Marquess of Menace (Lords of Scandal 10)

After a few drinks, Bash had invited him to sleep in a guest room rather than travel home.

But as he climbed from the bed, it occurred to him that Eliza was here. Under this roof. Likely sleeping too.

What did she look like when she was in bed? A vision of her brown hair spread across his pillow with her arms opened and relaxed, welcoming him, filled his thoughts and he scrubbed his face. He should have gone home.

Because a few hours of sleep had cleared his mind and left him…wanting.

He wanted Eliza.

He’d stripped off his clothing and sat with his bare feet on the floor, cradling his head while he went through all the reasons why he shouldn’t take her. It would be selfish. But then a voice argued, he’d be helping her too.

He’d never done anything good in his life.

But then a new thought occurred to him. If he thought marrying Carmella was a good idea and Eliza a bad one, perhaps he should marry Eliza after all. Do the opposite of what he thought was the correct choice. Surely there was logic in that. At least with his record of poor decision-making.

He rose, then began to wash and then dress, grimacing at his clothes from the night before. They’d have to do.

He made his way to breakfast, hoping to find the room emp

ty.

He was still trying to decipher his feelings, Bash’s words, and Eliza’s wishes.

But as he approached the room, he heard people talking. Females. Soft worried voices, cutting into him like the tip of the blade.

“Father’s truly gone?”

“No more courting?”

“Running a business? We’re not suited to that.” Then a pause. “Well, perhaps Eliza is.”

“I’m not.” Eliza. Her voice held its usual strength. Louder, a mezzo soprano that was more sultry and confident than any of her sisters. But underneath that…was it just him or did he hear a new brittleness in the tone? “But Bash is. Unfortunately for him, he’s got a rather lot to worry about.”

Isabella chimed in. “If this man…Dishonor, had been running the business, surely he can continue. Do we need to do anything?”

Silence fell.

Finally someone cleared her throat. “What do you think, Eliza? Do we need to do anything?”

“Yes. Something. But I don’t know what yet. I’ve met this man twice and he kept his identity secret from us for months. I’ll not trust him with our entire future. Not yet.”

“It’s not Isabella’s whole future and it won’t be ours once we marry. I say we keep courting.”

He shook his head. He was eavesdropping. Pulling his coat straighter, he stepped into the doorway. “Excuse me, ladies.”

They all turned toward him, plates of uneaten food sitting in front of each of them.

“My lord.” Eliza rose and then gave a quick curtsy. “Please join us.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt,” he said, not moving into the room. “His Grace and I ended up talking until the sun was well into the sky and it seemed easier to stay than to travel home.”

“Oh no, you’re not interrupting at all.” Isabella waved him forward. She’d once posed as a man and dealt cards in his gaming hell so they knew each other quite well, and her easy smile made him more comfortable now. “Come eat. It will be a good reminder for us to eat as well.”

Dylan gave a stiff nod. “I don’t mean to insert myself. But His Grace and I were discussing your very topic last night. What Dishonor said was that he was worried some of your potential suitors might be part of the crime ring. They’d hope to marry you so that they might gain ownership of the business, making it easier to continue to pilfer from the books.”

One sister gasped while another gave a cry. “Do we cease socializing?”

He grimaced. Should he not have shared that? “Unfortunately, to disappear from society might cause more suspicion.”