Read Online Married to the Marquess by Rebecca Connolly - Free Book Online Page A

ladies yesterday,” Katherine said, enjoying this far too much to even feel mortified any longer. “You know Aurelia, she never lies about gossip.”
    His harsh swallowing told her that he did know that. After a moment, he said, “So I need to stay because…”
    “Because otherwise people will think me incapable of sustaining your attention or they will think you unable or unwilling to further your bloodlines,” she finished, waiting for his response.
    He closed his eyes and shook his head for a moment, and then he looked back at her. “How long, did you say?”
    “Two weeks,” she repeated, feeling victory nigh at hand. “And you would not have to come later in the year, if you wished.”
    “It’s a trick,” Colin muttered aloud, not caring that she could hear him. “It’s all a trick, Derek, don’t listen…”
    “Shut up, Colin,” the other two men said at the same time. Then Beverton continued, “Derek, Moira and I will stay as long as you want. She’s enjoying herself very much.”
    Her husband nodded, then looked back to her. “Very well. I will stay another two weeks from today. Maybe that will quiet the rumors for some time.”
    But not forever.
    The unsaid words hung in the air, and Katherine and Whitlock held each other’s gaze, each sensing what the other was thinking at the moment. The time would have to come soon.
    Oblivious to everything, Colin snorted. “Well, I, for one, am not staying,” he announced.
    “Who asked you to?” Katherine snapped as she flicked her eyes to him.
    That earned her a grin from Beverton, who gave her the barest hint of a nod in approval. Perhaps the earl would grow on her with time. 

    Derek ignored them all as his mind raced. He spent his whole life held to a high standard of behavior, and had been proud of the fact that his reputation was spotless and without comment, save for his unhappy marriage, which was not so surprising as many other people had them as well. But now…
    He looked back to Kate. He would only think of her as Kate now, it was too much fun. She was watching him carefully, and for once, her eyes on him did not make him want to cringe.
    He should have met with her in private.
    “I think we should talk in private,” he told her, his voice hoarse still.
    “What?” Colin gasped in horror. “Why?”
    “Colin, if you want to be welcome in anybody’s house any further, you need to stop talking,” Nathan ordered firmly. “In fact, I think we have stayed long enough. Let’s leave some breakfast for Lady Whitlock, and Derek, we will meet you at the stables.”
    Derek nodded, but Kate shook her head. “Thank you, Lord Beverton, but it is not necessary. I have quite finished with what I have to say, and I think my husband needs the distraction.”
    Derek looked at her in confusion. Was she actually being nice to him?
    She looked far too smug, and he felt his heart resume normal pacing. No, she was just being Katherine the Terror, everything on her terms, in her way. For all he knew, she had started the rumors herself just to spite him. “Well, I was going to oblige you,” he sneered at her, feeling rather angered by her cavalier attitude towards the whole situation, “but if you would rather I go, then absolutely, I will do so.”
    “I do want you gone,” she told him, her eyes flashing, but at least the smugness had vanished. “I never wanted you here in the first place.”
    “Then you shouldn’t have sent for me!” Derek yelled, knowing full well that he was not nearly as composed as he preferred to be in her presence, but not particularly caring at the moment. How dare the Society of London think they could gossip about what did or did not go on within his bedchamber? He had quite enough to be going on with.
    “We have already been over this!” she returned, her cheeks coloring with indignation. “I never meant for you to come!”
    “Then why the hell did you even write, Kate?” he bellowed, shooting to his feet, upending