A Marquis for Mary (6 page)

She seemed to sense his question without him having to state it. “Does your family think very little of me?”

He shook his head. “Only my mother was home when I returned Audrey, and she is surprised, not upset,” he reassured her. “My sister said some complimentary things about you and my mother is anxious to meet you and introduce you to my brothers. Perhaps you could join me tomorrow afternoon at my mother’s home and become acquainted. Your sister and Flynn are welcome as well.”

She nodded, though he could see her anxiety remained despite his reassurances. “I would like that a great deal,” she said. “I do not think our time is filled.”

“Then expect an invitation from my mother to arrive tomorrow morning.”

He reached down to smooth his palm across her cheek, meaning it as a comforting gesture, but the physical reaction touching her brought was swift and sudden. A spark of connection flared between them, the heat of desire that had not been quenched in the garden.

“Mary, Mary,” he whispered, watching her eyes dilate with desire that was returned and almost as powerful as his own. “Soon we will be able to finish what was begun this afternoon.”

She nodded swiftly. “I know. And I look forward to it more than is proper.”

He swallowed at her honest response and his unexpectedly heated reaction. He hadn’t wanted another woman like he did this woman for a very, very long time. But now that his desires were awake, he was finding it nearly impossible to deny them.

He dipped his head and kissed her, driving his tongue between her lips, feeling her softness against him with a keenness that walked the line between pleasure and pain. She made a little whimper, a sound of pleasure and surrender, and he nearly came undone right then and there. It was only the smallest part of him that maintained composure, the forced him to release her and step away, his breath short.

They stared at each other for a charged moment, and then the rumbling of his carriage on the drive as it pulled to a stop and waited for him broke the moment. He smiled.

“I’m glad we’re reading the banns immediately,” he said, and was surprised to discover that it was utterly the truth.

She smiled. “Good day, my lord. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He gave a small bow and darted out the door, his step too light for a man who had been trapped into a marriage that day. But as he settled into the carriage and it began to drive away, he realized it was because he didn’t feel trapped after all. He felt like he was being saved.

Edward took a long, deep breath before he walked up the marble stairs to the front door of his mother’s home. It had been less than twenty-four hours since his last appearance here, but it felt like a lifetime.

The door opened and his mother’s butler appeared, looking serious as ever.

“Welcome back, Lord Woodley,” he intoned as he stepped back to allow Edward entry into the foyer.

“Thank you, Vernon,” he said with another sigh. “I assume they are all gathered in the west parlor?”

The servant nodded. “Shall I announce you?”

“No need. I’m sure they’re standing by like jackals about to pounce,” he said with a laugh that felt less than humor-filled. “Do be extra kind to Miss Quinn and her family when they arrive, though.”

A brief expression crossed Vernon’s face, as though he was slightly offended that Edward would imply he’d be anything but welcoming to the Flynns and Mary, but the expression swiftly faded. “Yes, sir.”

Edward made his way down the hall and to the parlor. The door was slightly ajar, so he could hear his family before he saw them. Masculine voices murmuring with the occasional lilt of female ones. So his brothers were here.

It wasn’t until he reached the door that he could make out the words.

“…not certain what to think of it. But then I feel I haven’t truly known Edward since Alice’s death, and that was three years ago.”

Edward flinched. The voice belonged to his younger brother by two years, Evan.

“Edward allows close those who he wants close.” The second voice was his youngest brother, Gabriel, who was four years his junior. “We have not been in that circle for a very long time.”

Edward drew a sharp breath. His brothers had once been his best friends. And they were right that he had pushed them away after Alice’s death. He had tried to protect them from the truth. Tried to protect himself from it.

He pushed the door open before he could overhear more censure and stepped inside. “Good afternoon,” he said, his voice tight and hard.

His brothers were standing at the sideboard and both turned to watch him enter while his mother and sister rose from their place together on the settee.

For a moment, Edward only stared at them all. They looked so much alike, so much like
him
, and when they were all together, their presence tugged at his gut. He had once turned to them for solace, for support. Now they stared at him like he was a stranger in their midst.

“Darling,” his mother said, moving toward him to kiss both his cheeks, one after the other. “I am so happy you’ve arrived.”

He smiled down at her. “I’m pleased to be here.”

Audrey sidled in as her mother stepped aside. His sister searched his face, her expression one of deep concern, and he turned away from it, not wanting her to find whatever she sought. When he did so, she sighed softly.

“Good afternoon, Edward,” she said softly, disappointment lacing her tone.

His brothers now moved forward together. Evan offered his hand first, hesitant. “Edward.”

And if Evan was hesitant, Gabriel’s hostility was only barely veiled as he shook Edward’s hand in turn.

“I’m so glad you’re all here,” Edward said with a false smile. “I know Mary is very much looking forward to meeting the entire family.”

Gabriel let out a grunt of displeasure and returned to the sideboard, where he splashed liquor into a tumbler. As he lifted it to his lips, he snapped, “But we aren’t all here, are we?”

Their mother turned on him with a gasp. “Gabriel!”

Edward flinched. His brother was, of course, referring to his twin sister, Claire. Beautiful Claire who had run off to marry a charlatan and a bastard. She hadn’t been heard from for over a year beyond cryptic letters she wrote only to Gabriel.

Claire who had sent a ripple through this family as deep and impactful as Alice, herself, had.

“Of course, I mean everyone but Claire,” Edward said softly, watching his brother down his drink in an angry slug. “Have you—have you heard from her?”

Gabriel’s lips pinched. “Not for over a month,” he growled. “But why do you care? You don’t even remember she exists!”

Edward sucked in his breath at his youngest brother’s rage, but before he could say anything to defend himself, their mother stepped between them.

“Enough,” she said firmly. “This is not the time to discuss Claire.” Her voice trembled as it always did when she said her missing daughter’s name. “We are here to celebrate Edward’s upcoming wedding to Miss Quinn.”

Gabriel’s hands were still clenched at his sides, his face an angry mask, but Evan and Audrey did not seem to share his contempt, for both of them moved forward.

“Yes, although it is a surprise, I am happy for you, Edward,” Audrey said.

“But what can you tell us?” Evan pressed. “I don’t think I’ve even met this girl, though I think she may be related to the Hartholm duchy, yes?”

Edward nodded. “Her sister is married to the brother of the Duke of Hartholm. Hartholm and the duchess helped her in Society for the last year and a half.”

“And you just saw this girl and felt you had no choice but to…what? Woo her? After hiding away for three years like a hermit?” Gabriel asked, his tone more flat and emotionless than Evan’s or Audrey’s or his mother’s.

Edward turned on his brother, longing for reconnection. A desire he feared he would never see fulfilled when Gabriel turned his face so he wouldn’t have to look at Edward.

“I’m surprised Audrey didn’t tell you,” he said.

“She did. I would simply like to hear something from you for once,” Gabriel muttered.

Edward clenched his hands at his sides. His reticence to share his life, his past, his feelings, had truly damaged his relationships with his family. Perhaps irreparably when it came to Gabriel. He regretted that deeply, but had no idea how to even begin to change his path. There was so much they didn’t know. So much he couldn’t find the strength to say.

“I did see Mary and was drawn to her,” he admitted slowly, unaccustomed to sharing anymore. “Yesterday at the garden party I…I took things too far. We were caught in a somewhat compromising position by her father. Obviously that meant I had to do the right thing.”

“Lord Perfection mops up a mess again,” Gabriel said.

Evan stepped forward, shooting their brother a glare that was obviously meant to silence him. “But what do you think of this Mary Quinn? Audrey says that the young woman is nice enough, but to tie your life to her when you know so little?”

Edward let his mind drift for a bare moment. Drift to Mary and her soft smiles. Mary and her gentle spirit. Mary’s touch. And he couldn’t help but feel lighter as he said, “I know more than enough to know I should do this, Evan. And I hope that once you all meet her, you will approve of my choice and wish us well.”

“I will wish you well no matter what,” Evan said.

Edward drew back at the earnestness of his brother’s expression. It seemed that if Gabriel wanted to sever their relationship entirely, Evan was just as driven to repair it. For the first time since Alice ripped his soul to shreds, Edward thought it might be possible.

“Is there anything else we should know about Miss Quinn before her arrival?” his mother asked, slipping to his side to take his arm.

Edward looked down at her. She had aged so much since his wedding to Alice. The loss of her daughter and the estrangement between him and the others had obviously taken its toll. He covered her hand at his arm with his own.

“That she is a very light and happy spirit,” he said. “I know that her pedigree likely means little to you, but she has endured a great deal living with a father who is…well, Sir Oswald is not ideal in any way.”

He frowned as he thought of the way his future father-in-law lorded over Mary and crowed in his attempts to ruin her in order to force their marriage. Flynn seemed to hate the man just as intensely as Edward was beginning to.

Perhaps together they could give him a bit of comeuppance.

His mother worried her lip but nodded. “I look forward to her arrival.”

No sooner had the words been spoken when Vernon stepped into the open doorway and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Flynn and Miss Quinn.”

Edward found himself releasing his mother gently, moving toward the door where Mary would soon enter, his heart racing in anticipation that had nothing to do with his family and everything to do with her. And when she stepped into the room behind Gemma and Flynn, he realized that despite the circumstances of their engagement, he was truly looking forward to the life they would share. He only hoped she felt some version of the same anticipation, for he didn’t want another marriage to a person who didn’t care for him as much as he did for her.

Mary could hardly breathe as she stepped into the parlor and looked around the room. Her eyes immediately found Edward and some of her anxiety faded. He looked so happy to see her, and her heart leapt. The last two years of her life had been spent with the Flynn family, nearly all of whom were married to people they loved. She had watched their connections with a twinge of jealousy and longing. She had prayed she would find something similar.

And now here was Edward, walking toward her. And she knew she could and
was
falling in love with him.

“Mary,” he said, taking her hands in his despite the room being full of his family. He held her hands for a moment too long and then they both blushed as he looked at her brother-in-law and sister.

“Mr. and Mrs. Flynn, hello,” he said.

Gemma arched a brow, her gaze darting between them. Gemma had been mostly quiet thus far about the engagement, but now Mary saw her sister’s face begin to relax. As if she saw Mary’s happy future as plainly as Mary was beginning to.