in her ear. “Do you like taking control in all manners of life?”
“How do you mean?” she asked, his lips so close to her ear that a ripple of pleasure passed up her spine, and she had to try hard not to shudder with delight.
“I mean, you have me wondering things, imagining …” He released the jacket as she flicked up the collar. With everyone else in the entrance hall facing away from them, he teasingly ran his fingers down the backs of her arms, and this time, she couldn’t suppress that thrilling shudder. “There are certain places I think I’d enjoy seeing you take the reins.”
“Where?” she asked, longing to hear him say the words. Yet someone passed by them, and they were prevented from saying anything more explicit.
“Do you need to ask?” he said instead and winked at her.
They strode out of the house, following the others who all trailed behind the Duke of Darby. He came to a stop at the bottom of the steps in front of his house and turned to face them with a gleeful smile.
