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HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 31

“Did you have any luck with Gemma?” Mallory asked.

Hart looked for any sign of Gemma behind Elizabeth.

“Actually, I have a fair feeling that she’ll be arriving shortly in the grand style that she so favors. She certainly does like to make an unforgettable entrance.”

“Excellent. We shall have a merry game of chase tonight.” Hart smiled thinking of all of the ways he would work on breaking past Gemma’s icy exterior.

His mother would tell him that she was a spoiled chit not worth the salt he was using to woo her into his arms … but he couldn’t help himself. He loved to rescue damsels, and though she wasn’t exactly in distress, she still needed to be rescued.

His breath caught in his throat when he wandered out of the music room to see a vision in sapphire floating down the marble staircase. The dress was inlaid with some sort of material that made it sparkle beneath the large chandeliers that filled the grand entryway of Mallory Hall. Her glorious blond hair had been swept up into an elaborate updo. She wore a headpiece that looked like a fairy crown in her hair. Quite simply put, she was stunning.

She made a scoffing noise as she alighted from the stairs. He caught the barest glimmer of her slim ankles clad in fine silk stockings, and her slippers had been dyed to match her dress. Her feet were small in comparison to the rest of her body. But then, her hands were small for a woman as well.

“I should have known you would be here, waiting for me like a wolf stalking its prey. You look--d-a-s-h-i-n-g.” She forced the compliment out of her mouth as if it pained her to do so. “No doubt Mallory loaned you an outfit of his.”

“No, actually, these clothes belong to me.”

The look of complete shock that came across her face, made him smile. “Ah, I see, you’ve saved up your wages that Mallory has paid you and you bought yourself some suitable clothing. Though, I must confess, I recognize that look … you must go to the same fine tailor my brother uses.”

“Oh, yes, only the best for me when it comes to clothing. I’ve always been a smart dresser, but I’m definitely not in the crowd of a Brummel Dandy.”

She remained silent. He wondered if he’d struck her speechless. If he had, that had to be some sort of a milestone.

He offered her his arm. “Allow me to escort you into the music room … I hear the evening meal will be in about fifteen minutes.”

“It won’t come soon enough.” She eyed his arm warily. “I do think I can walk into the music room on my own, thank you.” She stepped forward. He blocked her path.

“I must insist, Lady Gemma.”

She pursed her slightly rouged lips. “I do not care for your commanding tone,”

she gave him a withering stare, before continuing, “furthermore, I don’t appreciate your uppity tone, you need to learn your place.”

He controlled his temper at her snippy words. “I do think, Lady Gemma, that you HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 32

are quite the little shrew … mayhap, I should tame you.”

“Go to hell,” she snapped, her fair complexion mottling with anger.

“That sort of language does not befit a woman of your high station … after all, we must learn to act in the station that we have been born into. We must uphold social propriety. As for my place, I think my place for the foreseeable future is right by your side.”

She glanced down at the signet ring he wore. The ruby in it had finally caught the light.

He did look dashing. She hadn’t been stretching the truth when she’d given him that compliment. By far, he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.

Though she did doubt his claims that he owned everything he wore. Mallory must have had a hand in it. He was notorious for trying to help those that were less fortunate better themselves. Plus, the fact that he’d decided to groom Hart to be her groom made her suspicious. If she put him next to Kilworth, he would outshine Kilworth in two seconds flat.

Her heart fell. How could she think such thoughts? Her loyalty didn’t lie with Hart, it belonged to Kilworth. So, she had to put all thoughts of Hart out of her head.

She had to remain cool and detached from him—there was just no other way.

“Please take my arm … it would save a lot of trouble between you and Mallory.”

“Mallory and I have numerous disagreements to our credit. It will not matter either way, if we have yet a few more arguments. If we didn’t have at least one tiff a day Mallory would think I was ill,” she explained, catching the slightly beseeching look in his gorgeous eyes.

She eyed his arm warily. If she took it, it would serve as a sign of submission to Mallory. But if she didn’t take it he’d probably goad her more than if she did.

Decisions, decisions.

Against her better judgment, she took his arm. She couldn’t believe how right it felt. Shaking her head, she allowed him to guide her into the music room. Mallory and Elizabeth sat cuddled together on the sofa. She snorted. She could see that Mallory was trying to give her a sign by telling her that he was going to covet Elizabeth’s attention for the entire night, leaving her without anyone to talk to.

Hart led her over to the sofa that sat opposite Mallory and Elizabeth. She would have rather taken up charge on one of the King Louis styled chairs, but yet again, Hart was trying to plan her every movement out for her.

“We shall have to hold a grand ball to announce your impending nuptials,

Gemma. That way, you and Hart can dance the fandango together to announce your commitment to each other.” Mallory smiled, glancing lovingly at Elizabeth.

“Oh, I do wish I could give that dance the credit it deserves.” Elizabeth sighed.

“Alas, I’m much better with a simple quadrille or waltz. The Spanish dances have always eluded me.”

“You are even better giving a vocal performance my love, those Italian Operatic pieces you are so talented at quite simply take my breath away,” Mallory breathed, giving her a look of completely devoted admiration.

“Ah, if only I’d remained in London, I could be living it up at Vauxhall Gardens or Claridges,” Gemma lamented.

“Yes, and then you could listen to that claque that surrounds
your
Kilworth’s HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 33

sister. I swear I don’t know what she has that has given her such a little following of rabid supporters. It makes me sick to my stomach. That girl is as stupid as a badger and has the temperament to match!” Mallory snorted in obvious disgust. “That girl wasn’t blessed with the brains of a twat.”

“Mallory, you are just trying to goad my temper. I will not have it … I’m

determined to act like a genteel lady tonight.”

“Genteel?” Hart chuckled. “From what I’ve witnessed so far, you always behave like a lady of your class.”

“I agree with Gemma. I do so wish for a peaceful evening,” Elizabeth murmured.

“Your wish is my command.” Mallory squeezed her hand.

Gemma sighed, pursing her lips. “Yes, indeed, dear brother. You are an ever-faithful servant of your wife. It is quite a refreshing change in you, since you were so self-centered before you married.” She resisted the urge to smile, and inched away from Hart placing as much distance between them as she possibly could.

“Your Grace, the evening meal is ready to be served.”

They all looked up at the butler’s announcement.

“Well, then, I must say I am ready to tuck in to some of Mrs. Grant’s heavenly concoctions,” Gemma said, sighing.

Elizabeth looked startled. “I didn’t know you weren’t aware about tonight’s change of plans concerning the meal. I managed to convince Mrs. Grant to take the evening off … Seamus has prepared our meal.”

“Seamus?” Her heart fell. “You can’t be serious. You let that excuse for a cook into the kitchen?”

“Mrs. Grant was hesitant at first, but the financial bonus I offered her for taking the night off proved to be quite an incentive to her. She said she hadn’t had a night off in ages, and that she had some knitting to catch up on.”

“I’m sure she did. She’s no doubt down in the village getting all of the gossip concerning the latest exploits of the gentry in the area, while filling up on her fair share of sherry. That woman knows how to drink more sherry than Lady Carleton.” Gemma snorted.

“No doubt, you give them quite the fodder for that gossip, Lady Gemma,” Hart said, grinning foolishly.

“I don’t care for that at all. Why don’t you try to look good while staying quiet?”

she snapped, wincing at her overly harsh tone.

“Oh, I could do that but pray tell where would that leave me when it came to having my share of fun?” The delighted grin Hart wore made her stomach clench.

She stood up. “I shan’t dignify that with a rebuttal. We should go and see what the Irish has created for us tonight. I just hope I’m able to force it down this throat of mine.”

“Well, Gemma, take heart, you’ve never had an issue with forcing down food

before, if indeed, it started to become a challenge for you now, I would most certainly have cause for concern. We’d have to send for the doctor, for you’d definitely be on your death bed,” Mallory chuckled, delighting in his witty tease. She didn’t care, he could jest all he wanted about her zest for food.

“Mallory, I do believe the old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder was true in your case. I just wish you’d get a hankering for the sea … then, at least I’d have HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 34

some peace of mind,” Gemma returned, smiling serenely at him all the while.

“Oh, don’t worry, dearest, I’d find a way of annoying you even from the High Seas.” His eyes twinkled.

Charles scampered into the room with Gemma’s Maltese dog trailing behind him.

“Traitor.” She smiled as Skye trotted over to her. With her pure white coat and twinkling dark eyes, she couldn’t stay irritated with her for long. With a happy bark, Skye jumped up into her lap. Skye immediately snuggled right against her chest, making a contented sighing noise.

“I see, you too, have a faithful hound,” Hart said.

“Her sister is around here somewhere … no doubt keeping guard at the nursery door, she’s taken quite a liking to Susan, so much so, that she believes she must protect her from all invaders, big or small.”

“And, she’s been doing a bang up job at it,” Elizabeth agreed. “I never thought that such a little dog could have such a big heart and spirit. She rules the nursery.”

“Seamus told me to tell you that his dinner wouldn’t wait for no one.” Charles was gasping to catch his breath, no doubt caused by running the distance from the kitchens to the music room.

Gemma gasped. “Mallory, you really do need to do something about the manners of this household. All sense of propriety seems to have gone straight up the chimney.”

“Begging your pardon, Aunt Gemma. I’ll try to word it more to your liking the next time.” Charles looked like a little imp. Sighing, she bit back the remark that sat on the tip of her tongue. She had to control her temper from lashing out at Charles. He was a little boy and before he’d come to live with them, he’d had a miserable life with his pathetic excuse of a mother.

“Why don’t you go and see if Mrs. Grant has any of those custard tarts you like so much tucked away in the kitchen somewhere. I’m sure you can root out her storage place.” Gemma moved forward and ruffled his hair. “And while you’re at it, see if Seamus has a nice little piece of carrot for Skye.” She gently handed him Skye, and in a flash he was back off toward the kitchen.

“You are a natural when it comes to children, Lady Gemma. You should have a nursery full when we get married.”

Mallory laughed. Elizabeth made a weird choking noise in the back of her throat.

“Hart, you are too arrogant for your own good,” Elizabeth chastised.

“The good kind of arrogance is a fine trait in a character such as mine. My own dear mama says it makes my moral fiber all the better for the simple addition of it. She says I have an equal amount of arrogance to counteract my humbleness.”

“Humble? You .…” Gemma laughed. “I can see that you could do with a large serving of humble pie. We should go into the dining hall, the meal will get cold if we do not.” She stood up.

“I should accompany you, shall you take my arm again?”

Sighing, Gemma reached for his arm … she could only hope that come tomorrow and the early arrival of Kilworth, that Hart would get the message and hightail it back to whatever little shanty he came from.

HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 35

She sank down onto her bed, and tried to still her breathing. The evening had been eventful to say the least. First, she’d been proven wrong in her assumption that Seamus wasn’t an able cook. He almost matched the proficiency of Mrs. Grant. She placed her hand against the stiffness of her corset. Her breasts were heaving, from her exertion of racing up the steps away from Hart. He’d been working on her all night, and her brother had done nothing to curtail his amorous advances. She could tell where Mallory’s loyalty was when it came to Hart and her. He wanted Hart to ruin her, he wanted him to lead her onto a path of sin … and God help her, she was having one hell of a hard time resisting the temptation. Hart could probably tempt a nun with his silvery tongue and his gentle hands, not to mention his delectable kisses that he seemed so well in delivering at the most impromptu times. Now, she ran for her very reputation.

Elizabeth had made herself suspiciously scarce, no doubt hunkering down in the nursery. But, she had thrown in her hat in the culpability pool, since she’d made no move to help her with warding off Hart’s frequent attempts at seduction. He was the most determined sort she’d ever met. Kilworth never would have tried to get into her personal space the way that Hart had, but then, she couldn’t even recall Kilworth attempting to kiss her at any point in time.