Read Online My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley - Free Book Online Page B

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Chapter 4
    W ell, I never,” Daphne breathed. She could not decide if she was delighted, intrigued, or irked that he had spirited Albert away and stolen her thunder before she could give the cad the tongue-lashing he deserved.
    But one thing was clear: This Rotherstone man was as bold as brass and as slick as they came. He had interfered twice now in her affairs, and though she had overheard his name, she still had no idea who in blazes he actually was.
    Strange, for she usually knew everyone. She stood on her tiptoes in riveted curiosity, trying to peer over the crowd to keep him in view.
    When she spied him across the ballroom introducing the Carew brothers to the Grand Duchess of Mecklenberg, as promised, she couldn’t help grinning. The look on Albert’s face was priceless as Rotherstone presented him to a very stern-looking old lady with a sour frown. Her Highness eyed the Carew brothers in thorough disapproval.
    Well, he is full of tricks, isn’t he? Daphne’s mind was still awhirl with questions about him when she heard her father’s voice.
    â€œAh, daughter, there you are!” She turned as Lord Starling ambled over to her, his gray eyes beaming with fondness. “Did you hear the announcement? They’re serving the supper now. Would you like to come and eat with us?”
    She smiled at him. “I would never turn down your company, Papa.” Doing her best to shake off her distraction, she hooked her wrist through the crook of his offered arm. “Do you mind if Jonathon joins us? He went to fetch me some punch.”
    â€œIf he must.” Her father harrumphed. It was no secret that Papa considered Jono a very silly young man.
    â€œPapa?” As they made their way, arm in arm, toward the grand dining room where the light repast was being served, she leaned closer to murmur in his ear so they would not be overheard. “There is a gentleman, Papa—he is most mysterious. I wonder if you know him.”
    â€œHm. Where?”
    Daphne glanced around, then scowled. “Oh, dash, I do not see him anymore! He seems to have a talent for vanishing into thin air…I heard someone address him as Max Rotherstone.”
    â€œ Lord Rotherstone?” Her father stopped and turned to her in surprise. “The Demon Marquess?”
    Daphne furrowed her brow at his answer, then burst out laughing. “ Demon Marquess?”
    â€œMy, you’re brave, aren’t you?” Papa teased. “Dance with him, my sweet Persephone, and he’ll whisk you off to Hades, and I only shall see you but half the year.”
    â€œOh, Papa!” she chided, laughing, still holding on to his arm. “Why do they call him that, I wonder?”
    â€œI know not, but he probably deserves it.” He winked at her. “Maybe you should ask the rogue.”
    â€œGeorge!” They were interrupted as Penelope blasted into their presence, whirling out from amid the crowd, and waving her fan at top speed. “George, George! Oh, George, for heaven’s sake, there you are! I’ve been looking for you here, there, and everywhere! Where on earth did you wander off to?”
    â€œI am right here, darling,” he said in a soothing tone, retreating back into his amiable fog.
    â€œIt was very wrong of you to leave me, George!” Penelope bustled over to Lord Starling and claimed his other arm, fully prepared to play a hard game of tug-of-war withDaphne over the poor man, or indeed, to break him in two as though he were a wishbone.
    â€œI only went to fetch Daphne to dine with us, as you can see, my dear.”
    â€œBut George, it’s quite impossible! I’ve already secured two places for us at Lord and Lady Edgecombe’s table—only two!”
    â€œCan we not make room for the girl?”
    â€œDemand a third chair at the hosts’ table? I could never be so rude! Lord and Lady Edgecombe would think us thoroughgoing