Page 44 of Tempting the Marquess

“You don’t say. Well, I never! No wonder you are upset. Will Standish be gone a longtime?”

Tears welled again. “I’m not sure. He left four days ago, but could be gone a few weeks or maybe more. He says they will be so safe, with soldiers to guard them, and they won’t be fighting, but I’m so worried.”

“What alarming news. Very alarming news, indeed. Poor Standish—I hope he stays out of harm’sway.”

“I hope so, t-too.”

“Ah, try not to fret too much, Samantha. The marquess is a clever man and I’m sure it will all work out for the best. But gracious me, what a hefty responsibility, going into a boiling cauldron like Paris to bring home his good friend’s brother. So brave!”

Her smile wobbled. “The bravest. Oh, he is wonderful, Papa, the best ofmen.”

“Then chin up, pet. Now, you must excuse me, I have an appointment. If you see your mother, tell her I won’t be home for supper later, I’ll be at myclub.”

After he had gone, in an attempt to distract herself, Samantha accepted an invitation to tea with Caroline over at Forsyth House. She thought she was doing rather well in her tea-sipping and conversation, until a cough made herjump.

“Samantha Charlotte Buchanan. So far you have crumbled three biscuits, removed all the raisins from a slice of cake, and shredded two napkins, all while staring mutely out the window. I would be insulted, but it has been altogether too fascinating. Must say, though, if you continue to torture innocent sweets in front of my children, I will be forced to empty this teapot over yourhead.”

“Sorry, Caro,” she said guiltily. “I’m a terrible cousin-in-law.”

“Not at all, but I’ll confess I’m dying to know what is going on. Is it something to do with Lord Standish goingaway?”

She sighed. “Perhaps.”

Caroline’s smile widened, and she leaned forward to peer into the wooden cradle where the twins were swaddled in light blankets. “Perhaps?”

“Are Serena and Olivia asleep?”

“Yes, at last. But don’t attempt to change the subject, dearest. You are behaving as though his lordship has been gone at least a year. Do I take it from your total distraction that he is a man of superior skill in areas other than estate management and politics?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Samantha muttered, taking several large gulps oftea.

“Then I am absolutely convinced that something happened between the two of you before he left…good grief. Those ruby red cheeks trumpet blast improper. And now you can’t wait until he returns and is improper with you again.”

The snap of Samantha’s fan opening was louder than Vauxhall fireworks.

Caroline’s eyebrows almost reached her hairline. “Hell and damnation, that improper? First Louisa, nowyou—”

“If I recall correctly, yours was a rather hasty wedding thanks to a certain porcelain-smashing and bodice-tearing incident, Lady Westleigh.”

“Entirely beside the point. And it is worth noting my daughters were not premature. So, am I going to be a matron of honor shortly, then?”

“I don’t know,” Samantha said miserably. “He didn’t say anything about marriage, but he did want me to wait for him. And warned against any other men in his absence.”

“Really? Maybe not a proposal as such, but from someone as reserved as Lord Standish, definitely a declaration. Why aren’t you happy?”

Samantha sighed. “I don’t know. It’s silly really. But I feel like there is something going on, and for some reason I’m not allowed to know about it. That day that William—”

“Oh, William, is it?” said Caroline with a raised eyebrow. “I’d say that might have been your proposal. Only the London Lords have leave to call him that. No one else woulddare.”

“Anyway. That day he escorted Aunt Jane and me to the museum, he and Stephen had a fight. Actual proper fisticuffs. And then both tried to say it was just a difference of opinion.”

“Maybe itwas.”

“Oh, please. When have you known either of them to be hotheads?”

“Never, really,” Caroline conceded, frowning. Then she brightened. “Maybe Lord Standish was just out of sorts because he has completely fallen for you. Stephen probably wanted to fight because he cannot accept his baby cousin is a grown woman gaining male attention. I shudder to think what he’ll be like when the girls make their come out. Then again, at the christening, apparently George vowed to teach them to pick locks and tie sheets together, so perhaps the battle will beeven.”

Samantha burst out laughing. “So much to look forwardto.”