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Sighing, Devlin decided to oblige his grandfather. He would not marry until he was ready, but he had to ensure he would not be disturbed or tricked again. “I will meet the women on your list, but if I find myself incompatible with any of them, I will retreat, and you will not trouble me again.” Devlin was sure the women would not suit him because he had very specific tastes.
Julius grinned, his blue eyes sparkling impishly. “We have an accord.” He held his hand out and Devlin shook it, getting some powder on his fingers.
“How much of this thing did you use?” Devlin asked as Julius thrust the list into his hand.
“A lot,” Sam answered. Shaking his head, Devlin left the room, and he followed him. “Dev, I must tell you that I tried to discourage him but he would not listen.”
“I know.” Devlin was no longer angry, only mildly annoyed. He walked down the hall to his chambers.
“Do you mean what you said about considering the women?” Sam asked.
Devlin opened the door and walked into his sitting room. “Yes. I will call upon their homes but I will not spend more than five minutes.”
“Five minutes is not enough to establish any compatibility.” Sam Anand was adopted by Julius seven years ago, and Devlin considered him his brother even though he was Julius’ ward, and not his late father’s. His grandfather had found him orphaned and starving in India during one of his travels and brought him back to England.
Their family had faced criticism but thetoncame to respect Sam, and now the ladies threw themselves at him, admiring his golden skin and exotic features.
“I know I will not find what I seek in them,” Devlin set the list down on a small table and removed his coat.
“How do you know that?” Sam sat in a chair and inclined his head.
“I just do.” Devlin walked into his bedchamber, then into his dressing room where he set his coat down and proceeded to remove his shirt. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and the raised scar on his shoulder held his attention. Every time he looked at the scar, he recalled that fateful night in Yorkshire and regretted allowing the woman to leave.
He still saw amber eyes and fiery hair vividly in his dreams, and the passion she stoked in him was as hot and pure as the day he met her. She was a voice from his past that could echo for eternity if he allowed it. Devlin had not seen her again after that night, and he had left England days later to spend a year in Prussia.
The social season had ended when he returned, and because he never got her name, he had no way of finding her. As he did every time thoughts of her rose to the surface, he pushed them down and concentrated on the matters before him. He changed his clothes and rejoined Sam, picking up the list.
He decided he would call upon the lady whose name his eyes found first. Miss Melanie Mills. He wanted to eliminate her first, especially because his grandfather was most interested in her.
CHAPTERTHREE
“Show this Marquess that you want his money,” Melanie said as she handed Grace her bonnet in the carriage two days later.
“Yes, and that I am as uneducated as a commoner could be,” Grace chuckled. “I will make him run.”
“Away from you,” Melanie emphasized and Grace laughed.
Instead of allowing Anglesey to call upon Melanie, Grace had written to him and asked him to meet her at St. James’s Park where they could stroll along the canal. It sounded romantic but that was not Grace’s intention because she planned to be a woman without manners so the Marquess would disqualify her entirely.
She covered her hair with the bonnet and tugged the neckline down of the dress Melanie had loaned her. Aristocratic men chased after women of easy virtue for fleeting pleasure but only chose women with untainted reputations for their wives. Her attire would be the first thing Anglesey would find fault with when he saw her.
Now they were near the park in a hired hack and Grace was preparing to go out and meet him. They had told their fathers that they would be shopping on Bond Street.
“Are you ready?” Melanie asked.
“Yes.” Grace’s nerves were fluttering but she did not allow it to show. “I know how important this is to you, and you may count upon my success.”
“Thank you, Grace, and good luck.” Melanie smiled, then told Grace where to find her later.
Grace alighted from the carriage and proceeded into the park. There were not many people about, and she thought it was because most preferred to be seen in Hyde Park. That was one of the reasons she had chosen this place. She walked toward the canal and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man facing the water.
She had asked Anglesey to meet her at the canal but she was not sure if this was him. Thus, she took a deep breath and asked, “Lord Anglesey?”
His head was bowed and he was checking his watch, but there was something familiar about him that made her heart beat faster. When he turned around, she froze, not quite believing what she was seeing. Before her was the man she had dreamed of nearly every night. Grace was in too much shock to know if she was feeling joy or confusion.
His arresting blue eyes widened and glinted with recognition. He remembered her! And restless excitement pounded in her veins. The corner of his mouth tilted up, and he said, “You are late, Miss Mills.”
His voice was as deep and enamoring as she remembered, and it took some effort for Grace to come out of her trance. “Then you are Lord Anglesey?” she asked, blinking.
