The Mischievous Bride (The Clearbrooks)

by Teresa McCarthy

  She grabbed her white and pink striped gown. It looked lovely on her. Many gentlemen complimented her when she wore it.

  Marcus would be sorry he had ever lectured her about men!

  She would show him she was no little girl. Knightengale, Hughmont and any other gentleman who wanted to pay attention to her would work into her plans very nicely indeed.

  Chapter Nine

  The two neatly dressed gentlemen rode their horses in Hyde Park amidst the cream of Society. As they reined in their mounts, a slight chill settled in the air.

  “I don’t like what happened,” the older man said. “But now that the deed is done. I say marry that girl or someone just as rich. We need the money.”

  The younger of the two looked over Hyde Park, his large gloved hands patting his horse’s neck. “The Clearbrooks are quite a force. It’s not as if I can flee with the girl to Gretna Green and not have any problems. Though I have planned for that if I must. One night of traveling without a chaperone and she would be ruined. Would rather marry her and stay in England. Besides, she likes me. I vow, it will only take a bit of time, and the chit will be mine, along with that lovely inheritance."

  The other man growled. “But she might not turn it over to you. Did you ever think of that?”

  The younger man stiffened and spit out a curse. “There are ways to make a woman do what I want. After she is my wife, she will be my prisoner. What can she do? What can anyone do then? She will be my property at that point. I’ll have her one way or another. Stephen will have to agree.”

  A phaeton rolled by, and the men tipped their hats. A few seconds passed before the older man spoke. “He may kill you. The Clearbrooks are a vengeful lot.”

  “Not if it means ruining the lady’s reputation. Besides, I have her in the palm of my hand. Gretna is not my first choice.”

  “I don’t like the thought of abducting her. And I didn’t like what you did with Shelby either. I do have my morals, don’t you know.”

  “Morals? Ha!” The younger man swiveled in his saddle. His eyes narrowed into two icy chips. “You owed him too blasted much.” He looked around, making sure no one else could hear them. “We could not pay him back,” he said between clenched teeth. “You asked me to take care of the situation. I did. So forget it and move on. We’ve talked about this until my jaw aches!”

  The older man scowled and shook his head. “But poison? A ghastly way to go. Ain’t wanting to think of taking a man’s life.”

  “Oh, the devil! It’s been two years! The girl is of age. She inherited half of her Papa’s money. Don’t turn into a sniveling coward now.”

  “I am not a coward. It’s just not gentlemanly to do what you did. Never thought you would kill the man.” The older man swallowed hard. “That was taking things a bit too far. And I don’t want her ruined. Marry her right.”

  “You’ve been complaining to me for two years now, and I’ve had just about enough of your drivel. Shut the hell up. I’m going to see the Shelby chit later today, and devil take it, I don’t want you to interfere with my plans.”

  “I agreed to you marrying the girl in a decent way. No runs to Gretna Green. But don’t you tell your father to shut up.”

  “Ha. I shall tell you anything I want.” The younger man cursed again and sent his horse into a gallop, leaving his father frowning and shaking his head.

  “Would you like an ice at Gunters, Miss Millicent? That is, after we pick up that book you want at the shop down the way.”

  MiIli looked at Lord Hughmont and sent him her sweetest smile. Maybe she was flirting just a bit, but she wasn’t hurting anyone, was she? Women did this all the time, especially in the plays she read about. Besides, Lord Hughmont knew her ways and still liked her.

  “Perhaps we can pick up the book later,” she said innocently. “I was, uh, wondering if we could make a stop at the milliner’s?

  “The milliner’s?” The big man looked as if he had swallowed a bird. “If it’s the one I’m thinking about, that’s where all the ladies gather to pick out . . . well, female things and not just hats. I am not one to spend my time in there. Don’t want to be stubborn about this, but confound it, the place is full of ribbons. Not my kind of thing at all.”

  Milli looked at him, a bit shocked by his comments. “But I assure you, it will only take a minute.” They continued to stroll down the street with Milli’s abigail following.

  She gazed into Lord Hughmont’s blue eyes. “Please.”

  Lord Hughmont blushed. “I cannot deny you, and you well know it. Those puppy eyes of yours do me in every time.” He laughed. “Very well, you little actress. Let us venture into the valley of the hats. ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’”

  Milli chuckled at his use of Shakespeare. He always seemed to quote the playwright at some time in their conversation. “You are too good. You put up with more nonsense from me than any man would. By the way, I saw your father the other day. How is he doing?”

  Lord Hughmont’s face turned hard. “We are having a bit of a tiff. But nothing I cannot handle. Saw him a bit before I came for you.”

  “Oh, I hope it’s nothing serious. I know how family can be sometimes.”

  The young man frowned. “Ah, well, you know how father’s can be.”

  Milli nodded, but said nothing. She still missed her papa.

  Hughmont stopped and held her hand. “Forgive me. For a moment, I forgot about your loss. It was stupid of me.”

  Milli sighed. “You are not stupid. But please, make up with your father. One never knows when it is his time to go.”

  “I suppose you are right. I will try not to hold a grudge. But bonnets and lace, Miss Millicent? Zeus! A chill snakes down my spine at the very thought of taking one foot inside that place. The shop has no men’s hats whatsoever. It is purely a nest of feminine delights. Why if the gentlemen at the club saw me . . .”

  She smiled, never having seen this side of the man. Oh, she knew Hughmont did not care for feminine frilliness, but in the theater group, he was quite chivalrous with the ladies.

  “It isn’t as bad as all that,” she said gently. “I have this divine bonnet with a blue ribbon picked out for my sister. It’s for her birthday. And you should not feel uncomfortable. There are many gentlemen who venture into the depths of that dark abyss,” she lowered her voice, “dare I say, of dastardly bonnets and lace?”

  A flicker of amusement flashed across his face. “I am no coward. You have put me in my place. I daresay, you won’t be long then?”

  She shook her head, feeling a bit guilty about dragging Lord Hughmont into her womanly web. But sometimes, a female had to do what a female had to do.

  And if Marcus saw them together, so much the better.

  “I will only be a few minutes.” And she wasn’t quite lying about the bonnet. There was a magnificent hat she had wanted to buy for Lizzie. Her sister’s birthday was four months away, but Lord Hughmont didn’t know that.

  The bell above the door jingled as they walked into the shop. Rows and rows of fabric filled the room, along with every color ribbon in the rainbow. The sweet scent of French perfume permeated the air.

  Lord Hughmont looked on in horror. “Miss Millicent,” he hissed. “I find this intolerable. This place is full of everything a woman desires. And what in the blue blazes is that?” His finger shook toward the rows and rows of colorful fabric lining the aisles.

  Milli grinned. “Bolts of cloth. I guarantee, they won’t jump up and bite you.”

  Lord Hughmont reddened. “Never been in a place like this. Don’t have a sister. And my mother’s dead.” He looked left and right, as if hoping no gentleman would see him. “Feels too . . . frilly. I’d rather be riding or boxing at Gentlemen Jackson’s. Or hunting. Jupiter, anything but this.”

  “John,” she said, using his first name to calm him down. “There is nothing to fear. Think of it as an adventure in research. We can look for fabric for our Christmas play.”

  “Ab
solutely not,” he said, his voice going hoarse. “I may like acting, but by heaven, this is where I draw the line. No ribbons, no frillies,” he glanced at the flowers adorning the hats and frowned, “and no flowers!”

  Milli took his arm. Guilt washed over her in waves when she felt him shake. The man obviously hated the very thought of shopping in a woman’s domain. Any minute she thought he might break out into hives. This was a bad idea all around. “We can leave. Forgive me, I only thought—”

  “I like this one! No, I think I like this one!”

  Milli turned her head at the sound of a familiar squeal of delight. Gabby was at the end of the shop, jumping up and down. She held a blue hat with silver ribbons and was placing it on Marcus’s head. He was sitting in a wing chair and looked rather worn out.

  “I daresay, Miss Millicent, too many ladies in here. They are starting to stare.” Hughmont pulled at his cravat, as if he were having trouble breathing. “Do you mind if I wait outside?”

  Milli frowned. The whole purpose of this outing was to make Marcus jealous. But she wasn’t heartless. She could not subject Lord Hughmont to his worst nightmare. Who would have thought? The man adored acting at their monthly meetings. He adored women too. Not only that, he boxed. He fenced. He rode. He was a gentleman of sports. The very idea that he was afraid of being immersed in a sea of ribbons confused her. Many men came in here with females on their arm.

  “Milli! There’s Milli!”

  Milli’s face lit with pleasure when Gabby called her name.

  Beside her, Lord Hughmont mumbled. “Ain’t my thing to be inside a shop like this. Rather be playing cards at White’s.”

  Milli tapped his hand like a mother comforting a child. “I see Gabby. Do you mind if I spend a few minutes with her? I promise, after that, we can buy that book at the shop down the street.”

  His blue eyes narrowed. “It’s not as if we were man and wife, Miss Millicent. I do have a say in how I go about.”

  Milli flinched, a bit shocked at the way his personality changed so easily. “If you’d rather wait outside, I completely understand. I can see this place makes you uncomfortable. I won’t have you shaking in your boots because I dragged you in here under false pretenses.”

  His eyes traveled over the group of ladies watching their exchange. He gave a tug to the bottom of his waistcoat and stood tall. His eyes suddenly caught sight of Lord Marcus and their gazes locked. Hughmont’s face hardened. “I will allow five minutes, Miss Millicent. And only five minutes.”

  Milli let out the breath she had been holding. “Thank you.”

  Goodness, she thought. Sometimes men could be rather bothersome.

  She glanced toward the door where her abigail was waiting and nodded to her, then walked toward Gabby and Marcus. She was surprised when Lord Hughmont decided to follow her instead of waiting outside.

  “Good afternoon,” she said with a smile. Marcus stood, greeting her with a curt hello. Gabby gave her a hug, and the gentleman exchanged a terse greeting.

  “Uncle Marcus is going to let me have the blue and the pink one!” Gabby went on. “I decided not to get the purple one because it made me look too purple. But I’m not sure . . . hmmm, what do you think?”

  Milli laughed, feeling Marcus’s eyes upon her. “I think they are all quite adorable.”

  Lord Hughmont pulled out his pocket watch, then glanced at Milli. Her eyes widened. He was timing her! Of all things!

  “Do you want to try on a bonnet?” Gabby said, pulling at her hand. “They have lots of pretty ones. I like the one with the big ribbons and all the white lace. And the flowers are very pretty too.”

  Milli heard Lord Hughmont groan.

  She chewed her bottom lip, instantly regretting her decision to come here. The tension between the Marcus and Hughmont was as taut as a violin bow ready to snap.

  She swallowed at the contempt in Marcus’s pale eyes. This was not the exact feeling she had wanted to invoke. She was hoping he would pay attention to her in a good way.

  “Which ones do you like?” Gabby asked impatiently.

  Milli shifted a soft gaze to Gabby. “Well, I’ve . . . I’ve come to buy a, uh, hat for Lizzie.”

  But from the corner of her eye, Milli watched as Lord Hughmont regarded Marcus with a belligerent stare. The two men studied each other as if they were both recalling last night. Of course, Marcus probably thought the man had kissed her too. She had said as much, had she not?

  Her stomach started to churn. Goodness, she didn’t know what she wanted anymore. She was making such a mess out of everything. Even after all the unpleasant words Marcus had said to her, she still wanted him to want her. But she certainly didn’t wish Lord Hughmont hurt.

  “The bonnet is for her sister’s birthday,” Lord Hughmont replied, lifting a challenging brow Marcus’s way.

  Marcus’s silver eyes gleamed with mischief as he glanced at Milli. “Elizabeth’s birthday is four months away. Or do you have another sister I did not know about?”

  “I do not,” she snapped, looking over the bonnets with Gabby.

  For a minute or two there was complete silence from the men. Milli felt their gazes burning into her backside as she fingered through the different colors on the hat stand. Gabby seemed to be satisfied watching her.

  She hadn’t thought this through at all. It was the story of her life.

  She shrugged and turned to the men, giving them a bland smile. “I thought perhaps I might find the bonnet Lizzie wanted. But it doesn’t look like it is here anymore.”

  Lord Hughmont clasped her arm in a possessive manner. “Very well then. It’s time we leave. Your five minutes are up, Milli.” He nodded to Lord Marcus whose lips had compressed into a hard line.

  Milli stared at the strong arm attached to hers. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. She was surprised by Lord Hughmont’s hold on her and also surprised by his use of her name.

  It took about two seconds for her to gather herself. Defiance welled inside her chest. She gave Lord Hughmont a bold stare. The man might try his high-handedness on other females, but not her.

  “I am not finished,” she stated curtly. “I thought to buy another bonnet for myself.”

  Milli tugged, but Lord Hughmont’s clasp was firm. Gabby stared on in mute horror.

  “I suggest you take your hand off the lady’s arm.” The warning in Marcus’s words sent a cold chill through Milli.

  Lord Hughmont shot Marcus a challenging glare. “The lady is here of her own free will, Clearbrook. This is not the duke’s home anymore.”

  Gabby’s eyes widened, and she hid behind Marcus’s muscular legs. “Are you going to call him out, Uncle Marcus? He’s being mean.” The little girl spoke before Milli even had a chance.

  Marcus dropped his gaze to Gabby and his face softened “No, poppet, I am not going to call him out.” His words were gentle and calming, making Milli want to bop Lord Hughmont in the nose for scaring the child.

  Gabby frowned. “Oh.”

  For once, Milli was at a lost for words. She jerked from Lord Hughmont’s grip and grabbed a bonnet to her left, some horrid pink concoction. “I’ll take this.” She walked to the counter and handed it to the shop girl, leaving the men staring at one another.

  Gabby trailed along after her. “I think Uncle Marcus is really mad,” the girl said, tugging on Milli’s skirt. “That is how my papa talks before he starts yelling.”

  Milli tried to smile as the shop girl placed the bonnet in a round hatbox. She paid the lady and waited while a string was tied around her purchase. “Do you have your hats, Gabby?”

  The girl’s eyes were round with concern. “I left them back there, but I think Lord Hughpont is mad too. I don’t like him. I think I should have Nigel chase him around the park. That will scare him.”

  Hughpont? Milli blinked and took hold of Gabby’s hand. She didn’t know what she wanted to happen, but she did know she didn’t want Marcus mad at her again. She loved him, for goodness sakes. She w
as a bowl full of jelly where he was concerned.

  “Gentlemen are not comfortable in girl places, Gabby dear. Sometimes they can be rather difficult when it comes to shopping. They get bored very easily, and their anger may get the best of them.”

  Gabby rubbed her nose and looked back at the men. “Oh.”

  Milli noticed that the men were still glaring at each other. Her heart raced as she grabbed her hatbox. “Do you want to bring your hats over here?”

  Gabby shifted her wary gaze back to Milli and let out a tired sigh. “I don’t know which one to pick. It’s so comp...compicated.”

  Milli chuckled. “You can always come back with your mama."

  “No, Mama won’t let me buy two. Only Uncle Marcus will get two hats for me.”

  “Then why don’t you let Uncle Marcus buy the two you picked out?

  Gabby put a finger to her dimpled chin. “Hmmm, I think I will take the pink one and the blue one.”

  “Well, then, let’s tell Uncle Marcus what you finally decided.”

  Gabby curled her finger, motioning Milli to come down to her level.

  “Uncle Marcus looks madder than Papa did when some man kissed Mama’s hand the other day when we were coming out of church.”

  Milli’s cheeks turned warm as she took in Marcus’s rock solid stance. The man appeared more mad then jealous. But it wasn’t as if Lord Hughmont had hurt her. Yet he had been possessive, and she didn’t like that at all. She would have to tell the younger man a thing or two, but not in front of Gabby . . . or Marcus.

  She put on her best smile and walked toward the men. Madame had made her way toward Marcus too. It seemed the owner had already softened the situation because Marcus was having Gabby’s bonnets wrapped up and sent to the Elbourne townhouse.

  Marcus knelt down to talk to Gabby. “Why don’t you wait with Milli’s maid? She’s by the door. You can tell her all about your pretty hats.”

  “Oh,” Gabby exclaimed said, clapping her hands. “Maybe she will help me with my hair when I get back! We can play dress up. Would you like to play too?”