Free My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley Page B

Max?” he challenged, not quite realizing the danger he was in.
    Max leaned closer with an icy look and whispered, “I’m merely giving you fair warning—Alby.”
    Finally, the message seemed to sink in.
    Albert stiffened, easing back a step, but still, he clung to his trademark arrogance. “You think you can win her where I failed? Good luck, Max,” he said in disgust, giving him a dismissive, once-over glance. “I’ll be cheering for you.”
    â€œWell, well, isn’t this just like old times? You boys are at it again already, I see.”
    They both glanced over as Albert’s frail elder brother, Hayden, joined them. The easygoing young Duke of Holyfield had the delicate look of a poet. He glanced from Max to Albert with a rueful smile. “Come now, gentlemen, we’re all grown up here, aren’t we?”
    Albert rolled his eyes, but Max knew he was right. They had begun reverting into churlish juveniles.
    It did not at all surprise him that Albert had openly thrown down the gauntlet, challenging Max to prove himself the better man if he thought he could succeed where Albert had failed. What surprised Max was that it would work. Now that he had an inkling of Daphne Starling’s goodness and compassion, he was unhappy with the stirrings of his own competitive nature, that would almost rise to the bait of making her some sort of trophy between them. Max knew full well it was wrong and idiotic to make a contest of it, but, damn, the Carew bastards had always brought out the worst in him.
    Albert snorted in contempt and then turned to his two younger siblings. “Let’s get out of here.” He eyed Max and Hayden with renewed hauteur. “This is a very dull company. The Edgecombes must be lowering their standards.”
    Max smiled menacingly at him, but was hardly sorry tosee the bastard go. Now perhaps Miss Starling could enjoy the ball. Quietly exhaling his churning irritation, he turned to greet the eldest Carew brother with a more adult smile. “Holyfield.”
    â€œRotherstone. Nice to see you again! I thought I recognized you. God, it has been years! I was sorry to hear about your father,” Hayden added, jarring Max from his seething distraction.
    â€œWhat? Oh. Yes, of course. Thank you. Same to you.”
    â€œSay, Max—all that traveling you’ve done, any tips on what to see in Paris? My wife wants to go before she enters her confinement.”
    â€œConfinement? Hayden!” Max stared at him in shock. “You’re going to be a father?”
    The young duke beamed. “Our first.”
    â€œCongratulations!”
    â€œScared to death of it, actually.”
    â€œAh, it’s all the mother’s worry,” he said with a cheeky grin, as if he would know. “So, you’re taking her to Paris?”
    â€œMariah wants to see the place while she’s still able to travel. Once the babe comes, I don’t suppose we’ll have many holidays for a while.”
    â€œWell, you must see the Tuileries, and the Louvre, of course, and Versailles, and Notre Dame Cathedral.” They had a brief discussion of the great Parisian landmarks, but Max was eager to go find Daphne Starling.
    He congratulated Hayden again, then extricated himself from the conversation. But as he went in search of his golden-haired quarry, he still couldn’t believe that that pasty little fellow had managed to wed and bed a wife before he did.
    Blazes, he would’ve never thought it possible. Rather depressing, actually.
    Hunting for Daphne Starling, he had not seen her come back into the dining hall, so he went and looked in the ballroom, but that was all but empty now. Casually, he went and checked a few of the reception rooms, but seeing her nowhere, he grimly concluded that she was hiding from him.
    Damn, he thought. Maybe that was enough for tonight. They were not off to the best start. Perhaps it was better to try again