Page 28 of Romancing the Rifleman
“No, really, I am sorry.And it’s not what you think.”His gaze fell on her, and his expression turned sorrowful.“I know Diana would never be interested in the likes of me.”
“She most certainly would not,” Marcus snapped.“And that’sLadyDiana to you.”
Diana wrenched her arm from Marcus’s grasp and rounded on her brother.“Why don’t you letmedecide whom I grant permission to call me by my first name?Who I dance with, who I?—”
“Because I.Know.Better!”Marcus hissed.“I know he is in possession of a certain amount of wit and charm.But I have known him for almost twenty years.I know the true measure of his character!”
“You knew him when he was twelve years old,” Diana shot back.“I will grant you, his behavior at the time was appalling.But that was more than fifteen years ago.People change, Marcus.And if you would consider the man he is today?—”
“I cannotbelieveyou are defending him!”Marcus snapped.“That you would choosehimoverme, after everything I have…”
His voice broke, and her brother, who was never less than absolutely confident, trailed off, looking down.
“Marcus.”Diana took two steps forward and seized his arm.“Don’t think of it that way.Just because I hold Lieutenant Astley in high regard does not mean I don’t love you.”
“Doesn’t it?”Marcus asked softly.“Because…”
The click of shoes on the flagstones caused them all to look up.Edward Astley was crossing the balcony with brisk strides.“You’re causing a scene,” he said without preamble.“Gossip is spreading like wildfire across the ballroom that Harrington and Lady Diana repaired to the balcony together, and whatever they did out here was bad enough that you two are coming to blows over it.”
Marcus muttered a curse.Coincidentally, it was the same one Diana had used earlier.
Edward seized his brother by the shoulder.“Harrington and I will exit through the gardens.”He nodded toward a door at the far end of the balcony.“That will lead you into the morning room, should you wish to slip out unnoticed.”
“I think we should all return to the ballroom together and act as if nothing is amiss,” Diana said.“After all, the truth is that we didn’t do anything improper, and the doors were open the entire time.We can brazen it out.”
Edward paused.“That… is a good idea.”He looked pointedly at Harrington and Marcus.“Especially if you two can manage to act as if you’re the best of friends.”
“I can do it,” Harrington offered.
Marcus remained silent a beat before grumbling, “I can do it, too.”He smirked at Harrington.“As friendly as I ever look, that is.”
Diana took Marcus’s arm.Harrington came up on his other side, slinging an arm around his neck.Edward walked beside his brother.
As they came into the ballroom, Marcus leaned in and whispered something to Harrington.It was most likely a death threat, but Harrington laughed as if it were some hilarious joke.
She glanced up at her brother.He was smirking at Harrington.She had to admit, it was cheerfulfor Marcus, and the expression was probably more convincing than if he’d walked in grinning like an idiot.
Harrington whispered something she couldn’t make out in Marcus’s ear, slapped him on the back, then drifted off across the ballroom with his brother.
Diana caught a trio of matrons gaping at her while a fourth whispered something behind her fan.She gazed at them steadily and arched an imperious eyebrow.In unison, their eyes went wide.One of them took a step back as if she’d been physically struck.
Diana donned a smirk to rival her brother’s.It was good to know she hadn’t lost her touch.
Chapter14
When Diana went to speak to her brother the following afternoon, she brought reinforcements.
She knocked on the door to his study.“Come in,” Marcus called.Diana held up a finger, requesting that her companion wait a moment before making her entrance, then opened the door.
She found him seated behind his desk with his one-and-a-half-year-old son, Alaric, on his lap.Marcus had a pile of papers and an open ledger in front of him, and Alaric, who was his spitting image, had his own stack of papers, which he was scribbling on with a pencil.
Marcus frowned upon seeing her, but Alaric’s face lit up.“Aunt Diynah!”
She came around the desk and kissed his golden head.“Good afternoon, my little prince.”
His nursemaid appeared in the doorway.Diana had selected this time because she knew it coincided with Alaric’s nap.“Shall I take him, Your Grace?”
“Yes.Thank you, Maureen.”Marcus ruffled Alaric’s hair, his expression turning fond.“Rest up, my boy.We have more ducal business to attend to this afternoon.”
