Marquess of Menace (Lords of Scandal 10)

Would one of his friends give him a loan? The very idea filled him with shame.

Men married dowries when they needed money. It didn’t feel honorable but then again…it was the way the peers dealt with these sorts of problems. A division of assets. He brought the title, she brought the money.

But even referring to it as assets made him think of Eliza and the business proposition he’d suggested. Not like the beautiful, vibrant, intelligent woman she was.

“I’m desperate to find a male cat as wonderful as Tulip. I shall name him Buttercup and—”

“Buttercup?”

She gave him a sly smile. “Unless you’d prefer I called you, Buttercup?”

“No, I don’t think—”

“It has a ring to it, as a pet name.” Carmella set the cat down and leaned closer to him. Her hooked nose came within inches of his. “What do you say, Buttercup? Shall we get cats and make kittens?” She gave him a long sly glance, her lips curling into a thin-lipped smile.

The innuendo was not lost on Dylan and he had to applaud her veiled reference. In another situation he would have found it amusing.

“I’m more of a stallion than a buttercup.” He leaned back, putting distance between them. First this was a lesson on how a man wanted to be treated, talked to. Second, he was not interested in participating in Carmella’s game. “How do you feel about horse flesh?”

He was an avid rider. There was nothing he liked better than to ride breakneck through the park at dawn. But he already knew Carmella wasn’t the sort. Not that it mattered, really. Most men didn’t marry women who shared their interests. Still, he had the feeling Eliza would be an excellent horsewoman. And she most certainly was not planning a cat breeding program.

“Horse flesh?” She wrinkled her nose. “What’s cuddly about that?”

He suppressed a grin. He couldn’t tell her that what he really craved was the sort of tup that was short on cuddling. He wanted a wild ride and he knew where he’d find it.

Hell, Eliza had rejected him because, in her own words, she wasn’t interested in abstinence. That’s what he was pouting about? He ought to be celebrating.

But he needed a wife.

An answer to his financial problems.

And he got the impression that if he didn’t keep Eliza at an emotional distance, he’d lose his head entirely. Which always got him in trouble.

Tulip swiped at his boot again. “I suppose nothing, but then again, I’m not certain what’s cuddly about that?” And he gave Tulip a nudge with his offended boot.

The cat hissed and Carmella cried out. Quickly, she picked up the hissing cat and began stroking the beast’s back. “Don’t worry, Tulip. I won’t let the mean man anywhere near you again.”

Dylan rose. He’d managed to mangle a second courtship today, but he didn’t feel nearly as sorry about this one.

Without saying goodbye, he headed for the door. He wasn’t sorry to end his short relationship with Carmella, but Eliza was another situation entirely.

That, he needed to think on.

And this time he needed to come to her with a much more developed plan.

Chapter Ten

The next evening, Eliza stood on the outskirts of the Applegates’ ballroom, surveying the crowd.

By all accounts, she and her family shouldn’t be here. However, they’d decided it was less suspicious if they continued to socialize. They’d declined half their invitations but had decided to attend the other half, mostly smaller venues.

But this party they’d already agreed to, so here they were in a throng of dancers.

Dylan had attended with them. Even now, he stood several paces away, talking with Bash and Isabella.

She’d wanted to talk to him too, but she wasn’t certain what to say. I’m sorry I declined. Would you ask again? Can we clarify several points?

None of the words seemed quite right and so she’d said nothing at all and neither had he. Still, he was here and that counted for something. Whether out of allegiance to her or Bash she wasn’t certain, but before the night was over, she’d find a way to talk with him.