The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,50
doe, I know your tricks,” Nicholas said with a laugh. “You wanted to talk to me about Aurora. It’s probably the entire reason you dragged yourself out of bed so early and came out here. I assume you saw me from…” He looked up and counted along the wall of the house. “…that window. That’s your room, isn’t it? You saw me down here alone and thought this your opportunity to come pry into my life without Derrick or Robert or Morgan to tell you to stop.”
If he thought she’d argue or pretend offense, he was wrong. Instead, she made a show of slow applause. “A fine deduction, inspector,” she said. “You ought to go work for Derrick and Barber with this sharp mind of yours, rather than surrender yourself to the boring life of a useless marquess.”
“Ah, so that topic is on the table, as well,” Nicholas said with a roll of his eyes. “Christ, what else do you want to lecture me on?”
Selina pushed to her feet then. “Nothing. I know better than to lecture you on anything.”
“What does that mean?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Please don’t pretend that you actually listen to any of us. You are so blastedly independent, and I know you think all three of us are at least partially untrustworthy because of our wild pasts.”
He blinked at the accusation. “I…no. I don’t think any of you are untrustworthy, Selina.” She arched an incredulous brow and he folded his arms at the unspoken challenge. “I am reserved, I know. I do hesitate when it comes to letting others in. But you and Morgan and Robert are my family. I do trust you all, and if I have left you with another impression then I am sorry.”
“I’m glad.” Her expression softened, but then she turned back to her usual playful, arch self. “We’ll leave the topic of the title alone for now. I know you’re set on it. But yes, I did see you, and yes, I thought it a good opportunity to speak to you about this situation with Lady Lovell. Because everyone else will dance around it and I think you had quite enough dancing last night.”
Nicholas shook his head. “You will not be stopped, will you?”
“Indeed, I shall not,” Selina agreed with a laugh. “So it serves you better to simply talk to me because you know I have your best interests at heart. I want to protect you, you great oaf.”
His shoulders rolled forward. “Yes. I do know your heart is true.”
Her nose wrinkled. “God, it is. How far the mighty fall.”
He laughed at her quip and sat back down at the table. She joined him, and they stared at each other a long moment before he said, “What do you want to badger me about, then?”
“You followed her out of the ballroom,” Selina said again, this time more quietly. “Everyone saw it.”
He flinched. “Everyone, eh? Was there much comment on the subject?”
“Only in our family and friend circle,” Selina admitted. “I don’t think anyone else realizes that connection between you and Aurora. Yet. And I say yet because you are being watched very closely, Nicholas. There are those hoping to see you fail.”
He frowned. “Yes, I suppose that is true. This viscount last night was droning on about how titles are birthright.”
She rolled her eyes again, but this time he wasn’t the subject of it, which helped. “That’s how a great many see it. And those that do are going to fight your appointment to marquess with any piece of ammunition they can drum up. Especially an association to a woman who just created a massive scandal.”
He gritted his teeth at the truth of that.
“Do you want to tell me what happened between the two of you?” Selina pressed. “You didn’t come back.”
He was silent, unwilling to share the very personal connection he and Aurora had forged in his bed the night before.
She tilted her head. “A row?” she insisted when he didn’t respond.
“No, not a row,” he said softly.
She sighed. “You fucked her?”
“Selina!” Nicholas burst out, and desperately wanted to distance himself from her again, but all this getting up and down wasn’t exactly easy. Especially since he’d so beautifully taxed his body with pleasure last night. He had no choice but to stay with her, though he bent his head as some kind of buffer.
She cursed again beneath her breath and said, “You’re in trouble, aren’t you?”
He agreed with the assessment, the same one he’d given