Mistress - Amanda Quick [93]
“If you are determined to make a scene, then we shall adjourn to the street.”
“There is no need. I’m leaving now.” Bennet’s mouth curved in an angry sneer. “By the bye, allow me to congratulate you, brother. I comprehend that you are soon to announce your own betrothal.”
Marcus heard Iphiginia’s small, shocked gasp. He did not look at her. His entire attention was fixed on his brother. “That is correct.”
“The entire theater is already abuzz with the news. You must have been truly desperate to halt my plans for marriage if you have gone so far as to break your most firmly established rule.”
“Bennet, that is enough.”
“But that part of your plan won’t work, either. Juliana will marry me regardless of whether or not I stand to inherit your damned title. You’ll see. She loves me, not the bloody earldom. Which is more than you’ll be able to say about your future wife, whoever she is.”
Bennet whirled around and stormed out of the box.
FOURTEEN
IPHIGINIA SAT VERY STILL ON THE BLACK SQUABS OF MARcus’s ebony carriage. The interior lamps were unlit. Marcus filled most of the opposite seat with his large frame. He had one long leg stretched out along the cushion. The other boot was planted on the floor. There was a dangerous, morose quality about him.
He had said no more than a dozen words since they had left the theater a few minutes earlier. Most of those had been primarily commands to Dinks.
Iphiginia had not been allowed to see the end of Kean’s performance. Marcus had muttered something about avoiding the crush of theater traffic, but Iphiginia knew that was not the primary reason he wished to leave early.
When he had brusquely ordered her to accompany him, she had seen the doubt and disapproval in Amelia’s eyes. But Iphiginia had quietly agreed. Amelia had remained behind in Zoe and Otis’s box. They would see her home.
There had been a thousand questions in Zoe’s eyes when Iphiginia and Marcus had escorted Amelia to the box. Iphiginia had ignored them. She knew her aunt had already heard the rumors of Marcus’s betrothal, but she had no explanations or answers to give her.
When the carriage moved into the street, Marcus finally broke the thick silence.
“I regret that you were subjected to that unfortunate scene in your theater box.” He gazed out into the night. “My brother appears to be immersed in a rather melodramatic phase at the moment.”
“Marcus, I think you owe me an explanation.”
“Mmm.”
Iphiginia waited for a few seconds. Marcus said nothing.
“Well?” she finally prompted.
“Well, what?” Marcus did not look away from the window.
Iphiginia made a heroic effort to compose herself in patience. “Well, what is the explanation for that scene in my theater box?”
Marcus hesitated, as though about to tread on uncertain ground.
“I am aware of the fact that you have a rule against explaining your actions to anyone,” Iphiginia said. “But I really think that in this instance—”
“Bennet believes himself to be passionately in love with Juliana Dorchester.”
“And you do not approve of the match?”
Marcus finally glanced at her. “How did you guess?”
“It wasn’t difficult.”
“It’s Dorchester’s fondest wish to shore up the family’s flagging fortunes by marrying his daughter into money. Mrs. Dorchester’s primary goal is to get a title into the family. Together they have contrived to hurl Juliana at every wealthy, titled gentleman in the ton for the past two Seasons.”
“Including you?”
“Last Season I was a target for a short period.” Light from a passing coach glinted briefly on the starkly etched planes of Marcus’s grim features. “Dorchester went so far as to attempt to force me into a compromising position with his own daughter.”
“Good grief. What happened?”
“I won’t go into details. It was a shabby little plot, ill-conceived and extremely transparent. Suffice it to say, the attempt failed.”
“I see.” There was a distinct chill in the air. Iphiginia pulled her white lace shawl a little more securely around her bare shoulders. “I collect that you escaped unscathed.”
“Yes.”
“Unlike the other night in the Pettigrews