Mari paid scarce attention to the rest of the recital. When it was over, Nicholas steered her toward Countess Lieven and her Russian-ambassador husband. They proceeded to discuss European politics, none of which Mari had the slightest interest in, although she managed to nod her head and murmur appropriate acquiescence—or at least, she hoped she did.
When she was finally able to look about the room, both Jamie and Maddie were gone.
“I do hope you will sign my dance card Saturday night,” Maddie said to Jamie as they waited for her father’s carriage to be brought around after the recital.
“Madeline!” her mother exclaimed. “It is the gentleman who asks for a dance, not the other way around.”
“’Tis all right,” Jamie replied, “I dinnae mind a lass speaking her mind.” By the saints, he’d listened to Mari often enough—although truth be told, he’d egged her on much of the time. “I would be honored to have a dance with ye.”
“With Parliament closing, we will all be able to retire to the country after Almack’s,” the baron said, changing the subject. “I am looking forward to a bit of quail hunting myself. Our estate is not far from Cantford and Newburn, so I hope you will join me some time.”
“And we will have parties too,” Maddie added, looking like she wanted to say more, but her mother frowned at her.
“Getting out to the country and hunting is verra appealing,” Jamie answered as the baron’s carriage approached and the footmen leapt down to open the door for the ladies. “I thank ye for the invitation.”
Jamie watched as the coach pulled away. He’d like nothing better than to leave for Cantford right now. He could use some fresh air and the peacefulness of the country, but Mari was here and, fool that he was, he hoped she would change her mind about the damn Frenchman.
Jamie went to the stable to get his horse, wondering how Mari had managed to captivate him so thoroughly. What had begun as an oath to her sister to protect Mari—albeit with a bit of wheedling to see her temper rise—had turned into something more. Mari was entangled in his every waking thought and, since the episode on that wintry morning in Scotland, in his nightly dreams as well. Not that he’d let the wee minx know. Mari already had more of a hold on him than any woman he’d ever bedded—and he hadn’t even gone that far with her.
Did she really prefer the French dandy to him? Jamie contemplated as he rode toward the boarding house. Not that he was wont to boast, but he could honestly not remember a time when a lass rejected him, and he had no idea how to handle such.
Jamie had hoped dueling for Mari’s honor would convince her he was the better man. He clenched his fist at the thought of the Frenchman painting the birthmark. What liberty had the bastard taken? Andwhenhad it happened? With the exception of Mari’s devious deception the day she’d gone to those blasted gardens with Algernon, Jamie couldn’t think of an instance where he had not known her whereabouts. He wouldn’t put it past the French blackguard to lie, but how had the man known about it?
Perhaps Jamie didn’t know Mari as well as he thought he did. The expression on her face—as well as the look on Maddie’s—when Algernon reminded Mari that she’d agreed to his exclusive courtship in front of witnesses, made Jamie realize it was true. His hand tightened on the reins, causing his horse to toss its head. Immediately, he relaxed his hold and stroked the gelding’s neck, soothing him with soft words.
If only he could let go of his anger as easily. A new emotion akin to despair swept through Jamie as he reached the boarding house and dismounted. Was the reason Mari never tried opening the door between their bedchambers the last week in Scotland because she already considered herself to be unofficially betrothed to Algernon?
A wave of betrayal washed over Jamie. What other secrets did Mari keep?
