Page 83 of Tempting the Marquess

Chapter17

“Come on,darling, you need to eat something. Just a little bite of creamed potatoes?”

Lips twitching at her aunt’s coaxing tone, Samantha picked up her fork and scooped up a mouthful of food. Truth be told, she did feel like a toddler in the nursery on a rainy day, trapped, irritable, and ready to have a sobbing tantrum at a moment’s notice.

Two days had passed since William’s rejection of her and the baby. He hadn’t sent for her or even penned a note, and his deafening silence made life utterly grim. With her mother gone to a house party, and Papa called away to some serious business meeting, she had fallen on the invitation to dinner and an overnight stay from Aunt Jane like it was a lifeline for a drowning person. Which it might wellbe.

With time and distance, some of the things she’d said to William made her cringe. Looking at the situation through his eyes, it would have been easy to come to the conclusions he had, even if they were completely incorrect. He cared. He must care to have been so angry at the supposed betrayal, but instead of digging her toes in and making him understand, she had lost her temper. As if she would ever marry anyone else with him alive andwell.

“I guess I’m not very hungry, Aunt Jane,” she replied, putting the fork back down when the rich scent of butter and cheese and cream threatened to turn her stomach inside out for about the five hundredthtime.

“Eat something, Sam,” said Stephen, from the head of the long, heavy oak table. “Otherwise Mama will start feeding you like she did when you were a baby. She might even have your spoon still tucked away somewhere. Now, how did the horse tune go, Mama?”

“Mock all you like, my angel,” Aunt Jane said, grinning. “But you insisted on the pony song at every meal for the best part of a year when you were small.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have no recollection ofthat.”

Caroline sat forward in her chair. “I insist on hearing the pony song. I have a feeling it may come in very handy with Olivia and Serena in the future.”

“No doubt,” said Aunt Jane. “As it’s firmly etched in my mind, allow me. My boys and Samantha kept fed because clip clop, clip clop, the happy little pony goes innnnnnnntooooo the stable.”

Samantha laughed. “I must remember that. Just in case mine is a fussy eater.”

An awkward silence settled over the table and she immediately regretted her foolish words. Naturally Aunt Jane, Caroline, and Stephen wanted to be reminded of an impending scandal more than anything in the world. What better topic for a familymeal.

She stared at them. Despite their teasing, despite their smiles and good cheer, the strain of her situation was evident in their eyes, and a wave of guilt hit. How awful for them to be stuck in the middle of her and William’s fight, loving both parties as theydid.

Stephen cleared his throat. “I have to call him out, Sam.”

“No!” she shouted, horrified.

“William’s behavior is nothing short of appalling. That is undisputed.”

Caroline glared at her husband. “You were shot. Lord Standish has two bullet wounds right now. Your brother died. That isn’t more than enough pistols for one lifetime?”

Stephen threw his fork down onto the table. “Damn it, what would you have me do? Sam won’t be able to hide her belly forever. God, to think I used to hold William up as the most honorable, least rakish man I knew. Never thought he would be the one to ruin a lady and leave her stranded. Especially not a member of our family, after everything we’ve done forhim.”

“That is quite enough,” snapped Aunt Jane. “You don’t know, there might be a perfectly good explanation.”

“Oh please, Mama. Do not defend the indefensible. What he’s done makes him a bastard of the highest order, and you knowit.”

“Stephen!”

“Stop it, all of you!” Samantha said near-hysterically, unable to bear the friction between three people who were so close. Especially when it was because of her. “I greatly appreciate your care and concern, but this is my situation to deal with. And I still have time to...to make plans should William’s decision be permanent.”

“By God, it won’t be!” Stephen exploded. “He’ll do right by you if I have to drag him to the chapel myself!”

“No! There will be no dragging. Or dueling. I don’t want to be married to someone who doesn’t at least care for me a little bit,” Samantha said, although even saying the words felt like a rusty dagger to the heart. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am feeling quite tired. I think I’ll go tobed.”

“Of course, poppet,” said Caroline anxiously, obviously equally eager to make peace. “How about a nice warm bath? It’s no trouble.”

“Actually, I’d lovethat.”

“I’ll have one sent up atonce.”

A short time later, Samantha sat ensconced in a copper tub so large she could nearly swim in the blissfully steaming water. Tilting her head back on the side, she let her limbs float as the bath worked its magic. It was uncanny, but things never seemed quite so bad during a longsoak.

Eventually, reluctantly, she took a bar of rose-infused soap, and leaned forward to lather her legs, then her arms and shoulders.