Loving the Marquess Read Online Free

allowed Manning to talk him
into joining a card game that was in full swing at an adjoining table. Losing
steadily, he’d become more and more reckless with each drink until he’d lost
everything. He’d behaved like an immature youth squandering his newly acquired
inheritance.
     They’d moved out of their manor house one week later,
taking only what they could fit into the much smaller cottage Manning allowed
them to have on the border of what had once been their estate.
    “What’s the matter?”
    John’s voice brought Louisa back to the present. She could
see the concern on her brother’s face and briefly considered not telling him
what she’d learned. She quickly discarded the notion, though, knowing he’d find
out soon enough.
    “Our guest,” she said, glancing quickly at her closed
bedroom door. She lowered her voice so Overlea wouldn’t overhear them. “I know
who he is.”
    “And…?” John prompted when she paused.
    There was nothing for it but to tell him straight out. “The
new Marquess of Overlea.”
    John swore and started for her room. She threw herself into
his path to stop him.
    “What are you planning to do?”
     “Throw the swine out on his ear, as he deserves.”
    “Lower you voice. He’ll hear you.”
    “That was my intent,” he said, his voice now louder.
    Throwing her weight against him, she pushed her brother back
into his room. Once there, she closed the door and leaned against it, barring
his exit. She was surprised he’d allowed her to stop him, but her surprise
turned to concern when he walked to his side table and picked up the loaded
pistol that rested there.
    “You are not throwing him out. He may be seriously injured
from his fall.”
    “I don’t care. I’m the head of the family now. Father never
allowed a Manning in this house while he was alive, and nothing has changed now
that he’s gone.” He took a step toward her. “Move away from the door, Louisa.”
    She was determined her brother would not have his way in
this.
    “I’m the eldest here,” she said. “I’ve run this household
for years now, and I’ll continue to do so. I will not throw an injured man out
on the road.”
    “Pity the Mannings have no such qualms.”
    “Overlea is no danger to us in his current condition. And in
any case, he cannot be blamed for something his uncle did years ago, no more
than you are to blame for Father’s behavior the night he gambled away our home.”
    A flush of anger crept up his face, but she knew she’d made
her point. As long as her brother never learned about what had transpired
between her and the marquess in her bedroom, he wouldn’t confront Overlea.
    Breakfast was a tense affair. Louisa kept expecting her
brother to say something harsh to the marquess and couldn’t relax. He surprised
her by holding his tongue, but what was more surprising was Catherine’s
silence. From the looks she cast in Overlea’s direction, it was clear her
sister was curious about their guest, but she seemed determined to remain
faithful to their father’s edict that all Mannings be treated as the enemy.
    Louisa tried to fill the silence with small talk but gave up
after a few attempts. The stilted conversation was almost worse than the
silence. Overlea sat next to her and his presence made it difficult for her to
concentrate on anything else. She caught herself watching his hands as he held
his cutlery and her thoughts drifted back to how those same hands had felt on
her breast and high on her thigh. Blushing, she forced her eyes away and tried
to keep them on her still-full plate.
    Overlea took their silence in stride, behaving as though
nothing were out of the ordinary. When he’d first arrived downstairs she’d been
acutely embarrassed by the fact that he’d soon learn how far they’d fallen.
Even the poorest of genteel families had at least one servant, and she had no
doubt this was the first time he’d ever stepped foot in a household that had
none. She’d seen his