Free The Earl's Return (Marriage Mart Mayhem) by Callie Hutton Page A

confinement.”
    “Oh, I hope the dear girl’s babe arrives soon.” Lady Breckenridge took Mary and her mother aside. “I am sorry for having invited Redgrave. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
    The dowager raised her chin. “It is not important, my dear. All of that is far behind us, now. Lady Abigail is quite happy and settled with Mr. Fox. They are the parents of charming twin boys. Lovely lads, whom I am far overdue in visiting.”
    “You are too gracious, Duchess.”
    Mary snuck a glance at the object of their conversation, who chatted with Miss Stoneridge, hanging onto his every word. Silly little thing, and much too young for Redgrave.
    He turned to say something to Montrose and looked across the room at her. Immediately, he gave her a slow smile and a slight bow. She hated the small thrill of excitement that shot through her. Miss Stoneridge tapped him on his arm with her fan, and he returned his attention to her.
    It was just as well he would be busy tonight forming attachments, considering the young ladies present whom he might select for his bride. It was no concern of hers. She had no interest in the man. All of this silly attraction would fade with time.
    “Dinner is served.” A servant stood at the entrance to the room. The guests gathered, Lord Breckenridge escorting Mary’s mother, as the highest ranking woman present. The rest of the guests fell into line, with Lord Montrose escorting her.
    Little cards had been placed at the table, and Montrose helped her find her seat. She was seated more than halfway down, with Montrose on one side, and Redgrave on her other side. Her mother, at the far end of the table, busy speaking with Lady and Lord Breckenridge, paid no attention as Redgrave leaned close and said, “I am quite interested to know what happened at the park this afternoon.”
    Mary tried to quell the unease she knew flitted across her face. She attempted to distract him by offering a bright smile. “Good evening, my lord. It is nice to see you once again.”
    “Mary.” He spoke quietly, drawing her name out, his brows raised. Hopefully, no one else noticed he used such a familiar form of address.
    She nodded her thanks to the footman who filled her wine glass. “Nothing happened. I had a moment of weakness. I recovered quite nicely, well before I reached home.”
    He grinned. “I am willing to bet you have never had a moment of weakness in your life.”
    Not true, my lord. Not true at all. My moment of weakness was disastrous.
    She’d paid the price for her stupidity. Days of tears, pacing in her room, wringing her hands. Why had she thought Claremont was an honorable man when he’d proven to be just the opposite? Once he’d left for the Continent, Mary had relaxed for the first time in weeks. Now he was back, and so were her fears. She certainly hadn’t liked the way he’d looked at her when they’d met in the park.
    Redgrave took a sip of his wine and continued to study her over the top of his glass as her thoughts wandered. He was a very perceptive man. She had to be careful to keep her face expressionless, or he would begin badgering her.
    Not that he had any right to do so. They had declared a truce, and she had agreed to work with him for the benefit of the orphans. She owed him nothing else.
    “My lord.” Miss Stoneridge, on his other side, tapped his arm with her fan. She had used that method to gain his attention so many times this evening Mary was sure he was tempted to snatch the thing from her hand and snap it in two.
    “Yes, Miss Stoneridge.”
    As the girl prattled on about ball gowns and ribbons, Mary turned her attention to Montrose, a much more comfortable dinner partner. He didn’t study her as if she were a bug under a glass and didn’t question her about things she could never reveal and were best forgotten.

Chapter Seven
    If Redgrave didn’t get away from Miss Stoneridge’s constant prattling about nonsensical things, he would commit the unpardonable