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Marc winked at her once more, confirming her thoughts on the matter. “Well, if we’re beinghonest…”
“Oh,let’s.”
“There is nothing in the world I’d enjoy more than having you in my bed.” He shrugged slightly. “But if friendship is all you’re offering…well, beggars can’t be choosers,canthey?”
The idea of sharing his bed flashed in her mind as did the image of him stepping from the bathtub. Her face flamed anew. “I’m not certain we can ever be friends again, Marc.” Her gaze dropped to his cravat, in the hopes that he couldn’t read her thoughts. “I can hardly even look at you after the other day, afterseeingyou…”
Marc tipped her chin up ‘til she met his gaze, the most wicked twinkle back in his light eyes. “If it would even things out in your mind, I’m happy to gaze atyouwithout a stitch. Just name the date andplace.”
Caroline scoffed. “I donotthink thatwouldhelp.”
“Only in the interest of our renewed friendship, of course,” heteased.
She felt a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, which was rather shocking, honestly. She shouldn’t find his less than gentlemanly behavior charming in the least. Sheshouldhate him for the rest of her days, but the desire to do so wasn’t as strong as it once had been. “Do you ever believe the drivel that spills out of your ownmouth?”
“On rare occasions,” he said, his teasing tone making herbellyflip.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, she was losing her mind. This was Marcus Gray, the dissolute and wildly inappropriate Marquess ofHaversham.
Then Marc offered her his arm. “Shall we join the others before your cousin sends a search party outforyou?”
Livvie might do just that as she’d despised Marc from the first moment she met him and didn’t trust him at all. So they truly shouldgetback.
“I’d hate to worry my girls.” Caroline heaved a sigh, accepted Marc’s outstretched arm, and tried furiously to ignore the jolt of desire that washed over her at their contact. “I dare say Livvie may not forgive Alex for this forsometime.”
“Indeed.” Marc agreed as he directed her through the crowd back toward the Kelfield box. “Barred from her bed for at least a fortnight, I have no doubt. What a very good friend he is to make such a sacrificeforme.”
Barred from Livvie’s bed. Caroline cast him a sidelong glance. “Does everything have to revolve around being bedded when it comestoyou?”
He squeezed her hand on his arm. “Everything in the world revolves around being bedded, my dear. And if it doesn’t, you’re doing itwrong.”
Caroline had three children. She was fairly certain she’d been doing it right all these years, but maybehedid something differently. She wasn’t going to think on that and then she spotted Rachel in the Kelfield box, watching them; and her daughter’s impassioned speech from that morning rang in her ears once more. “Well,Ibelieve everything in the world revolves around true love, affection, and devotion that lasts alifetime.”
She chanced a glance up at Marc to find the most enigmatic expression on his face. “I do hope, my dear, that you never learnotherwise.”
* * *
For the first time in…well,a very long time, contentment washed over Marc. Or perhaps that was just Caroline’s sweet lilac scent. He couldn’t truly be sure as being near her had always put him more at peace. He cast her a sidelong glance, not wanting his pointed interest to be remarked upon any more than it had been over the years, but he couldn’t help it. She was the most fascinating thing in the amphitheater. After all, the trick riders in the middle of the ring could never hold his interest like the lady beside him on thebench.
The crowd applauded, so Marc must have missed something in the ring, not that he truly cared. Even so, he turned his attention to the entertainment in the center of the arena in time to see the knife throwers take up their marks. Caroline’s oldest daughter slid forward on the bench, clearly enthralled with theperformers.
Marc tipped his head toward Caroline’s and brushed his fingers over her knuckles. “I see she has your adventurous spirit,” he muttered just loud enough for hertohear.
Caroline tilted her head slightly as though to see him better, her pert little nose scrunched up just a bit. “That’s what I’mafraidof.”
But there was nothing to fear. Miss Benton would be extraordinarily fortunate to be just like her mother. “The world should be so lucky as to have twoofyou.”
“You’re not supposed to do that,” she said, seeming to bite back asmile.
“I never do what I’m supposed to do.” He winked at her. “But what have I donethistime?”
“You’re being charming,” she accused. “It’s much easier to hate you when you’re yourusualself.”
“Not charming.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Honest. Love me or hate me, I’m alwayshonest.”
Caroline’s brow lifted as though she was about to challenge thatstatement.
So Marc added, “Withyou. I’ve always been honest withyou.” Which was true. He’d never lied to her…Well, he hadn’t necessarily always told her every single detail, and usually for her own safety, but he hadn’t ever lied. And for a man who had spent more than half of his life lying to everyone around him, often for his own safety, the truth of that was not lost on him. It neverhadbeen.
