“Well?” Ethan asked, finally breaking the silence. “Are you doomed to be a bachelor forever, or will you get to pass on a title to your son?”
“I have a match,” Derek said, still in shock.
“You do?” Christopher jumped up from his chair and came around so he could read the missive. After a moment, he turned his gaze to Ethan. “Do you know who Miss Danette Everson is?”
“Miss Danette Everson?” Ethan repeated, as if testing the name on his tongue. He shook his head. “I can’t say I do. Is this her first Season?”
“The missive doesn’t say anything about her age,” Christopher answered for Derek. “It just says she’s been notified he’s her match and they’re both encouraged to meet before the wedding.”
“Does that mean you have to marry her?” Ethan asked Derek.
“No,” Derek replied. “I don’t have to marry her, nor does she have to marry me. I could request to be paired up with another lady if I wish.” Not that he’d opt for that. It was astonishing enough the duchess had even found one lady in all of London brave enough to marry him. “I will meet her, though.”
“That’s a good idea,” Christopher agreed as he sat back down. “You don’t want to go to the wedding and walk up to the wrong lady.”
Ethan snickered. “It was funny when Lord Haynes did that.”
Christopher chuckled. “I heard his face was as red as a tomato from embarrassment.” He glanced at Derek. “Definitely meet Miss Everson. You don’t want to end up with your name in the Tittletattle. You have enough of a reputation to contend with.”
“He was probably nervous,” Derek said.
“It would have been all well and good,” Christopher began, “but he went on and on about how beautiful the wrong lady was. I don’t think the actual bride was all that happy with him after that.”
“I should say not,” Derek replied. “That’s what I mean by making your wife happy. Have the sense to compliment her instead of someone else. Fortunately, I won’t make the same error Lord Haynes did. I’m going to meet this courageous Miss Everson and assure her I’ll do my best not to make her sorry she married me.”
“As long as she’s not crying on her wedding day, you’re off to a good start,” Ethan quipped.
Derek folded the missive. “It’s not the wedding day I’m worried about. It’s what happens after the wedding.” A lifetime with him, after all, was a long sentence to endure.
Chapter Three
Danette traced the edge of the missive in her hand. The Marquess of Dodsworth was to be her husband. Well, he would be if he made it to the altar and said yes when the vicar performed the ceremony. It was hard to tell what he’d do when the time came. She tried to recall what she’d heard about the Marquess of Dodsworth, but her mind drew a blank.
Honestly, she didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. For one, it could mean he had a good reputation. But then, it could mean he was so horrible no one dared speak his name in public. She shook her head. No, that was silly. The Ton would definitely be vocal about a scoundrel. The gossip would be too hard to resist.
Danette glanced up from the missive to her mother, who came into the small drawing room. “Mother,” she began, standing up from the settee, “do you know of a gentleman whose title is the Marquess of Dodsworth?”
Her mother gasped. “The duchess matched you with a titled gentleman?”
“I’ve been engaged to titled gentlemen in the past, and none of those did any good.”
Her mother’s enthusiasm dimmed. “That’s true. I’d forgotten.”
“How could you forget I was rejected twice after securing proposals?”
“Oh, I didn’t forget that part. I just forgot they had titles. I don’t even remember who they were.”
“I do. Lord Garrett and Lord Simpleton.”
“That’s right.” Her mother chuckled and then shrugged. “I suppose they weren’t all that memorable if I forgot their titles. All I remember is one had a large nose. Every time I saw him, I couldn’t stop staring at it. In some ways, it was hypnotizing. When he laughed, I swear those nose hairs swayed.”
Out of respect to Lord Garrett, Danette forced back the urge to laugh. He was a titled gentleman with a good reputation after all.
“Did you just get the missive from the duchess?” her mother asked once she stopped laughing.
“Yes. It came while you were resting. I was reading.” Though it wasn’t necessary, Danette motioned to the settee where a copy of the biography of the Roman Caesars was resting.
“It’ll be good for you to marry so you can do more than read.”
“I don’t read all the time. I go to balls.” Not that she ever danced. After being jilted the second time, she didn’t see the point. Dancing wasn’t all that fun when the gentlemen had no romantic interest in her. “I also visit with Regan, and you know she’s anything but boring.”
“Yes, I know. She’s a sly one, always trying to create mischief.” Her mother’s eyes twinkled. “She brought you out of your shell. When you were a child, you didn’t dare speak to anyone until she came along.”
Danette smiled. “Well, she likes to involve me in her schemes. You know it’s because of her I even went to see the duchess about getting a husband.”
“And I applaud her for that,” her mother said. “It’s about time you gave love another chance.”
“This isn’t a love match, Mother. None of them were going to be love matches.”
“I knew you were settling for Lord Garrett and Lord Simpleton. Maybe they knew it and decided not to marry you because of it.”
Danette hadn’t considered that before, but then, did it really matter when titled gentlemen were far more concerned with getting an heir than a wife who’d love them? “At least with the Marquess of Dodsworth, it’s understood the marriage is one of convenience.”
“Is it?”
“Why else would a gentleman go to the duchess?”
Her mother shrugged. “I suppose it makes sense. The quickest and easiest way to secure a marriage is to have one arranged for you. It could very well be he doesn’t want to deal with the hassle the Season brings. But I rather fancy the idea he’s looking for a love match. The duchess would best know the lady who’d lead him down that path, what with her pairing up couples based on mutual interests and all. I think when a gentleman and lady share a lot of things in common, they can’t help but fall in love.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”
“I can’t help it,” her mother replied and sat on the settee. She picked up the book and thumbed through it. “I loved your father. He was a good gentleman. Because of him, I have you, and every time I look at you, I think of the love we shared because it was that love that created you.”
Danette grimaced. She would rather not think of her parents together in that way. It seemed sacrilegious somehow.
“I want you to have what your father and I had,” her mother said. “There’s no sense in settling for second best when you can have the best. I think this has promise. The duchess selected this gentleman for you. It’s fate.”
“If it is, you can thank Regan for it.”
“I will. Perhaps you should name your child Regan if you have a girl as a way to thank her.”
Danette sighed. Her mother was ever the optimist, believing this engagement would be different from the others. “Let’s wait and see how things go before we start naming children that might be born.”
“I wish you wouldn’t be so glum. You were always a sad child.”
“I wasn’t sad.”
“You’d look at the bad in everything. It could be a nice sunny day, and you’d worry your hat would blow off your head and the sun would make you burn. If it was cloudy, you worried it would rain. For once, I’d like you to see the good in things.”
“That’s not fair. I do see the good in things. It’s just that I can see the bad, too. There’s nothing in this world that is all good or all bad.”
“Maybe I should clarify.” Her mother took a moment to think over her words before saying, “For once, I’d like you to anticipate the best. Pretend things will actually work out.”
“And be disappointed when they don’t?”
The words flew out of Danette’s mouth before she had time to think, and by the exasperated expression on her mother’s face, she could tell it wasn’t what her mother wanted to hear. But what else was she supposed to say? Did her mother really want her to lie?
Her mother finally shot her a pleading look. “At least give the marquess a chance. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
“I don’t willingly push any of the gentlemen away.” Danette wasn’t sure what she did—or didn’t do—to make them end engagements with her, but there had to be something wrong with her. She’d be surprised if the marquess would actually marry her. But, to set her mother’s mind at ease because she could tell her mother worried she might do something to intentionally push him away, she said, “I’ll be nice when it comes time to meet him. I promise. I won’t say a single negative thing.”
“Good.” Her mother patted her hand. “We should get you a new dress. Something pretty. Maybe a nice pink color to bring out the color in your cheeks.”
Well, Danette did love getting new dresses. Browsing through the designs at the seamstress’ shop was one of her favorite pastimes. It was so enjoyable, in fact, she had a difficult time seeing anything that could possibly go wrong. No, it wouldn’t be until she met the marquess that she might spill something on the new dress or rip it. How could she be a marchioness if she was clumsy enough to ruin a beautiful dress?
As if her mother could read her thoughts, she frowned at Danette.
Face growing warm, Danette hurried to tuck the duchess’ missive into the writing desk. “I’d love to get a new dress. Can we go now?”
“Yes, but I want you to remind yourself this dress will not get ruined when you meet your intended. It will remain as beautiful as the moment you first put it on.”
“It’s absolutely frightening you know me so well, Mother. One would swear you can read my mind.”
“You can’t hide things from a mother. A mother knows her children better than she knows anyone else. Now, come along. We’ll have a good day, and this will be only one of many good days you’ll have in the future.”
“Yes, Mother.” And Danette promised herself she would try to believe this. Really, she would. Or, at the very least, she’d do her best.
***
A panicked Danette found herself knocking on Regan’s townhouse door two days later. Usually, Danette didn’t come uninvited to anyone’s home, even that of her dearest friend’s. But the missive she’d just received led her to it. She clasped the reticule in her hands and prayed Regan was there. At this time of day, her friend should be, but who knew if she’d be out with her husband on a nice day like this? Sometimes she hated sunny days. All they did was make people want to spend the day outside.
The footman opened the door, and before she could speak, he smiled and said, “Lady Cantrell will be glad to see you. Please, follow me.”
Relieved, Danette went with him to the drawing room.
“It seems you two have a special connection,” he told her. “She’s upstairs getting ready to visit you.”
“Then it’s a good thing I came when I did.”
“Indeed.” He chuckled. “What may I have the butler bring you today?”
“Nothing to eat.” She didn’t know if she’d ever eat anything until after the whole ordeal with the Marquess of Dodsworth was over. “I’ll just have Earl Grey tea.”
“As you wish.”
He left the drawing room, leaving her alone to fret over the missive that just came to her door. With trembling hands, she undid the strings of her reticule and pulled out the piece of parchment with an elegant design along the edges. The marquess had wonderful taste. From the swirls in the design, she surmised he was a pristine and detailed gentleman. He probably fancied beautiful things and was full of charm and grace.
Oh, he was going to meet her and decide she wasn’t for him. She just knew it. This piece of parchment was nothing like her. Her place was in the background, not at the center of attention. She was the type who was plain and ordinary. This missive was anything but that.
The butler brought the tea and asked if she needed anything else.
“No, I’m fine,” she replied. “Will my friend be much longer?”
“I don’t think so. The footman’s announced your arrival just moments ago.”
“Thank you.” She rubbed her stomach. Would the butterflies never stop their persistent fluttering? “I don’t mean to be impatient.”
“No one thinks you’re impatient,” he assured her with a kind smile.
She tried to return his smile with one of her own, but she was far too nervous to make it work. She settled for nodding instead.
After he left her alone, she finally managed to make her legs move so she could sit on the settee. There. That was better. Maybe now she could relax, even though it was only a little bit. She released her breath and read through the missive for what had to be the twentieth time. The gentleman had nice writing. Nice writing on nice parchment. Everything about him seemed too good to be true.
Hearing footsteps approaching the drawing room, Danette looked up from the missive, and Regan came breezing into the room as graceful as always. Everything came so easy for Regan. She wouldn’t worry one bit about an impending marriage to someone as perfect as the marquess. But then, she didn’t worry about anything. She merely did whatever she wished, and things naturally turned out in her favor. If only Danette could do the same.
“I was wondering if you met your betrothed yet,” Regan said, sitting next to her and picking up the teapot. As she poured tea into their cups, she glanced at the missive in Danette’s hand. “Is that from him?”
“Yes.” Danette cleared her throat. “He wants to meet me before the wedding.”
“Lovely!” Regan turned to her, her eyes twinkling in excitement.
“It’s not lovely. It’s awful. What if he decides he doesn’t want to marry me after finding out how boring I am?”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not boring.” When Danette frowned, she added, “Would I have a boring friend? Me? Regan? The lady who prides herself on keeping life interesting? Believe me, I wouldn’t waste my time on boring pursuits.”
“I didn’t mean I was boring to you. I meant I might be boring to gentlemen. There’s a reason why the two who proposed left. I think they didn’t find me all that interesting.”
“I forbid you to talk this way. Now, let me read the missive. It’s the only way I can get an idea of who he is.”
“You mean, you don’t know anything about the Marquess of Dodsworth?” Danette asked, doing her best to hide her disappointment.
“No. Malcolm said he knew who the Marquess of Dodsworth used to be, but he died of his injuries.”
Danette hadn’t heard anything about this. “When did he die?”
“I think a little under a month ago. The title went to his next of kin.”
“Who is that?”
“I wish I could tell you, but I don’t have the vaguest idea. All I know is that Malcolm’s friends thought the world of the gentleman who was the Marquess of Dodsworth. In fact, Lord Steinbeck even took an entire week to mourn his passing.” Regan rolled her eyes. “If you knew Lord Steinbeck, you’d be amazed he has the capacity to experience any compassion. I suppose it means the old marquess was good enough to meet his standards.”
Danette took a sip of her tea as she considered her friend’s words. Then, lowering the cup to her lap, she asked, “Doesn’t Lord Steinbeck think highly of Malcolm?”
“Oh, he does. And the feeling is mutual. The two practically worship each other.” Her eyes lit up, and she grinned. “This is wonderful! When you marry the Marquess of Dodsworth, we can go to dinner parties at Lord Steinbeck’s together.”
&nb
sp; “But you just said the Marquess of Dodsworth that Lord Steinbeck liked died.”
“Yes, but the title has been passed to someone who was related to him, and that means the new marquess is probably just as arrogant as Lord Steinbeck.”
Danette’s stomach tightened in dread. “Arrogant?”
As if realizing her mistake, Regan’s face went red. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound horrible. Malcolm can be arrogant, too. He has a tendency to think everything he does is of the utmost importance. But even with that being the case, he has a sweet side to him. He treats me very well. I’m sure the marquess will be the same for you.”
Danette wasn’t all that thrilled with her friend’s attempt at making up for the slip, but she did have a point. Her friend’s husband did believe he was one of the most important people in London. However, as her friend had pointed out, he was good to her. Danette didn’t think it was possible the two would have enjoyed a happy marriage since Regan had been deceptive in the whole matter, but theirs was one of the few love matches in London.
Regan read through the missive while Danette sipped her tea. The marquess hadn’t written much. He’d been short and to the point, simply letting her know the duchess had paired them up for an arranged marriage and that being the case, he wished to meet with her so they would have a chance to get to know one another before the wedding. She didn’t know how much Regan could deduct from it. Danette thought there was more to gather by his choice in parchment and his script.
After a couple minutes, Regan put the missive down. “He doesn’t sound arrogant. You are relieved of that trait in your husband.”
Surprised, Danette asked, “He doesn’t?”
Her Devilish Marquess Page 3
