Loving the Marquess (27 page)

He was on edge and didn’t bother to try to mask his mood.
The tension in the carriage ride over to his aunt’s house was palpable. Even
Catherine, always willing to fill any silence with bright chatter, remained
silent. He caught Louisa examining him a few times. He hated that he couldn’t
be honest with her, but he didn’t want her to worry or have false hope about
his illness until he had proof of his suspicions.

* * *
* *

When they reached the house, the reservations Louisa had
tried to ignore began to surface. Adding to her stress was the fact that this
would be the first time she’d stepped foot in her former home since they were
kicked out by Henry Manning all those years before. Catherine had been too
young to remember their life before their father lost everything, but Louisa
remembered all too well. Nicholas squeezed her hand in reassurance and she
smiled up at him, grateful to have him at her side. If Lady Overlea had looked
less hopeful, she would have changed her mind right then and returned home.
However, she couldn’t disappoint Nicholas’s grandmother. Not after how quickly she
had welcomed her and Catherine into the family. She experienced a pang of grief
knowing John would also have been made to feel welcome if he had stayed.

Nicholas raised the knocker and rapped twice, the sound
almost deafening in the silence that enshrouded them. The door was opened a
moment later by a footman and they were shown into the drawing room.

Nicholas leaned toward her and said softly, “Are you sure
you want to go through with this? We can still make good our escape.”

Before Louisa could admonish him, his grandmother cut in.
“Don’t listen to him, my dear.” She turned back to Nicholas. “You will be on
your best behavior tonight.”

“Or what, Grandmother? Do you have something else with which
to force my hand?”

His question startled Louisa. What made it more unsettling,
however, was the quick glance Lady Overlea cast in her direction. She would
have to remember to ask him about their exchange later.

 Elizabeth Manning entered the room at that moment and
Louisa was glad she’d taken extra care with her appearance. The older woman was
dressed in a gown of dazzling golden silk and jewels dripped from her throat
and arms. Louisa wasn’t dressed as elaborately, but she knew no one would find
fault with her attire.

She was followed by a sullen Edward and a demure Mary.
Nicholas’s Aunt Elizabeth appeared to be the only person in the group looking
forward to the evening. Even Lady Overlea, while clearly hoping for the best,
appeared cautious.

“I am so happy you are all here,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “It
has been far too long since our two sides of the family have been together.”

Nicholas’s grandmother accepted the kiss her daughter-in-law
placed on her cheek. Louisa couldn’t help but notice that her smile was forced.

“You were invited to my grandson’s wedding,” she said, her
voice carefully neutral.

Elizabeth waved her hand in dismissal.

“Given how hurt my poor Mary was at being deceived about her
prospects, I’m sure everyone understands why she didn’t feel up to attending.
And as her mother, it was my place to stay by her side during her time of great
disappointment. We have decided, however, that the time has come to put our
disagreements behind us. We are, after all, family.”

Louisa darted a quick glance at her husband, half expecting
him to make a caustic remark about the falseness of his cousin’s hope. She was
surprised when he remained silent. She was also grateful. The sooner the
subject was finished, the sooner they could move on to less controversial
subjects.

“I am very glad of this opportunity to get to know everyone
better,” Louisa said.

She avoided looking at Edward as she spoke, remembering all
too clearly that not too long ago he’d hoped to get to know her very well
indeed.

Mary interrupted, speaking in her customary soft voice.
“Mama, I believe dinner is ready to be served.”

“Of course, dear,” Elizabeth said. “We seem to be off to a
late start this evening.”

Louisa could hear the censure in the woman’s voice and was
surprised, again, when Nicholas said nothing. When she looked at him she could
see why. Edward had moved over to the fireplace and was standing there, one
foot on the hearth, gazing into the fire. Nicholas was examining him, his eyes
narrowed in contemplation. She wasn’t surprised at the hint of anger in his
expression, and she guessed then that it was either going to be a very long
evening or a very short one if he allowed his anger free rein.

Elizabeth moved toward Nicholas, expecting him to take her
in to dinner, but he didn’t move from Louisa’s side. Trying but failing to
conceal her annoyance, she went to her son, who reluctantly turned his
attention back to their guests. He led her out and the rest followed.

The awkward stiffness of the evening continued throughout
the dinner. No doubt sensing that Mary was the most amenable person in the
other group, Catherine tried several times to start a conversation. Her
efforts, however, were met with stilted half answers. Elizabeth seemed to make
an effort, but she couldn’t hold back the little jabs for which she was known.
And Edward… Louisa had caught him looking at her once, his face openly hostile,
and a shiver of unease had gone through her. Her husband’s hands, still holding
his utensils, stiffened. For a moment she feared he was going to use the knife
as a weapon against his cousin. She placed a hand over his and smiled
reassuringly when he turned to look at her. A vein throbbed in his cheek. It
was at that moment she realized he was right. They shouldn’t have come. If the
evening ended without Nicholas and his cousin coming to blows, it would be a
miracle.

Louisa turned to Mary. “Catherine will be coming out next
spring and we’ll be going to town for the Season. Will you be there?”

Mary looked at her mother before replying. “We haven’t
decided.”

“We didn’t expect Mary would need a Season,” Elizabeth said,
her tone cold, “so we haven’t made arrangements. Perhaps, given our recent
disappointment, we might impose upon my nephew and stay at his townhouse.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” Nicholas’s tone was
smooth but firm.

“But cousin,” Edward said, his voice oozing with false
sincerity, “surely you can do that much for us since our entire family has been
so disappointed of late.”

His words were accompanied by an unsubtle leer in
Catherine’s direction and Louisa’s stomach turned over with disgust.

Nicholas stood so quickly his chair would have toppled to
the floor if a footman hadn’t rushed forward to catch it before it fell. “We’re
leaving,” he said.

Louisa froze, but only for a moment. She removed the napkin
from her lap and placed it on the table. Catherine didn’t know what was going
on, but it was clear she had picked up on the undercurrent of Edward’s words
and was visibly shaken. Louisa reached for her hand and squeezed it and they
both stood.

Nicholas turned to Lady Overlea. “Grandmother?”

Lady Overlea’s gaze moved from Nicholas’s determined face to
the gloating one of his cousin. Edward had accomplished what he’d set out to
do. It was clear now to everyone that he’d never intended to mend the rift
between the two families.

Without a word the dowager stood and headed from the room.

“Go ahead and walk away,” Elizabeth shouted after her
retreating figure. “We all know which grandchild you favor. Why pretend
otherwise?”

The older woman’s footsteps never faltered. She didn’t even
glance up at Nicholas when she passed him. Louisa and Catherine followed
silently with Nicholas last. They waited outside for the carriage to be brought
around. The air was cool, but no one said a word. That silence continued as the
carriage pulled away from the house. Nicholas stared out the window, his jaw
clenched.

Guilt assailed Louisa. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice
sounding unnaturally loud in the oppressive atmosphere.

Surprised, Nicholas turned to look at her. “Whatever for?”

“I should have listened to you. We never should have come
here tonight.”

“No,” the dowager marchioness interrupted. “It is my fault.
I know you accepted for my sake.”

“It is no one’s fault but theirs,” Nicholas said. Although
he tried, he couldn’t keep the anger from his voice.

Catherine asked the question Louisa had been wondering
herself.

“What happened between the two branches of the family? It
must have been very bad to cause such a great rift.”

Nicholas laughed, the sound bitter. “One would imagine that
to be the case. The fact, however, is that nothing happened. My uncle always
hated my father and he passed that hatred on to his wife and children.”

“They were twins, were they not?” Louisa asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I remember once, as a young child,
mistaking my uncle for my father. I ran up to him and tried to hug him. I could
only reach his legs at the time.” He paused briefly, but no one said a word,
waiting for him to continue. “He kicked me.”

Louisa gasped in horror. She could picture all too well the
confusion and hurt Nicholas must have felt at the time.

“I was fortunate, however. My uncle reserved most of his
hatred for my father and my brother. Since I was unlikely to inherit, he
usually ignored me.”

Lady Overlea shook her head and sighed. She held herself
with dignity, but Louisa could sense her sadness lurking just beneath the
surface.

“Henry never got over the fact that he missed out on the
title by a mere ten minutes. It certainly didn’t help that my husband made no
secret of the fact he favored Nicholas’s father over him. I tried to make up
for it but obviously failed.”

Nicholas reached for his grandmother’s hand. “None of this
is your fault, Grandmother. My uncle may have felt cheated, yes. I suppose I
can understand it, though I have to say I never envied James that he was the
heir. Given the closeness of their ages, I have no doubt it was a bitter pill
for Uncle to swallow. In the end, however, he is the one responsible for his
own actions. He didn’t have to spend his life wallowing in his bitterness. And
to impart that hatred on to his children was unconscionable.”

No one spoke for the remainder of the ride home. Once there,
Lady Overlea bid everyone goodnight and went up to her rooms. Louisa’s heart
went out to Nicholas’s grandmother as she watched her climb the stairs, disappointment
weighing down her small frame.

She turned to Catherine, anxious to comfort her after the
unpleasant ending to their evening, but it was her sister who spoke first.

“I’m all right, Louisa,” she said. “I must say, however,
that your cousin is not even remotely like you, Nicholas.”

“Envy can cause a man to do many vile things.”

“I find it difficult to believe it is just jealousy. There
is an air of unpleasantness about your cousin and I doubt he would behave
differently if he were the marquess.”

“Yes,” Nicholas said, his expression grim. “Well, at least
it is now done. You can trust there will be no repeat performance of tonight’s
farce.”

After saying their goodnights, Louisa waited until her
sister was out of sight before turning to her husband. “I am so sorry.”

Nicholas took her into his arms. “Stop talking nonsense.
None of this is your fault. I want you to put such notions out of your head.”

Louisa tried to smile, but the stress of the dinner party
still weighed heavily on her.

“Well, at least the evening is over.”

“Not quite,” Nicholas said, a wicked smile forming. “I seem
to recall you promised to do something for me….”

* * *
* *

As the days passed Louisa tried to push her fear to the back
of her mind, but she couldn’t stop watching her husband, waiting for his next
attack. Nicholas looked so vital, so healthy, and the last thing anyone looking
at him would believe was that he was a man with a terrible illness. There were
moments, however, when fear for the future overwhelmed her. Usually those
moments came after they made love and she was lying sated and content in his
arms. Panic would rise unbidden then, taunting her with the knowledge that such
moments of sheer happiness could come to an end any day, and it would take her
a long time to fall asleep.

When morning arrived, Louisa would busy herself and refuse
to allow such morose thoughts to take hold of her. Watching Nicholas that
morning across the breakfast table, she was struck anew by how healthy he
appeared.

She was so lost in her own thoughts she barely took notice
of Catherine’s mood. Her husband’s words, therefore, surprised her.

“I can almost hear you thinking, Catherine. Have you decided
yet whether you want to ask me about what’s clearly on your mind?”

Louisa looked at her sister in time to see her blush.

“I heard that you received a letter from Lord Kerrick
yesterday,” she said, her blush deepening. “I was just wondering how he is. He
left so suddenly without even saying goodbye.”

Louisa had been so preoccupied with her own concerns, but
now that she thought about it she realized Catherine’s mood had been solemn of
late. In fact, since Lord Kerrick had left.

“I’m afraid it was unavoidable. A situation arose that
required his immediate attention. However, there are still a few matters we
need to settle and he should be returning tomorrow.”

A smile lit Catherine’s face. “I am so glad.”

Nicholas raised a brow at her enthusiastic response, but
didn’t comment further. After he excused himself and headed for his study,
Louisa stopped Catherine before she could disappear into the conservatory for
the day.

“I fear I have neglected you of late, Catherine. I’ve been
preoccupied with other things, but that is no excuse.”

“I’m a little old to expect you to babysit me. I’ll be out
in society soon.” Her mood brightened further. “Is that what you wish to talk
to me about?”