The Marquess Method by Kathleen Ayers

6

Theo sat in the carriage, impatiently waiting for her brother as the future, her future, was decided. Cousin Winnie, silver hair forming a wreath around her head, lips trembling in shock, led Theo from Blythe’s home to the carriage with nary a word.

Theo declined Cousin Winnie’s offer to see her home, choosing instead to wait in her brother’s carriage. There was no point in arriving at the Averell mansion, anxious and worried, only to sit on the edge of the sofa in the drawing room and wait for Tony to come home. Best to meet her fate head-on.

Giving a tired nod, one that told of her utter failure as a chaperone, Cousin Winnie merely pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Rosalind had grabbed Theo’s hand before joining her mother. “I thought you promised not to do anything impulsive.”

Theo could do nothing more than shrug and bid her cousin goodnight. There was little she could say. The entire evening had been a testament to reckless, impulsive behavior.

She pressed herself into the luxurious interior of her brother’s carriage, trying and failing to remain calm. The accusations, hurled at her by Lady Blythe, had been incredibly hurtful. Everyone, including Blythe, assumed Theo had been in his study tonight with the sole purpose of trapping him in marriage. She’d be a laughingstock if word got out.

Only Haven, of all people, knew the truth, and she prayed he kept it to himself.

Her fingers curled into her skirts. Had he only given her back the miniature instead of taunting her, Theo would not have been forced to . . . attack him. This entire unfortunate incident would not have occurred, and she might even now be returning home with nothing more than a bruised ego from Blythe’s refusal of her gift.

A sensation stung her fingertips. The feel of Haven’s muscled chest beneath her hands.

Drat.

His eyes, as he’d lowered his mouth to hers, had darkened to nearly black, the depths swirling with something hungry and wicked. A promise which twisted between her thighs, conjuring up all manner of erotic thoughts.

Even now, those thoughts still lingered, making her pulse quicken. Theo blinked, willing them away.

The sound of footsteps outside the carriage heralded the approach of her brother, the Duke of Averell.

Tony climbed in with a grunt, displeasure coating his handsome face as he caught sight of her.

“You should have allowed Winnie to see you home.”

“I wanted to wait for you.”

He settled next to Theo as the vehicle rocked forward. Raking his fingers through his hair, Tony peered across the seat, looking her directly in the eye. “Did Haven coerce you to meet him in the study? Take liberties?”

“What?” Theo’s mouth gaped open in surprise. “No. Of course not.” As much as she didn’t wish to marry Haven, she wasn’t about to accuse him of forcing himself on her.

“Were you having an assignation with him, Theo? Did you make plans to meet him in the study?”

“Absolutely not. I don’t even like him.”

“Do you know how many times I thought about the conversation I’ve just had?” Tony grimaced. “I assumed I’d be having it with Blythe, or maybe some other gentleman you decided to adore next.”

Theo slid her eyes from him. “That’s rather unkind.”

“You used to have a great deal of common sense, Theodosia. It disappeared completely when you met Blythe. Or spotted him in the park.” He waved his hand. “It really doesn’t matter. Romy warned me after seeing the way you tossed yourself at him during Granby’s house party.”

Theo shrank back further into the squabs. “I’m not a dinner roll, Tony.”

“You’ve been compromised, Theodosia.”

“I realize that.” She smoothed down her skirts. “I—”

“Christ, you were hiding in the study, waiting for Blythe, hoping for ruination. You were trying to compromise yourself with him. Well, it appears you got far more than you bargained for. Romy insisted you were unnaturally obsessed with Blythe. Swore that if I didn’t put a stop to it, you’d do something dreadful.”

Her mouth went dry. “That isn’t exactly—”

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “You must have overheard him making plans to meet Haven in the study tonight. Decided to pop out and instead of finding Blythe, you found Haven.”

Her face heated. What could she say in her own defense without mentioning that stupid miniature and making things worse?

“If you think I’ve been blind to your machinations, or too busy at Elysium with Leo gone, I assure you, I have not been. I just hoped I was wrong.” A deep sigh left him. “Phaedra has apprised me of the incident in the park.”

“I wasn’t conspiring to trap Blythe,” she said, knowing he’d never believe her. “And that day in the park, well, it was merely an accident. As tonight was.”

“You deliberately entangled yourself in Blythe’s kite string while half of London watched. Lifting your skirts before he even asked so he could unwind the string which had mysteriously wrapped itself around your ankle. Your pursuit of him at Granby’s house party was a study in brazen behavior. And it was only the beginning. You threw yourself at Blythe during Lady Cambourne’s ball without a shred of decorum or dignity. We all witnessed it.”

Shame etched itself across her chest. “Well, you would know about immoral behavior,” she shot back, the fragile hold on her emotions finally snapping. Had she really behaved so poorly?

“As a matter of fact,” Tony’s voice raised, “I do know all about how to be improper. Do you know how many young ladies threw themselves at me in an attempt to be compromised?”

“Thousands, I’m sure,” Theo bit out.

“At least. I suppose we should consider it lucky you didn’t tumble over the sofa and break your neck in your determination this evening, given you won’t wear your spectacles.”

Dear God. Tony made Theo sound as if she were the most pathetic creature in all of England. And this was her brother’s opinion of her. What must everyone else think? She was so horrified, she couldn’t speak.

“Blythe—”

“Is a rake, Theo. He may reform one day, but it will not be for you.” Tony leaned close. “Had Blythe been serious about you in any way, he most certainly would have offered for you immediately once you were compromised, not given you over to his friend.”

Pain seared her heart, an echo of when she’d seen Blythe flirting with Lady Meredith and Miss Cummings. She’d only thought if she was different enough. Bold enough.

“Now, I will have the pleasure,” Tony emphasized, words laced with more than a hint of sarcasm, “of having the Marquess of Haven in the family. A gentleman who was fortunate enough to not be Blythe. The recipient of a fat dowry which inexplicably dropped right into his lap. No wonder he didn’t push you out the door the moment he saw you. The only person happier is Lady Blythe.” He shot her a sideways glance. “There isn’t a gentleman in all of London more desperate than Haven.”

How incredibly hurtful. Even if it was true.

“I grew alarmed each time Haven came to call on Romy in Granby’s stead,” Tony said. “Your mother was convinced he’d steal an expensive vase by sticking it under his coat. After he ate the entire contents of our larder, of course. He’s like a mongrel begging at the kitchen door for scraps.”

“It was an accident,” Theo whispered.

“Yes. It appears it was. Blythe assures me he asked Haven to come to the study to discuss a possible courtship of Miss Emerson and was caught in the midst of your scheme to compromise yourself with Blythe.”

Theo swallowed. “You can send me away. I could meet Romy in Italy.”

“Granby would send you back. And don’t even ask to go to Leo in New York. Or to the country to wait things out. Lady Blythe has promised discretion over tonight’s events given that Haven will do the right thing, but she’s never liked us Barringtons overmuch. We will try to contain the gossip. Hopefully, it will dissipate after you’re wed.”

“You promised I would never be forced to marry. You promised,” Theo implored. “And marrying Haven is very much against my will.”

“That promise did not have a stupidity clause, Theodosia. Did you really assume you could be discovered alone with a gentleman and not have this be the outcome? Even you can’t be so naïve as to believe I can just wave this away. Or maybe you are. You actually imagined you could trap Blythe into marriage.”

Tony’s words cut her to the quick. Everyone whispered about the Barringtons, but this was very different. She’d made a scandal of herself. Destroyed her reputation.

“Theodosia.” Her brother’s voice softened. “You would become a pariah if you didn’t marry Haven, with no place in society.”

“It isn’t fair. Nothing happened. Why should I be punished?” There really was no way out of the situation. Not even the Duke of Averell could fix it for her.

“You’d have to live your life disgraced,” he said gently. “You need to understand what you would face should you not marry Haven. But I agree. It isn’t fair.”

It amazed Theo how much Tony sounded like their father just now. She loved her brother. Adored him, actually. But he was a poor substitute for the late Marcus Barrington. Theo fervently wished for Papa to appear across the carriage from her. Right now. For just a moment, she would be clasped in the warmth of her father’s embrace, telling her all would be well.

A small cry left her.

“Oh, Theodosia.” Her brother took her hand and pulled her close. “I will protect you as best I can.”

“I’m so sorry, Tony. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Truly.”

“Possibly having Haven as a husband won’t be as terrible as you think.” His tone led her to believe otherwise.

“I’m sure it will be.”

“Most marriages are not made because of affection,” Tony said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy.” His body tensed slightly as he lifted his head, peering at something outside the window. “Damn. That’s Cousin Winnie’s carriage pulling away. I told her to go straight home. I wanted to apprise your mother of what has happened. Come,” he said as the carriage rolled to a stop. “We’ll continue this discussion inside.”

Tony helped her out of the carriage and kept her hand in his as the massive front door opened to reveal the unflappable Pith, as pristine and starched as he’d been at breakfast this morning.

“Your Grace,” the butler intoned. “Welcome home. Her Grace awaits you in the drawing room.”