coward’s choice she made. She straightened her back. She now owed it to His Grace to become the best wife she could possibly be. She knew it was their enemy’s fault they were in this predicament.
The look of relief on Sebastian’s face dampened her anger. “If you’d allow it, there is one more thing I’d like. Now that I will become a married woman, I expect to be party to the hunt. I want to catch the bitch who has destroyed my life.”
Chapter 4
Beatrice had escorted Marisa upstairs to get ready. The bishop was on the way and Maitland had the special license in his pocket. They would be married in the drawing room with only Sebastian’s family present. He would have liked Priscilla, his stepmother, to be here, but due to the persistent rumors surrounding her marriage to his father, she rarely left his estate. Not all of the Libertine Scholars would be present either. With Christian and Grayson still in Dorset, that left only Arend and Hadley to stand with him. Sebastian would be giving Marisa away.
Maitland had sent the two men each a missive informing them of the situation, and he expected them to be here shortly.
He was nervous about taking a wife. He was going to have to be far more disciplined than normal. He’d never slept with the same woman twice, and if he were to have a son, he would likely have to sleep with Marisa more than once. What if the villainess understood the darkness in him and knew it would be his punishment to have to marry Sebastian’s sister? If he lost control and let his darker desires free, he’d likely hurt Marisa, which would hurt Sebastian and could very well destroy the Libertine Scholars’ friendship. They would fight each other.
Once again an innocent, Marisa was the one who would pay the price.
Just then Sebastian’s butler announced Arend and Hadley.
Hadley was full of smiles, while Arend looked broody.
“Congratulations, Maitland. I know it’s not the way you’d want to choose a wife, but she’s a wonderful young woman.”
“Thank you, Hadley. Nothing to say, Arend?”
He watched Arend shrug as he took a seat on the day bed near the window. “If you are happy, then what is there to say, except I want to catch De Palma so badly before she ruins our lives.”
“Are you implying my life is ruined, because I take offense to that. I’m quite happy with this outcome.”
Arend looked directly into his eyes. “I wasn’t referring to you. Sebastian must be struggling to come to terms with Marisa marrying you.”
Maitland felt the bonds of brotherhood slipping. “Do both of you think I’m not good enough for Marisa?”
“Of course not,” Hadley stated. “I think what Arend is inferring is that we are sad Marisa has had her life affected because of us.”
Arend swore. “That’s what I’m angry about. The bitch can mess with us; we can take care of ourselves. But a young girl, or girls? Look what she did to Portia. If Grayson hadn’t got to her, she’d still be in that harem.”
“I’m angry that Marisa has had choices taken from her too. As long as that is all it is.” Maitland raised his eyebrow at Arend. “Sebastian doesn’t think we can make each other happy.”
“It doesn’t matter what my brother thinks. I
know
we will be happy.” None of the men had heard the door open. Maitland felt as if he were a hundred feet tall upon hearing Marisa’s words. She crossed to his side and slipped her hand in his. For someone who prided himself on not getting emotional, he was choked up inside.
Arend suddenly grinned, and he crossed the room to hug Marisa. “If you’re happy, then it eases some of my guilt.”
“You have nothing to be guilty about.” Marisa looked round the room at each of them, men she’d known most of her life. “None of you do. Nevertheless, I must admit I’d like this situation to be over. Have you any leads?”
“Any luck with Angelo?” Maitland asked Arend.
Angelo was a brothel owner who may know the identity of
The look of relief on Sebastian’s face dampened her anger. “If you’d allow it, there is one more thing I’d like. Now that I will become a married woman, I expect to be party to the hunt. I want to catch the bitch who has destroyed my life.”
Chapter 4
Beatrice had escorted Marisa upstairs to get ready. The bishop was on the way and Maitland had the special license in his pocket. They would be married in the drawing room with only Sebastian’s family present. He would have liked Priscilla, his stepmother, to be here, but due to the persistent rumors surrounding her marriage to his father, she rarely left his estate. Not all of the Libertine Scholars would be present either. With Christian and Grayson still in Dorset, that left only Arend and Hadley to stand with him. Sebastian would be giving Marisa away.
Maitland had sent the two men each a missive informing them of the situation, and he expected them to be here shortly.
He was nervous about taking a wife. He was going to have to be far more disciplined than normal. He’d never slept with the same woman twice, and if he were to have a son, he would likely have to sleep with Marisa more than once. What if the villainess understood the darkness in him and knew it would be his punishment to have to marry Sebastian’s sister? If he lost control and let his darker desires free, he’d likely hurt Marisa, which would hurt Sebastian and could very well destroy the Libertine Scholars’ friendship. They would fight each other.
Once again an innocent, Marisa was the one who would pay the price.
Just then Sebastian’s butler announced Arend and Hadley.
Hadley was full of smiles, while Arend looked broody.
“Congratulations, Maitland. I know it’s not the way you’d want to choose a wife, but she’s a wonderful young woman.”
“Thank you, Hadley. Nothing to say, Arend?”
He watched Arend shrug as he took a seat on the day bed near the window. “If you are happy, then what is there to say, except I want to catch De Palma so badly before she ruins our lives.”
“Are you implying my life is ruined, because I take offense to that. I’m quite happy with this outcome.”
Arend looked directly into his eyes. “I wasn’t referring to you. Sebastian must be struggling to come to terms with Marisa marrying you.”
Maitland felt the bonds of brotherhood slipping. “Do both of you think I’m not good enough for Marisa?”
“Of course not,” Hadley stated. “I think what Arend is inferring is that we are sad Marisa has had her life affected because of us.”
Arend swore. “That’s what I’m angry about. The bitch can mess with us; we can take care of ourselves. But a young girl, or girls? Look what she did to Portia. If Grayson hadn’t got to her, she’d still be in that harem.”
“I’m angry that Marisa has had choices taken from her too. As long as that is all it is.” Maitland raised his eyebrow at Arend. “Sebastian doesn’t think we can make each other happy.”
“It doesn’t matter what my brother thinks. I
know
we will be happy.” None of the men had heard the door open. Maitland felt as if he were a hundred feet tall upon hearing Marisa’s words. She crossed to his side and slipped her hand in his. For someone who prided himself on not getting emotional, he was choked up inside.
Arend suddenly grinned, and he crossed the room to hug Marisa. “If you’re happy, then it eases some of my guilt.”
“You have nothing to be guilty about.” Marisa looked round the room at each of them, men she’d known most of her life. “None of you do. Nevertheless, I must admit I’d like this situation to be over. Have you any leads?”
“Any luck with Angelo?” Maitland asked Arend.
Angelo was a brothel owner who may know the identity of
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