Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,76

home to me. I was close to Seger, you see.” Gillian lifted her needle high over her head. “We’ve always been friends,” she continued. “I was only a baby when Seger’s father married Auntie. Seger was eleven, and he used to play with me and teach me things. We’ve been through a lot together. When my mother died, he was such a comfort to me, and before that, when he was suffering with a broken heart over Daphne....” Gillian paused and glanced up from her embroidery. “Forgive me. Perhaps you don’t know about Daphne. I have no manners sometimes. I can be so clumsy.”

Gillian resumed her needlework.

“Please, do not concern yourself,” Clara said. “I know all about Daphne. Seger told me everything. It’s a very sad story, isn’t it?”

Clara wasn’t sure why she felt such a strong compulsion to inform Gillian that she knew about Seger’s first engagement, and why she felt suddenly competitive. It made no sense at all. Gillian was Seger’s cousin, not Lady Cleveland.

But Gillian had known Seger her entire life. She knew so much more about him than Clara did.

You’ll catch up, Clara told herself. Soon, you’ll know him better than anyone.

“You are the most beautiful creature here,” Seger said as he escorted Clara onto the terrace at Weldon House.

The breeze was warm on Clara’s cheeks, the champagne sweet on her lips. Seger had not stopped looking at her all evening, and she felt beautiful in her red silk, form-flattering Worth gown, with embroidered pearls on the bodice, and a flowing, flounced train. At her neck she wore a large diamond pendant that flashed and sparkled. Seger’s gaze had dropped many times to her cleavage, though she doubted he was admiring the diamond.

Clara gazed up at him flirtatiously over the rim of her champagne glass as she sipped. “You are a shameless flatterer.”

She couldn’t wait to go home and be alone with him.

He gave her a look that offered promises for later. “Shameless is my middle name. And I can flatter you all night long, if you wish it.”

Just then, a woman approached Seger from behind and spoke close in his ear. “You must flatter me, too. I haven’t heard your delicious talk in a dog’s age. I’m sure your lady-friend won’t mind sharing.”

Clara drew back in surprise. “Sharing?”

Seger turned to face the woman but she suddenly seemed more interested in talking to Clara. Her breath smelled of whisky and she nearly lost her balance as she whispered in Clara’s ear, “Your bed or mine, darling? We can take turns, back and forth, five minutes each. What do you say, Seger?”

Horrified, Clara gazed up at her husband. He stared blankly at the woman. Clara wasn’t even sure if he recognized her.

But then he spoke her name. “Mrs. Thomas, allow me to introduce my wife, Lady Rawdon.” He gestured toward Clara.

The woman blinked a few times. “I beg your pardon, my lord. Did you say your wife?”

“Yes.”

“Dear me.” Her cheeks colored. “I didn’t know. No one said anything.” She backed up a step and laid a gloved hand on her chest. “I’m mortified. I’ve been in Paris, you see, and I only just returned yesterday and....”

Seger turned to Clara. “Darling, this is Mrs. Abigail Thomas.”

The woman held out her hand. “How do you do?”

“Very well, thank you,” Clara replied, shaking her hand. The woman fiddled absently with a lock of hair around her ear as the three stood in awkward silence, then Mrs. Thomas commented on the weather. Finally, she made a move to leave. “It was very nice to see you, Lord Rawdon, and a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rawdon.” She turned and left.

Seger watched her go. “I apologize for that.”

Clara tried to keep her voice steady. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I hope that sort of thing doesn’t happen again,” Seger added.

I’m surprised she hadn’t heard about our marriage.”

“We married quickly. And she was in Paris. The news will make its way around soon enough.”

He downed the rest of his champagne and smiled at her understanding, then escorted her back inside. Clara forced herself to forget about the incident and did not mention it again, but she did feel a tension between herself and her husband for the rest of the evening.

The following morning, Clara sat in the breakfast room sipping tea and reading the newspaper.

Gillian entered, served herself breakfast from the sideboard, and sat down. “Did you have a good time at the assembly last night?” Gillian asked.

Gillian had arrived later in the evening with

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