Page 37 of Redemption of a Marquess

“He is an earl, as well as a marquess?” Jeanine laughed. “I didn’t know that.”

They came to a Y in the path. Left, led to town. To the right, their carriage waited at the edge of the trees up ahead. They angled right. As they approached the carriage, the driver opened the door and stood aside.

Lord Gordon helped Lady Guilford into the carriage, then Jeanine. He grasped the door, then hesitated and said, “Forgive me for being forward, Miss Matheson, but I hope that I might call on you sometime soon at Finley Hall.”

Jeanine started.

“You would have to speak with Valan about that,” Lady Guilford interjected. “The ball is tonight, so he is busy, of course, and I believe he has business through next week.”

His face fell, and he said in such a forlorn voice, “Of course,” that Jeanine said, “We will see you at the ball?”

Hope lit his expression, and she was relieved when he looked to Lady Guilford for confirmation.

“Of course, you are coming,” she said, but her words lacked warmth.

He beamed. “Most kind of you. I wouldn’t think of missing it. Until tonight.”

He closed the door and Lady Guilford stared out the window as the carriage rolled past the trees. They reached the street and the silence closed in on Jeanine.

“I have done something wrong, haven’t I?” she said.

Lady Guilford looked at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“I know that I forget to call Grey ‘his lordship’ when we are in public. He told me I must do so, but his name is out of my mouth before I realize it. I am sorry. I know it’s very improper.”

“You must try to remember. Valan does not want any scandal associated with you.”

“Why would there be scandal associated with me?”

Lady Guilford hesitated. “There won’t be, so long as you conduct yourself appropriately.”

Jeanine regarded her. “You don’t like Lord Gordon very much. I don’t think Grey likes him, either. I must admit, he can be annoying.”

“He is much more than annoying,” Lady Guilford said under her breath.

“Why do you think he asked to call on me?” Jeanine asked.

Lady Guilford snorted. “Because he cannot countenance Valan having something he does not.”

Jeanine frowned. “You mean me.”

Startlement crossed Lady Guilford’s face. “Put my words out of your mind. I am talking out of place. Something Valan will not quickly forgive.”

“I don’t have to tell him that you said that. Not that is matters,” Jeanine added. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Then there is no harm done,” she replied. “Let’s not mention it again.”

“If you say so,” Jeanine said, but she couldn’t help thinking harm had been done.

* * *

Valan entered his house and paused in the foyer. The bustle of party preparations filtered throughout the mansion. The indistinct murmur of voices, the distant rattle of pots, quick footsteps. Clearly, the majority of the work had been done. Things were quiet compared to the tension and harried air that had permeated the house until yesterday.

He strode down the hallway to his library and went inside, pulling the door closed behind him. The faint noise cut off, and quiet descended. He hadn’t been certain he would survive the preparations, but he had. He started for the sideboard located against the wall to the right of the hearth, then halted at sight of the game table sitting where his old game table had been.

He didn’t remember buying a new table. Valan crossed to the table and stared at it. He traced a finger across the exquisite inlaid marble. The table might very well be finer than the one he had owned—even if it hadn’t been in his family for three generations.

He slid open the drawer on the left-hand side and found inside the cards and game pieces that had filled the other table’s drawer. Baldwin must’ve taken the liberty of replacing the table, which surprised him. Baldwin knew Valan’s taste as well as he did himself, and the steward had not failed on this point, but Valan had never known him to take such initiative. Still, he couldn’t complain.