The Mischievous Bride (28 page)

Marcus swallowed, wishing his brothers or Stonebridge would come to his aid.

Elizabeth saw the hesitancy in his face. “I knew it. Something is wrong. Stephen has been acting quite strange lately as well.”

Marcus swung his gaze toward Milli. He must change the subject. “Did you know your sister is interested in buying a row of houses in the southern part of Bath?”

Elizabeth blinked in shock. “Why in the word would she do that?”

“To house a school for young women.”

Elizabeth’s brows went up. “She will be the subject of unending gossip if she plans to do that alone.”

“Perhaps that is why she is looking for a husband.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Goodness gracious, I really don’t know what to believe any more.”

A few minutes later Marcus stopped Knightengale outside the Pump Room just as the man was taking his leave. Marcus spoke. “It seems you spent a great deal of time with Millicent.”

Knightengale’s grin barely met his eyes. “Jealous?”

Marcus glowered. “We are friends, not enemies.”

Knightengale slapped a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Friends. But unless you are willing to ask her for her hand, I fail to see why you would be so angry. Be honest, if you had to choose a husband for Millicent, would you rather have me or Hughmont?”

Marcus gave a snort of disgust. “Neither. I think she is too young to know her mind.”

“Oh? I think not. She is quite a spectacular woman, and if you have not noticed that, you need glasses. If you wish me to explain . . .”

Marcus began to see red. He didn’t want any man thinking of Milli in that way. “Don’t say another word, or I might have to call you out.”

Knightengale laughed. “We are both crack shots. I doubt either of us would live.”

“Perhaps we shall meet at Gentleman Jackson’s again. I don’t mind going a round or two.”

Knightengale’s demeanor changed. “You are interested in Millicent then? I thought you wanted Miss Canton and were only trying to make the lady jealous.”

Marcus shrugged, not willing to lay out his cards. “Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

Knightengale’s face darkened with challenge. “Then by all means, make the little woman an offer and may the best man win.”

Later that evening, Marcus stood inside the Upper Assembly Rooms, hoping to have a word with Milli. Crystal chandeliers hung above him, allowing the candlelight to be reflected off the mirrors that were hanging on the walls. The crowd was overwhelming. The heat suffocating. He pulled at his cravat, wondering if this was the best venue to approach the little princess. She had been avoiding him all day.

To his surprise, Miss Canton walked up to him with her father by her side. They greeted each other and fell into conversation.

“I think that position is available if you want it,” General Canton said, then paused, scrutinizing Marcus’s battered face. “By Jove, I hope you won the fight?”

Marcus shrugged. “It was a draw.”

The general pursed his lips. “Well, well, my little girl tells me the two of you are getting along rather nicely.”

Marcus clasped his hands behind his back, while a part of him still searched for Milli over the crowd. “Ah, yes. I think your daughter is a diamond of the first waters, General.”

“Capital! I say, if you are willing to make her your bride, you may have a position at White Hall or the Home Office. I can promise you within the month, you may have your pick of wherever you would like to go. The Americas, India, Europe, wherever you say. My little Valerie does like to travel, don’t you dear?”

Miss Canton touched Marcus’s arms. “I would go anywhere you want, Marcus.”

Marcus looked into those green eyes and found nothing deceiving in them. She was not like Lady Madeleine at all. But he didn’t like to be pushed into marriage, or coerced.

The general’s gaze sharpened. “Ah, if you are worried about offspring, I will have you know, Valerie’s mother, rest her soul, had seven children before she fell ill. Six boys and one girl.” He elbowed Marcus. “Not bad odds, eh? Give you the heir the Clearbrooks need so badly.”

Marcus stiffened.

Miss Canton blushed. “Papa, please.”

“Well, well,” the general snapped. “What are you intentions, Lord Marcus?”

“Papa!”

“Now, Valerie, you walk over to the duchess across the way, while Marcus and I have a bit of a chat.”

Miss Canton waded through the crowd.

Marcus looked at the general, saying nothing.

The general frowned. “I have my concerns about you. I have heard you have been paying attention to Miss Millicent Shelby. I hope that is to draw the villain out and has nothing to do with your true affections.”

Marcus didn’t like the man trying to plan his life like some map in battle. However, this powerful general was directing the Shelby murder case, and Marcus didn’t want to hurt any chances of finding the villain.

“That is exactly how my brothers and Stonebridge see it. We must draw the man out and push him to show his hand.”

The general smiled, displaying his yellow teeth. “Ah, thought it was that way. Now, to my daughter. Are you interested?”

“Perhaps,” Marcus said, not willing to agree.

“I see.” He patted Marcus on the back. “You want to wait until this entire mess is cleaned up. Family man. I like that. Take care of those you love. When this is over, you don’t have to ask me again. You have my permission to marry my daughter. Papers can be drawn up later.” He chuckled and sighed in appreciation, as if everything was wrapped up nice and tight. “And after the wedding, we shall get you moving on the track to be prime minster.”

Marcus watched in relief as the general finally made his way toward a group older gentleman. What the blazes? The man was too sure of himself and his daughter. Marcus was no man to be pushed.

He strolled about the crowds, looking for Milli. He even checked the card room. It was inevitable that he finally discovered her in the tearoom with Hughmont.

He waited in the corridor, hoping to speak with her alone. Hughmont had been acting quite strangely lately, sending Marcus into high alert. Breadford had returned to London. But Valford and Bennington were still in Bath.

Marcus kept an eagle eye on Hughmont and Milli as they finally exited the room. Marcus followed behind, when suddenly Hughmont pulled Milli aside. Marcus halted in the shadows.

“Miss Millicent, I adore you.”

Milli giggled. “Lord Hughmont, you must not say such things in a public place.”

“You must call be by my Christian name. You did once before, you know.”

“John,” she said softly.

“Oh, Millicent. I have loved you forever.”

“I am quite fond of you, um, John . . .”

“Marcus! There you are.”

His blood surging with jealousy, Marcus turned at the sound of the general’s shout. Torn, Marcus finally walked toward the older man.

“Such a crowd,” the general uttered. “Never thought I would find you again. You were there one minute and gone the next. Are your brothers here? The duke? Stephen? Clayton? And where the devil is Stonebridge?”

“I could find them if it is urgent.”

“No, no, it’s enough that you are here.” The general took him down the corridor and toward the sedan chairs.

Marcus glanced over his shoulder and caught Milli’s eyes. But she turned her back on him and laughed at something Hughmont said. Did she know he had been following them?

“Would have given this to you sooner,” the general remarked in a low voice, “but immediately after our conversation, I received the missive from one of my men.” He handed the paper to Marcus. “The killer has confessed.”

Shocked, Marcus fingered the note. “You have Shelby’s murderer?”

The general nodded. “Back in London. Must have known we were closing in.”

“The devil. Who is it?”

“Headquarters doesn’t say. I believe there may be more we do not know. And more we need to know. However, at least we know the culprit is behind bars. It seems he had no idea it was poison that he had given Shelby. Regrets everything and could no longer live with himself, knowing what he had done.”

With a sigh, Marcus leaned against the wall. “Then, it isn’t any of the suitors at all. Jupiter, the man must have owed Shelby a great amount of money.”

“Seems so. You and your family may rest at ease now. I am certain we shall discover the man’s name if you can wait another day or two. Want to make sure no one else is involved. No name in the missive for security reasons, don’t you know.”

Marcus grimaced. He had been an agent for England during the war. Names were seldom put on paper because of spies. But the war was over. However, Whitehall and the Home Office seemed to carry the same level of security as before.

The general’s eyes narrowed. “On another note, choose wisely among the ladies. You are a good man, but marriage is forever. I am not asking you to love my daughter, but if you do lean that way, be a good husband.” He clapped a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Either way, I will consider you a good friend. However, I cannot promise you the position you want if you choose another.”

Marcus pursed his lips in thought. “Ah, you have others on your list?”

“You are my first choice, Marcus. The Clearbrooks are a good name. A good family. You would do well overseas, especially in America.”

“I see.”

“Do you? I hoped you would. Your son could hold the dukedom. Think about it. But there will be no hard feelings either way.”

Marcus nodded. He wanted the government position the general had offered, but confound it, he wanted Milli more.

He stared at the note in his hands and stuffed it into his pocket. The little princess was his, and no one was going to have her. Not Knightengale, not Hughmont, not Valford, not Bennington, and certainly not Breadford.

He smiled to himself and puffed out his chest. Besides, Milli loved him.

He walked swiftly to where Hughmont and Milli had been standing, and his smile vanished. They were gone.

Chapter Twenty-One

A
n hour later, Marcus stood in the study of the Bath mansion with his brothers and Stonebridge. Marcus let out a frustrated sigh. “I will feel much better when the mystery is solved and we have the man’s name.”

Roderick leaned back in in his chair, studying the general’s missive. “The killer must have owed Shelby a great amount of money.”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Stephen sat on the edge of the desk. “The man was my father-in-law, a little hard nosed, a bit unconventional, and he did play cards with an odd sort of luck, but he did not deserve to die like he did.”

Stonebridge crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “Men are greedy. Sad, but true. Our last war with Napoleon proved that.”

Clayton glanced warily at the closed door. “So, now what? Do we tell the women?”

Roderick looked up. “I believe it’s time. Milli already knows her father was murdered. Hell’s teeth, my mother knows too. We cannot wait until Jane, Elizabeth, and Briana discover the news through other means now that the murderer is in custody. We will know the man’s identity soon enough.”

Stephen grimaced. “I think I should be the one to break the news.”

But Marcus wanted to be the one to tell Milli about the general’s letter. At first, he thought the plan about him pretending to be her suitor would work to their advantage while searching for the murderer. However, he had been fooling himself. Devil take it! She was the woman he wanted, and it had taken only a few kisses to seal his fate.

The duke’s face turned hard. He stood and walked toward the fireplace, resting his hand on the mantel as he stared at the empty hearth. “I think Stephen should tell Elizabeth and Milli. I will tell Jane, and the rest of you can tell your wives.”

Marcus shoved a hand through his hair. “Perhaps I should be the one to tell Milli. She is quite angry with me. And the devil of it is, she will probably be angrier now that she knows none of her suitors were the murderer.”

Stephen glared at him. “Ha. You think she will be angry? I vow I am not too happy about your behavior with her either.”

Marcus bit back an oath. He knew he would have to ask Stephen for Milli’s hand, but first, he would speak to the little princess. He looked about the room and glowered. The rest of the gentlemen were staring at him, the amusement in their eyes quite obvious.

Marcus ignored them. He turned to Stephen, trying to keep his voice calm. “Do you really want to tell two women you have found their father’s murderer? Or should I take one of them off your hands?”

Stephen swore. “Very well. I will tell Lizzie about everything, and you can tell Milli.”

Marcus nodded, twisting his lips at the sight of Stephen’s black eye. “I think it becomes you.”

Stephen chuckled as he started for the door. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

As the men began to leave the room, Roderick called Marcus back.

“Have you made a decision about your wife?” the duke asked.

Marcus lifted an irritated brow. “My wife?”

“Is it to be Miss Canton?”

Marcus stiffened. “I will provide an heir, if that is what you want. But devil take it, I draw the line when people start telling me whom I shall marry!”

Roderick glowered at him. “Is that so?”

“That is so! And don’t you forget it, duke or not!”

Marcus thought the best way to talk to Milli was before supper, before any of the women started talking to her. He wanted to deliver the news and apologize for his behavior. But for the life of him, he could not find her. No one had seen her for hours. Well, it wasn’t as if the murderer was still at large.

“Hello Uncle Marcus!”

Standing outside the grand salon, Marcus turned, his brows lifting in amusement. Gabby stood in the hall, wearing a long red robe that dragged along the floor. Stonebridge’s huge dog Nigel was following her.

“Well, hello, poppet.” He swallowed his laugh. “Is that the pink bonnet we bought the other day in London?”

Gabby smiled, patting Nigel’s head. “Doesn’t he look pretty?”

“Uh, pretty is not the word I would use. But he does look different.”