Page 13 of A Devious Secret

“You will need to get over that,” Marielle joked.

Stephen brought his gaze back to meet hers. “Your life is filled with social events. Do you ever grow tired of the demands that are placed on your time?”

“That is what is expected of me,” Marielle said. “I knew what I was getting into when I married a son of a marquess.”

“It sounds dreadful.”

“To you, perhaps. But I rather enjoy dancing with my husband.”

Stephen’s lips twitched. “You should know that I danced with Hugh on occasion.”

“You did?”

“When our headmaster at Eton brought in the dancing master, we were forced to dance with one another,” Stephen shared. “We made it a point to stomp as hard as we could on each other’s boots.”

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” Marielle said.

Hugh’s amused voice came from behind him. “Stephen would never let me lead either.”

Stephen shrugged. “One could hardly blame me because you acted more like a girl than a man.”

As Hugh went to sit down next to his wife, he said, “I am glad that you decided to join us.”

“Liar,” Stephen said.

Hugh chuckled. “For some reason, your presence makes my wife happy so I am inclined to tolerate you.”

“That is most gracious of you.”

With a glance at the door, Hugh said, “My cousin, Lady Hawkinge, arrived this afternoon and she will be down shortly.”

“Wonderful,” he muttered. Why did that concern him in the least? He wanted nothing to do with Lady Hawkinge.

Hugh lowered his voice. “She is still mourning her husband deeply and it is as if a dark cloud hangs over her.”

Marielle spoke up. “I didn’t sense that when I met Gemma. She was quite pleasant, and I have enjoyed getting to know her.”

“Gemma has always been a force to be reckoned with,” Hugh shared. “But now she seems more reserved.”

“Perhaps she grew up,” Stephen suggested. “I would imagine that marriage has a way of sorting out one’s priorities and determining what is truly important.”

Hugh glanced at his wife before saying, “Marriage changed me for the better.”

“Good, because you were intolerable before,” Stephen jested.

Hugh didn’t look amused by his joking. “Just promise me that you will behave when you are around Gemma.”

Stephen didn’t know why it mattered to Hugh how he acted around Lady Hawkinge. He had no intention of showing any attention towards her. Why should he? He had no interest in marriage, not since Evie had rejected his suit.

“I promise,” he settled on.

His words seemed to appease Hugh and he reached for his wife’s hand. “Did Marielle inform you that we are retiring to our Brookhaven estate after the Season?”

“She did.”

“We are pleased with it and—” Hugh’s words cut off as he abruptly rose. “Good evening, Cousin.”

Rising, Stephen turned towards the doorway and saw a woman with dark brown hair. Her hair was piled high on her head and long curls framed her face. She had pale skin, which contrasted nicely with her deep-set green eyes, high cheekbones, and a pronounced jawline.