Page 55 of The Best Marquess

“Oh my,” said Natalie, her eyes twinkling. “I thought it was Georgiana’s eyes that were green! All this time you lied to me and said that Knighton was nothing more than your cherished friend. I was so worried for you, but now I see there is no need. The villain has been vanquished, and the heroine has her hero. All is exactly as it should be for a happy ending as good as any romance novel.”

Startled, Pippa stared at her friend. Had Natalie downed an entire decanter of brandy before attending this event? Because there could be no other reason she would say something so preposterous.

Pippa Pearl Knighton jealous of Finn’s Regiment? Ha.

You literally just said you would remove that brunette’s hand if she didn’t stop touching him.

“I…er…yes, nothing to worry about,” she stammered as her mind whirled and clanged with the shocking realization that her feelings for Finn went deeper than friendship.

When had that happened?

How had that happened?

No. She couldn’t be in love with him. Finn was messy and rakish. He had unruly eyebrows, a caramel addiction, and his hair needed combing. Besides, it was irrational and illogical to think that she would surrender her well-guarded heart without even realizing it.

In truth, after everything that had happened in the past few days, her mind resembled syllabub. All she required was time, her fractured nerves would settle, and she could examine the situation from a proper analytical viewpoint. One didn’t just fall in love with their best friend after sixteen years, no matter how splendid their hugs were. No matter how skilled and unflagging that friend was with tongue and fingers and cock.

And he was so, so skilled…

“Pippa! Yoo hoo!”

She blinked ruefully at Natalie. “Forgive me. I’m not even sure what day of the week it is anymore.”

Natalie smiled sympathetically and guided her over to the table with cups, saucers, and freshly brewed tea that was being constantly refreshed by footmen dashing back and forth from the kitchens. “I think you need something to drink.”

“Tea? I need several decanters of brandy.”

“I’m sure we could find some. By the by, is your family coming?”

“Grandmother, Father, and Georgiana were here this morning,” said Pippa. “Grandmother naturally wished to be the first official mourner when we opened the doors to visitors at ten o’clock. I understand Xavier will be here later. Poor Exton is over there in the corner, trapped by several old lords who want his support for some bill they are trying to pass in the House. I guess discussing politics next to a dead body doesn’t bother them one whit.”

“I swear these men have a block of stone where their hearts should be, for it bothers me greatly,” said Natalie, glancing over at the coffin. “Would I be the worst friend in the world if I didn’t stay much longer? I keep getting whiffs of decay, and it is making my stomach churn.”

“The fact that you came to the mausoleum and walked me around it while listening to my complaints, rather than just sending a note or condolence card, makes you a great friend. But I would not be at all offended if you go. Really, I should get back to my hostess duties even if they give me hives.”

“We’ll speak soon, I promise,” said Natalie, before weaving her way through the crowd toward the front door with the speed and dexterity of a prison escapee.

Pippa glanced after her friend, firmly suppressing a yearning to follow. No. She was needed here. Someone had to protect Finn from those overfamiliar women.

Scowling, she peered at the group. While she resembled a crow in black, Finn looked even more handsome than usual in his black jacket, black waistcoat, and black trousers. And his Regiment were loud and lavish with their continuous compliments.

That did it. They were all going to lose a hand. Every last one of them.

“Lady Knighton!”

Argh. Thwarted at her first foray into grievous bodily harm by a clergyman. God did not fight fairly.

Pippa pasted a welcoming look on her face. “Good afternoon, sir. The family is grateful for your presence here.”

“I had to come and honor Lord Pinehurst, a man of such noble virtue. Did you know he had already begun to rally the House into closing London’s pleasure clubs? Thank heavens Lord Campbell is taking up Lord Pinehurst’s sacred mantle in washing away the abhorrent sins of this city…”

She inwardly screamed.

This would officially be the longest day of her life.

He’d thought he would owe Pippa the largest favor in history for what she had done already, but in light of what she’d endured this day, the debt would never be repaid.

After finally extracting himself from a group of young matrons who had been surprisingly persistent in both their flirtation and their disregard for the occasion they attended, Finn made his way through the crush of people toward his wife. It appeared that poor Pippet was currently receiving a lecture from a rather notorious thunder and brimstone vicar, a man admired by Lord Pinehurst for his long sermons that blamed women for everything from failed crops to horses stumbling on loose cobblestones. By the blank expression on Pippa’s face, her thoughts had wandered far, far away. No doubt she was regretting their marriage with every bone in her body.