Mary felt her body slide down Rex’s front, felt his hand release its hard grip on her bottom. Her lips throbbed, the area between her legs aching unhappily at the sudden loss of pressure. Turning her head to look over her shoulder, her heart sank.
Three pairs of shocked eyes stared back at her, while one enraged pair was singularly focused on Rex. Aunt Elizabeth and the Duchess of Richmond stood just in front of Thomas and Lady Jersey. Thomas glared at Rex as if the only thing keeping him from Rex’s throat was Lady Jersey’s arm in his.
For the first time ever, Aunt Elizabeth looked utterly flummoxed. Her mouth was slightly agape as though she could not believe what her eyes were telling her. The Duchess of Richmond was little better off, but behind them, Lady Jersey’s expression was already changing to one of glee. Not maliciously so, but the woman was an inveterate gossip, perhapsthebiggest gossip of theton.
“I…” Mary’s throat clogged, bright red heat washing over her face. She felt warmth move down to her chest and knew the hot color would only make her appear guiltier, but there was no stopping it. “We…” The words would not come, as if her brain had frozen, ground to a halt by the extraordinary circumstances. There were too many things to consider.
Were Devon and the Russian still nearby, listening? What was Rex thinking? What excuse could she possibly make for being caught in such an indelicate situation? How on Earth could she salvage this situation?
Behind her, Rex cleared his throat, stepping beside her and taking her hand in his.
“Ladies, Hood, I hope you will be the first to wish us happy. Miss Wilson has just accepted my proposal.”
The trap she had accidentally woven closed about her like a steel cage.
Chapter 13
Rex
Engaged. Not in the manner he had expected. His soon-to-be-bride had untapped secrets. For a moment, Rex wondered if he was doing the right thing by marrying the chit… but there had been no alternative. Keeping Lady Jersey quiet after catching them in a passionate embrace would have been nigh impossible. It was a good thing he had already been publicly courting her, or there would be mutters about Miss Wilson trapping him into marriage.
Ha!If anything, it was the other way round, and Rex was not sure how he felt about that, either.
He would have to ponder those feelings later. For now, he had to face the fluttering Duchess and Lady Jersey, the surprised and suspicious Viscountess Hood, and the openly glowering Thomas Hood. Mentally, Rex started tallying up all of Mary’s sins, for which he would chastise her later.
The Viscountess masterfully hurried the Duchess and Lady Jersey through their responses before suggesting they take their leave and regroup at Hood House.To speak to the viscountwas the silent message behind her words. Rex had no qualms.
“Perhaps I could take Mary in my carriage and meet you there?” he suggested when Thomas hied off to search for Arabella. Viscountess Hood pursed her lips, then nodded. Normally, such a thing would be unthinkable, but with Lady Jersey surely spreading the news of their engagement throughout the ballroom at this very moment, the proprieties could be bent a bit.
“We will join you shortly.” The viscountess glanced back toward the ballroom. “As soon as Thomas finds Arabella. I am sure he will not be long.” He would not miss out on berating Rex—Rex had no illusions about who the Hood heir would blame for that little scene in the conservatory. Another item to add to Mary’s tally. His palm itched something fierce.
Mary stirred next to him, pulling herself out of a reverie. He had almost begun to worry a bit about how quiet she had become after his announcement. While she had nodded and murmured all the right phrases, she had been otherwise silent.
“Oh… no… I should wait, too.” She started to pull away from him, but Rex held fast.
“No, you should come with me.” Stating it as a command, he covered her hand on his arm with his own, his fingers pressing down against hers. Bending his head, he caught her wide, startled eyes. “We have a few things to discuss in private. I assure you, no one will think twice about the proprieties.”
While he knew very well, the proprieties were not at all what she was worried about, his statement caused the viscountess to reassure Mary that there was no cause for social concern. Which, of course, meant Mary could not voice her true reason for disquiet—she did not want to be alone with him.
Given the circumstances they had been found in and her aunt’s reassurance, it would look deucedly odd if Mary continued to protest. The angry little look she directed at him when they turned away from her aunt made him smile. The center of his palm was feeling itchier than ever, and his cock was thickening in anticipation as he issued the order for his coach to be brought round.
Mary
Marshaling her arguments against marriage was far more difficult, with Rex standingrightbeside her. Just his presence was distracting, so were his firm grip on her fingers, the hard line of his body, and the strength and power emanating from him like an aura clinging to his form.
Getting in his carriage with him, alone, was certainly not going to help matters. Her aunt felt it was appropriate now that they were engaged, which only made their engagement even more difficult to escape from.
Do I want to escape?
Poppycock. Of course, she wanted to escape. She did not want to be married to someone she did not love, who did not love her. From observing the couples around her, she had come to the conclusion the best marriages were those where the couples loved each other and were faithful to each other—two things she did not think would feature in marriage to the rakish Marquess of Hartford.
They do say reformed rakes make the best husbands.
Hmm, that point was harder to argue. Several of the couples she had observed proved the point. Even her cousin, Felix, had a very disreputable reputation before he had married Gabrielle, yet the two of them were happier than ever. Thomas’ reputation had been that of an upright gentleman before marriage to Arabella, but Arabella’sbrothershad been more like Felix, yet they, too, were happily in love and faithful to their wives.
Arabella’s friend, Cynthia, who had married the Earl of Spencer, was even more of an example. The Earl of Spencer’s reputation had been so scandalous, stories of his exploits were still bandied about, several years after his marriage. There were no new stories to add to those, however, as he was utterly devoted to his wife. All current tales involving the Earl and Countess centered around Cynthia’s heated reactions when women importuned him or the earl’s possessive displeasure when a gentleman dared flirt with his wife.
Presumably, having sampled so many delicacies before marriage, the rakes were perfectly happy to choose their favorite dish and remain steadfast to it after their wedding.