Duchess in Love by Eloisa James Page B

established. “Then stop simpering at him, Gina,” he said, surprising himself with the sharpness of his tone. “A person would have to be an oaf not to guess at your intimacy.”
    At that, the marquess bridled and stiffened his shoulders again. “No such intimacy has occurred between us,” he announced. “Nothing has occurred that could cause Your Grace the slightest concern. I have far too much respect for the duchess.”
    â€œHmm,” Cam said. Looking at the marquess, he could almost believe that he had stayed out of Gina’s bed. How he managed it, Cam didn’t care to think. “Well, since we’ve aired our relations for the whole ballroom with this heartfelt meeting, wife, would you care to say hello to Stephen?”
    Stephen had backed up a step and was watching with amusement from just behind Cam’s shoulder. He stepped forward and bent over Gina’s hand with great aplomb. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, my dear.”
    Cam looked around for Tuppy, but he had disappeared. “Surely you know my cousin, Stephen Fairfax-Lacy,” he said to the marquess. Bonnington had not lost his rigid stance and was looking more poker-faced than ever.
    â€œI have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Fairfax-Lacy on matters to do with the House,” Bonnington replied, bowing even more deeply. “It is always a pleasure to meet a member of the duchess’s family.”
    â€œDo you address her as the duchess in private?” Cam asked with some curiosity.
    Gina laughed. “No, of course he doesn’t, you goose. But Sebastian’s behavior is always irreproachable in public.”
    Cam looked over her head at Bonnington. He looked about to explode, poor fellow. It couldn’t be easy, being irreproachable and engaged to Gina. “Well, I believe Stephenand I will retire to the card room,” he said. “I promised him a game of hazard.”
    â€œWithout dancing even one dance?”
    â€œNot even one.” To Cam’s mind, it would be better to give the poker-faced bridegroom a chance to recover his composure.
    â€œVery well,” Gina said gaily. “But I shall invade the card room and drag you onto the floor if you stay there too long.” She leaned close to Cam, and he caught a drift of perfume, faintly flavored with apple blossoms. “I am trying to lure Stephen into marrying,” she whispered. “And I think I have found just the right woman.”
    â€œAre you going to set me up with a wife, as well?” he asked, with some interest.
    Gina looked enormously surprised. “Would you like to remarry, Cam? I thought you disliked the state.”
    â€œIt hasn’t bothered me so far.”
    She chortled. “Well, of course it hasn’t, you stupid man. We live in different countries!”
    Cam shut off his answering grin and stepped back. The last thing he wanted was for the marquess to get strange ideas about his friendship with Gina.
    He bowed grandly. “What a pleasure it has been to meet my childhood playfellow after such a long parting,” he said clearly, allowing his voice to carry. “As soon as certain arrangements are taken care of, I shall look forward to furthering our acquaintance. And yours as well, Lord Bonnington.” There—that should put a sock in the gossips’ mouths. Now everyone would know why he was in England. And he had made it quite clear that the marquess was welcome to his wife.
    He and Stephen retired posthaste to the card room. “What a stick!” he said disgustedly, as they strolled into the smoke-filled chamber.
    â€œWho? Bonnington?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œHe didn’t show to best advantage tonight,” Stephen said thoughtfully, “but actually he’s a good man. I’ve heard that he takes remarkably good care of his tenants, for example. Inherited the title from his uncle. Whenever we’re estimating