The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,68

shrugged. “You know you might not be given the title if you pursue her. Some are looking for an excuse to fight against it, and her scandal could offer that.”

Nicholas pursed his lips. The concept of becoming marquess had been driving him for nearly two years. Since his injury, since it had been held out before him like some kind of carrot. So those were his two futures: one with her and one where she would have to wait until he had been judged worthy.

Could he give her a good future without the title? Did he even know what he would do without it?

“I must think, I suppose.”

“Well, at least you have friends while you do it.” Robert smiled and slung an arm around him. In that moment, Nicholas felt a swell of love for his brother that he’d never allowed before.

And a future that suddenly felt brighter than it ever had before.

Chapter 16

Aurora tightened her robe around her waist and tried to appear calm as her maid entered the chamber. Jeanette’s gaze flitted over her, and Aurora was certain she could see the flush of pleasure all over her face. Not to mention the dress still crumpled on the floor. One she would not have been able to remove without assistance.

“I took a nap,” she blurted out. “But I need to ready myself for supper.”

Jeanette nodded. “Yes, my lady. Of course. And you also received a letter that Jenner gave to me when you rang.”

She handed over the folded sheets before she moved to Aurora’s wardrobe and began to choose a few selections for supper. As she did so, Aurora broke the seal and gasped.

“It’s from Imogen,” she murmured, heart suddenly throbbing faster as she skimmed the words from her missing friend. The more she read, the more nervous she became. “It doesn’t matter which dress,” she said. “We must hurry, I need to speak to the others.”

“Of course, my lady,” Jeanette said, and swiftly chose a dress. Aurora hardly noticed which one as she grabbed for hair pins that were scattered on the floor. She began stabbing them through her hair, forming it into a loose, messy bun as her maid buttoned her.

“Oh, my lady, couldn’t I just—” Jeanette said, reaching for Aurora’s bed-mussed hair.

“I’ll come back and you can fix it later!” Aurora called as she hurried for the door. “I’m sorry!”

She clutched the letter in her hand as she all but ran through the halls and down the stairs. A footman was at the bottom. “Do you know where Mr. Huntington or the duke are?” she asked. She didn’t ask after Nicholas. She didn’t want to involve him and threaten his goals.

“I believe they’re together the duke’s study,” the young man said with a quick glance at Aurora’s hair.

“Thank you,” she said, and hustled that way. The door was closed and she began to open it when she realized Nicholas was speaking inside. Softly, so she could only hear a few words.

“…always been…”

She peeked into the room to find Nicholas standing facing the door, though his view of it was likely blocked by Derrick Huntington and the Duke of Roseford, who each had their backs to her.

Huntington spoke, his deep voice laced with emotion. “You know you might not be given the title if you pursue her. Some are looking for an excuse to fight against it, and her scandal could offer that.”

She froze, the letter in her hand forgotten for a flash of a moment. They were talking about…her. That was obvious from the words. Obvious from Nicholas’s expression. He looked torn as he pursed his lips.

She stepped away from the door, leaning against the wall beside it to catch her breath. There it was. The truth at the heart of the matter. She and Nicholas might want each other. They might still love each other. He might even want a future with her. But if he pursued any of it right now, he might and probably would lose the title of marquess. And it would be entirely her fault. She would be the excuse men like Sweeting or Roddenbury whispered in the Prince’s ear that Nicholas wasn’t worth the reward. Even though he was worth a dozen of them, a hundred, a thousand.

It wouldn’t matter. Merit rarely came into play in the ranks he aspired to. They would crush him as quickly as they would embrace him.

But she could change that. She could give him the future he wanted to make up for the