The Mischievous Bride (17 page)

She stiffened her resolve to start anew in Bath. She would always be fond of Marcus, but she had no need of a man who would push her love aside.

She perked up when she thought about a new plan. Perhaps she would look into the property for her new school that she wanted to buy in Bath.

She let out a real smile as she followed Jane about her bedchambers. Yes, a new school was the answer. If she could help other young ladies in Society believe in themselves, let them know that they were capable of much more than being a woman without a brain, she could fulfill her dream. She could find a greater meaning in life than just thinking about Marcus, who didn’t think she was anything but a spoiled child.

“Is there anyone you would like to invite?” Jane asked, pulling Milli from her thoughts. “I would think you have some idea.”

Milli pursed her lips. “I will send you a list as soon as I can.”

Jane clasped her hands, but there was still a glimmer of sorrow in her eyes. “Oh, Milli, you have given me my life back.”

Tears choked Milli’s throat as she tipped her lips into a tight smile. “I am certain my sister may want to be a part of this too. I have yet to tell her the news.”

Jane laughed. It was the first real laugh Milli had heard in weeks. “Elizabeth will be a bit shocked, but I have no doubt she will help me host the parties. We will be the toast of Bath. There won’t be a single gentleman or lady who won’t want an invitation to one of our parties. And we will surely find you a husband.”

“Goodness, I don’t want to look like I’m a charity case, scouring the entire
ton
for a spouse.”

Jane’s blue eyes glittered with delight. “You are not a charity case, dearest. You are an heiress. But most of all, you are a beautiful, intelligent woman with your own mind. If you do not find a husband in Bath, we will keep searching.”

Jane took Milli’s hands in hers. “But you must marry for love, dearest. There are fortune hunters out there who don’t play fair. Yet I believe Roderick and his brothers will help clear that path for you. My goodness, the man wouldn’t live to tell about it.”

Milli shrugged. “I am thinking I may never get married. Roderick, Clayton, Stephen, and Stonebridge are not known for their gentleness.”

“Yes, well, I will have a talk with them.” She peered at Milli through cautious eyes. “But what about Marcus?”

Milli looked back, realizing Jane saw more than most. “He thinks I am a child.”

“Perhaps he thinks you are too young to marry. The Clearbrook gentlemen are quite protective, and I think Marcus is the worst of them all. He was in love once. When he was a few years older than you. The lady was quite the flirt. He didn’t see her flaws. He eventually discovered she had been playing with the affections of many gentlemen. So, because of his past, perhaps Marcus wants only the best for you and is afraid of anything less.”

Milli heaved a tired sigh. “I don’t know about that.”

Jane pulled Milli back to the sofa. “If you want to fund a school for young women, rest assured, Roderick and I will be there for you. You do not have to marry at all.”

Milli wanted to tell Jane the truth, but the duchess seemed so happy. “I know, but I think it best if I take a look at the prospects, do you not?”

 “But if you do not fall deeply in love, you may stay single all of your life. Do we agree?”

Milli squeezed out a grin. “I daresay, husband hunting cannot be that disagreeable.”

Jane gave her a hug. “You must be on the outlook for those fortune hunters.”

“Oh, have no worries. Before Papa died, he talked to me about that. I will know a fortune hunter when he comes courting.”

“How will you know?”

Milli’s eyes twinkled. “When he kisses me, of course.”

“When he kisses you?”

“Yes, if I get a wart on my nose, I will know for certain he is not my prince, but a fortune hunter who was once a frog.”

Jane burst out laughing. Milli joined in, and that was the sound Roderick and Marcus heard as they walked up the stairs.

Roderick grabbed the banister and halted on the steps.

Marcus glanced at the duchess’s bedchamber door. He stared at Roderick. “Perhaps the move to Bath will be just what she needs.”

Roderick’s shoulders seem to sag in relief. “I thought she was going to die. The doctor said I could have lost her. I don’t think Jane knew how bad it was. We almost did lose her that night of the ball.”

Marcus followed the duke up the steps. “I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Roderick pushed a hand through his black hair. “I would die without her. She is everything to me.”

Marcus regarded his brother. “You are a different man since you married her.”

Roderick stopped in the hall. He turned to Marcus. “That is Milli in there with Jane. They must not have noticed the door is open a crack.”

Marcus lifted his brows as he listened to the laughter drifting from the room. “The little elf is probably swooning and twirling about, giving your wife quite the show.”

Roderick shook his head. “It’s more than that. That tiny female has done what I could not. She has put the happiness back into my wife’s life.” His tone softened. “I will never forget it.”

Marcus felt a lump lodge in his throat. Hell’s bells, he had never seen Roderick so emotional. Milli put happiness into many lives. But she wanted love, and he could not give that to her.

Roderick grabbed the banister and scowled. “The thought of anyone hurting that delicate female makes my blood curdle.”

Marcus agreed. “I think I would shoot any man who hurt a hair on her head.”

Roderick looked thoughtful.

Marcus’s face beamed with mischief. “Do we dare enter your shared chambers and fetch the cigars you have in your bureau?”

“I could have sent the butler, but I wanted to see how Jane was doing. I can barely be away from the woman.”

The ladies’ laughter was contagious. Marcus smiled. “What the devil could be so amusing?”

“Perhaps they are talking about you?” Roderick said with a chuckle.

“Or perhaps Milli told Jane she was ready to start husband hunting.”

Roderick’s dark gaze glittered with unease. “Ah, you talked her into it, I presume?”

Marcus felt uncomfortable even admitting it. “She knew it would give Jane the lift she needed.”

 “Devil take it, I feel responsible for her. I will not let anything happen to her, do you understand?”

Marcus’s hard gaze locked with his. “I have no wish for her to be hurt either.”

“Are you going to start your hunt for a wife?”

Marcus bit back an oath. Being pushed into marriage didn’t sit well with him at all. But seeing the sadness in Roderick’s eyes before the man turned away, reinforced Marcus’s duty to wed and have an heir. “I won’t let you down. I will marry soon.”

Roderick glanced over his shoulder. “I know it sounds amusing coming from my lips, but a love match—”

Marcus threw up his hand, halting Roderick’s speech. “Jupiter and Zeus! Don’t want to hear your vows of undying love. I tried that once, thank you very much, and it did not work. I have my ideas. You have yours. Let’s leave it at that.”

Roderick didn’t argue. He turned his head as the laughter dwindled to more serious conversation. They walked closer.

“And Lord Knightengale, of course,” Jane replied, her voice excited. “He is at the top of the list. I can tell the way he looks at you. Then there is Lord Hughmont. He is quite the catch.”

Roderick’s brows lifted as he shifted a serious gaze toward Marcus.

Marcus’s expression turned grim. “A list of suitors. They have no idea what is behind our plan. Do you really think it wise?”

“We must find the murderer. Hell’s teeth. Do you want some man lurking about, ready to snatch that little innocent at any time?”

 “No,” Marcus snapped. “I just don’t like the idea of putting Milli at risk.”

“She won’t be at risk, not if we are there. But make no doubt about it, the man will be searching for his prey, whether we involve ourselves or not. Milli is the target. We are only setting the trap. We have too many men on his trail. We will find him, or I will die trying.”

Marcus grimaced. “If he lays one finger on her in anger, I shall kill him.”

Roderick looked at him thoughtfully. “Thunderation, I believe you would.”

Chapter Thirteen

T
he home the duke had rented in Bath was huge.

“Oh, Jane, we can have a magnificent ball in here.” Milli twirled about the large salon and fell onto one of the many blue and white striped settees scattered about the room. Tall white pillars stood along one wall, setting off a row of navy colored wing chairs. A green marbled fireplace took center stage accentuated by a magnificent ceiling decorated with paintings of angels. Milli inhaled the sweet scent of lemon from the freshly polished wood and smiled.

Jane’s blue eyes lit up with laughter. “Roderick will be pleased to know you like it. Perhaps this is where you will find your prince.”

Milli chuckled. “I believe I will find a few frogs before this is over.”

“A few frogs and your prince, mark my words. However, I am feeling a bit tired. If you will excuse me, dearest . . .”

“You need a nap,” the duke said huskily, stepping into the salon. He greeted Milli, then shuffled his wife upstairs. His loving gaze made a scorching imprint upon Milli’s mind.

She fell back onto the settee and smiled. She had seen that look on the duke’s face before. He could not stay away from his duchess. Perhaps the doctors were wrong. Perhaps there would be another baby in nine months.

Soon, all the Clearbrook siblings and their families would be residing at the Bath mansion. Milli couldn’t wait until Lizzie arrived. To Milli’s surprise, her sister had been quite excited about the husband hunting plan. Stephen also felt comfortable, as long as he had her list of suitors. Milli assumed Stephen was amiable about the decision because he would have more control over her prospects for a husband. 

She hadn’t seen Marcus for almost three weeks. The man had traveled to Bath to prepare for the family’s move and he hadn’t returned to London. Well, good riddance, she thought. If things went her way, her bedchambers would be in the left wing, and his in the right. Although she and Marcus were on speaking terms now, she wouldn’t forget what he really thought of her.

She had loved him for so long and had dismissed his faults. He was stubborn, stuffy, and thought too much of himself. Her heart longed for him, but her mind told her she had to move on. The past weeks she had come to the conclusion that she could not wait for him forever. Life was too short.

Besides, she wanted to start her dream of a school for young women.

Would she have to marry to have her school? Would she have a marriage of convenience? Would it be so bad? If she could not have love, she could have companionship, could she not?

She closed her eyes and took a much needed rest. Perhaps a marriage of convenience would work after all. At least she would have a husband who would let her do what she wanted and not tell her she was a spoiled brat.

After fifteen minutes, Milli finally stood and looked around the room. With a smile, she began to twirl about the shiny wood floor. She curtsied to the invisible king and laughed to herself. Then she moved on to the next gentleman who wanted to dance with her.

“La, sir, your compliments make me blush.” She lowered her lids and fell against the arm of a wing chair. “My head is spinning, and the fire is so warm. Oh, my, I declare, I find myself rather dizzy. I may never dance again—”

“Never dance again?”

Milli jumped at the male voice that sounded across the room.

She peeked over the chair. Marcus?

Her face flamed with embarrassment. “I thought you were out?” she sputtered. Why did he always have to catch her acting stupid?

His pale silver eyes danced with amusement. “I was out, but once I opened the door, I heard the beautiful music coming from the ballroom and thought to investigate.”

Her gaze narrowed on his towering frame. “There is no music. Stop mocking me.” She turned her back to him and folded her arms over her chest. “Just go away and leave me alone.”

Humiliation washed over her.

She stiffened at the sound of his boots hitting the floor, coming closer.  

Two strong hands rested on her shoulders. “Forgive me, my little princess. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. You are a delight to watch.”

She cringed. A delightful child, she thought. “J-just go away.”

He turned her around. “I should never have teased you. And if I am to apologize, I might as well tell you how sorry I am about the words I said to you weeks ago.”

His tender gaze was her undoing. He knew he had to live with her in the same house the next month, so he had to apology. A few tears spilled over her lids. She looked away. “Just so you know, I am not crying over you. I have something in my eye.”

His fingers trailed along the side of her face, sending her heart thumping.

She batted her lashes, trying to stop the tears from leaking. He gave her a lopsided smile and offered her his handkerchief.

She took it and dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you.” It smelled of him. A musky scent of leather and cologne.

“You are smaller than most girls.”

Her gray gaze glittered with defiance. “Good things come in small packages.”

His soft laugh echoed against the walls of the large salon. He wrapped a gentle hand around her waist and took her other hand in his. “Would you do me the honor of this waltz, Miss Millicent?”

Her jaw dropped open in shock. He took that for his answer and twirled her about the room as if they were at a grand ball. A surge of excitement flowed through her. It seemed like a dream. Her slippers skimmed along the floor as his powerful body swept her from one corner of the room to another.

The touch of his fingers against her spine was like a whisper of heaven. He looked down at her, his silver eyes brimming with merriment. She squealed in delight when he lifted her off her feet and twirled her around.

This was Marcus, the man she loved.