Chapter 13

Grace bowed to her partner when the music ended. She left the dance floor in search of the table where she had left her bow. She instructed a servant to take it back to her room so she would not misplace it again once she found one that was free to do her bidding.

She and Adrian had had a brief hushed conversation after his return from their sister’s room. Poor Miranda. Aldridge and his brother had done their job well, and Grace swore this was the last time she would ever make a wager with Miranda; too many people could have been hurt by such a silly bet. Miranda could keep her bonnet and muff, especially when Adrian had told Grace that their sister had been mortified by the gentleman’s proposition, as any innocent young lady should be. She had no idea that the Merry Marquis and his brother would invite Miranda to be their mistress… together!

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and froze when a familiar scent of cologne caused her heart to begin a frantic pace. Her breath left her in a rush of excitement. Or was it betrayal that she would still be so affected by one man. Oh, no. Please, God, do not let Nicholas be standing this close behind me, she whispered a silent prayer to a higher being. Her heart would not be able to stand another beating.

“I have been a fool.”

She knew that voice as surely as she knew her own.

“I will not debate such a fact with you, sir,” she replied without turning, afraid that once she looked upon his face she might throw herself into his arms.

“I owe you an apology.”

“Yes, you do, not that I should accept such an effort.”

“Can you forgive me, Grace?” he asked quietly.

Her bruised pride got in her way of thinking clearly. She whirled around to look upon him, the domino mask a vivid reminder of her first kiss with this man. He was not playing fair, not playing fair at all!

“Forgive you for what, my lord?” she snapped harshly, her anger getting the best of her. “Which offense should we address first? Forgive you for not allowing me to explain that Adrian was my brother and assuming I was an unfaithful wife? Shall I forgive you for basically treating me like a woman of ill-repute when I came to your room? Or even worse… should I forgive you for allowing myself to fall in love with you despite it all?”

She gasped, realizing her mistake in confessing her feelings to a man who surely must have no heart. Just how loud she shouted her words at him she could not say, but she was thankful for the noise of the musician’s playing nearby drowning out their conversation.

He took her by the elbow and maneuvered her out the nearest door before she came to her senses and realized what he was about.

“Just where do you think you are taking me, Nicholas?” she fumed. “Let go of me.”

“I am not going to discuss our lives in the middle of a ballroom with all of society there to witness our fighting for their entertainment and gossip.” He opened a door to a small salon and closed it behind them.

Grace backed up into the room until she stood her ground. This man would not intimidate her nor bend her to his will.

“You love me?” Nicholas inquired, hope shining in his eyes.

“Is that all you heard?” she asked in disbelief.

“Of course not, and I deserve everything you throw at me. You must know I care for you.”

Grace was unsure what sound came out of her mouth. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

“I thought you were married…”

“…and you would have known that I was not, if you had but cared to listen to me instead of treating me like a woman with no morals.”

“We have both been behaving foolishly,” he murmured in a husky whisper.

“I do not see how I have been the one to act the fool,” Grace replied with a flip of her head.

“No? What about your behavior at dinner on Christmas? Do you have any idea what kind of a man you were flirting with when you chose the Marquis of Aldridge to make me jealous? The man has had more mistresses than most can count.”

“Aldridge was a perfect gentleman,” she retorted sharply before her eyes widened. “You were jealous? Of me talking with Aldridge?”

“Of course, I was jealous of the man. He shall be a duke one day. What woman would not like to receive the attentions of the Merry Marquis? Besides, at the time I thought you were hoping to take him as your lover, since you had all but refused my offer to become mine.”

She stomped her foot then lifted her chin. “If this is your way of apologizing, Lord Nicholas, you can keep such an effort to yourself. Once again, you have no idea about why I was behaving toward the marquis as I was, nor did you give me ample time to explain myself before you jumped to the wrong conclusions.”

“Grace…” He held out his hands.

She held up hers to halt him coming any closer. “Stay away from me, Nicholas. There is nothing you can do or say right now to make amends when I am this upset.”

She opened the salon door and ran straight into Aldridge.

“There you are, my dear. You appear as though you need cheering up. Come dance with me. I am told that I am more than capable of pleasing a lady… on the dance floor, of course.” He held out his arm.

Grace placed her hand in his care, knowing he would understand what was going on. With one last look behind her, she saw Nicholas standing ramrod straight, a grim expression on his handsome face. His fist slammed into the doorframe.