Free How to Manage a Marquess by Sally Mackenzie

Randolph in love, but her imagination failed her.
    â€œYes.” Jane wrinkled her nose. “But now he makes use of the Widow Conklin for all his amorous needs. He has an appointment from eight to nine o’clock every Wednesday evening.”
    Anne wrinkled her nose. The widow was pleasant enough, but everyone knew her trade.
    Men really were revolting.
    She took another sip of brandy. “What are we going to do, Jane? I wish there was some way we could get Cat out of the Spinster House.”
    Jane divided the last of the brandy between them. “Perhaps there is.”
    Was Jane bosky? Surely she hadn’t imbibed that much.
    â€œHow? I’m not willing to resort to murder.” And she couldn’t wish that Cat die from some disease or accident. Cat might be standing between Anne and her freedom, but she was still her friend.
    â€œNot murder,” Jane said. “Marriage.”
    â€œMarriage? Why would Cat marry? She has exactly what she’s always wanted.”
    â€œWhat she always used to want. I don’t think she wants it any longer.”
    Oh, blast. Jane had got her hopes up for no purpose. “If she didn’t want to be the Spinster House spinster, she wouldn’t have participated in the lottery.”
    Jane must have drunk too much brandy. Anne likely had. She poured herself some tea.
    â€œOh, she may still think she wants to be a spinster, but didn’t you see how she looked at the duke when he arrived?”
    â€œNo.” Anne had been too nervous to analyze Cat’s behavior.
    Jane smirked at her. “You should pay more attention.”
    â€œApparently. So tell me how she looked.”
    â€œAs if her heart’s delight had just entered the room.”
    Anne looked at Jane suspiciously. “How much brandy have you had?”
    â€œNo more than you and none before the lottery. And I’ll tell you this as well, since it seems you were woolgathering.” Jane leaned closer as if sharing a secret. “The duke looked at her in the very same way.” She sat back and giggled. “Well, rather more lasciviously.”
    Jane must be making this up, but if she wasn’t . . .
    There was that interlude in the trysting bushes.
    Which had resulted in exactly nothing.
    â€œWhat difference does it make? Cat won the lottery, and now that the Spinster House vacancy is filled, the duke will leave Loves Bridge and that will be the end of it.”
    â€œNo, he’s staying here.” Jane flushed slightly. “I happened to be talking to the duke’s friend—”
    â€œLord Haywood?!”
    Oh, blast, Jane’s eyebrows shot up. Anne had sounded a bit too . . . upset. And for no reason. What did she care whom Lord Hellwood conversed with?
    Though he’d better not have been entertaining Jane in the Spinster House bushes—
    â€œNo, not Lord Haywood. Lord Evans.”
    â€œOh.” And she shouldn’t be feeling so happy to hear that. “When did you speak to Lord Evans?”
    â€œJust a little before I ran into you in front of the Spinster House. Apparently the duke and Lord Haywood argued last night and again this morning—Lord Evans didn’t say about what, of course—so he came into the village to get away from all the brangling. He told me that he and Lord Haywood were leaving, but the duke was staying, at least until Mary’s wedding”—she grinned—“when he and Lord Haywood would both be back. Lord Haywood is a musician and has agreed to play for the festivities.”
    â€œOh.” Instead of delight at Lord Hellwood’s departure, Anne felt a surge of anticipation that she’d see him again. Stupid!
    â€œI think the duke must be staying because he is interested in Cat,” Jane said.
    I can not be happy to see Lord Hellwood.
    â€œLikely he is. He did go into the bushes with her.” Anne pushed her teacup away. She should go back to the Hall. Sitting in her