Page 59 of No Duke of Mine

Her gaze flew to her lover as he stood watching them across the room, ignoring the other guests.

She gulped. “Not at all.”

“Husbands want no doubt that their heirs will be theirs alone.”

Lady Kent blinked rapidly, and then her face paled. “Of course, Your Grace.”

“Well, now that that’s out in the open, I trust there’s no more that needs to be said about the matter,” he warned.

She failed to meet his gaze and edged away a little. “I don’t like what you’re implying.”

“Neither do I, madam. Seeing you pawing a servant outside an inn was not what I expected from you.”

Her gaze flew to his.

“We will never speak of it or marriage again.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but Algernon didn’t remain to hear another word. He stayed another half hour for the sake of appearances, enduring several conversations with men who tried to pry into his plans regarding Lady Kent. Some were blunt, some outright rude.

“When’s the wedding to be?” one foolish, drunken fellow asked.

“Wait and see,” Algernon answered, finishing his drink but setting the glass down harder than he’d intended before he headed for the door.

At half past ten, he said good evening to a transparently frightened Lady Kent and escaped.

His carriage swiftly delivered him back to Grosvenor Square, and it was long enough to provide clarity of thought.

Lady Kent was a façade. Polished, smiling, composed—but an empty choice within. He didn’t feel sorry for her. He didn’t even particularly care what happened to her now. She was what his father told him he should want in a wife. What his debts demanded he acquire.

And yet, every time he thought of marriage, he thought of Maggie.

He stepped into his town house and breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered light shining beneath the library doors despite the late hour.

He paused in the doorway, gratified to find it occupied by his favorite houseguest. Maggie had waited up for him.

She was curled up on the settee under a large woolen blanket, hiding the dreary round gown she’d worn every second day, since she appeared to have only the two. She had a book open on her knees, and her brows furrowed in pretend concentration.

She only ever frowned when she pretended.

Maggie glanced up when he cleared his throat and smiled hesitantly. “You’re home early.”

“I was done.” He came toward her slowly, removing his coat and rolling up his sleeves. “You waited up for me.”

“I wasn’t tired.”

He admired her openly, his heart melting a little more. Her eyes were bright, but her fingers were smudged faintly with ink. He wiggled his fingers. “You’ve been working on our project again tonight, I see.”

“Yes,” she said, glancing at her ink-stained fingers, then reaching for a square of paper. “A note came from Lord Varley while you were out.” She held it out, folded and still sealed.

He took it, broke the seal, and read it out loud to Maggie.

Your Grace,

I need to discuss an immediate lease of the town house next door for my mama-in-law, whether you sell or not. I’ll call on you tomorrow morning to discuss terms.

Sincerely, Varley

Algernon folded the note with deliberate care and then laughed out loud. “Something disastrous must have happened when Varley got home tonight.”