Marquess of Malice (Lords of Scandal 2)

“I am,” the other man choked.

“Very well, then.” Malice straightened but he gave Cordelia a small wink. “To the garden.”

Cordelia clapped her hands over her mouth but her eyes twinkled. He knew what she was thinking. She’d never expected two men to fight over her and it appealed to her need for romance. He wasn’t sure he could say what she wanted to hear but take a punch or two? He’d gladly get beat to hell to make her happy. And hopefully his efforts were enough to make her say yes to his proposal. But that begged the question, how was he going to guard his heart?

* * *

In her wildest dreams, deepest fantasies, Cordelia had never imagined two men coming to fisticuffs over her attention. She smoothed her hair as she followed the men down the hall, her mother just behind her. “What are you going to say to the marquess?”

“Not now,” she said over her shoulder. “Can’t you see we have a situation on our hands?” Her voice was a great deal louder than necessary and she could only hope her sisters heard.

Sure enough, not five seconds later, Grace poked her head round a corner. “What’s happening?” Her perfect blonde hair was pulled back with a few curls falling in waves over her shoulder.

Their mother threw her hands in the air. “Two lords are fighting over Cordelia.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Diana,” she yelled. “Come quickly.” Then she lifted her skirts and sprinted down the hall after them.

Cordelia’s heart thrummed in her chest, excitement pushing her feet faster. This might be the most wonderfully invigorating moment of her life.

The two men stalked ahead of her as the women flitted behind her, their high voices only adding to the excitement.

“Why are you doing this?” Malice growled out.

McKenzie looked back at her before answering. “You can’t just come in here and steal the woman I was wooing.”

Her heart thrummed in her chest and she covered it with both hands. This was most certainly going into the story she wrote. Who would triumph? Should that be the man she chose? She nibbled at her lips, some of her excitement ebbing. What if Chad were hurt? Was that worth a little romance?

She nearly tripped on her own feet. It was a nice gesture, this male posturing, but it didn’t change anything. She didn’t want to marry McKenzie and she’d only say yes to Chad if he expressed some genuine affection for her. In her heart, she already knew whom she wanted to win and what she wanted that person to say at the end.

“Lady Cordelia, I think it best you don’t watch this,” McKenzie called over his shoulder.

Malice gave him a bit of a shove. “Don’t tell her what to do.”

“She needs a responsible man with some modicum of decency. That certainly isn’t you.” McKenzie sneered.

“Oh, and it’s you?” Chad pressed close to the other fellow. “I know about you and why you’re here.”

The men glared at one another and Cordelia did an actual stumble, just catching herself and pushing up her glasses. She was intimately acquainted with all the reasons that Malice might not be ideal, illicit clubs amazingly were one of the least of her concerns. But now that she thought about it, why was McKenzie here?

“Lord McKenzie,” she called, lifting her skirt in an attempt to keep up. “What does Lord Malicorn mean?”

McKenzie spun about, his face set in angry lines that brought her to an abrupt halt. His expression was a bit frightening and she stopped short and looked at Chad, then realized she was hoping for his reassurance that he’d keep her safe.

“He’s simply throwing barbs so that you’ll choose him.”

Her sister bumped into her back and she jolted forward. Chad’s hand shot out to steady her.

Unfortunately, McKenzie took that exact moment to take a wide swing at Chad. McKenzie’s hand clipped Chad’s jaw before he’d let her go to block the punch. He still gripped her arm as he stumbled backwards and started to fall.

She let out a cry, and without thought, wrapped her arms about his neck. They crashed down together, her arms keeping his head from smacking onto the floor but the full weight of their upper bodies fell on her hand and she let out a scream as she heard a distinct crunch and pain shot down her arm.

It throbbed with a burning ache as she let out another cry but the pain began to slip away, fading into a blissful darkness.

Chapter Ten

Damn…Malice’s jaw ached like bloody hell, not that he cared. He’d heard the crunch and now Cordelia lay limp in his arms.

That piece of shite, McKenzie, was gone and around him, three gaggling females crowded about, their noise so constant, he couldn’t discern one voice from another. “Diana,” he gritted out from between his teeth. “Get the doctor. Now.”