Charming the Elusive Earl (Charmed By Chance #2)

Chapter 7

7

M arlin might have been seated in a gentlemen’s club, and surrounded by lively laughter and conversations, but his mind was elsewhere and with another.

With a lady.

With his lady, to be precise.

Chin tucked down, he leaned back in the overstuffed armchair near the fire, tapping his fingers along the edge of the seat.

He’d come to meet with a gentleman who was meant to look into the smuggling. His contact at the Navy had sent him to an advisor to the crown who’d been looking into a smuggling ring, and they in turn sent him to the Home Office, and so on and so forth.

In short, he’d been run in circles.

In their defense, everyone seemed quite alarmed by the discovery, but it was unclear who was meant to handle it.

Him, apparently. Much to his dismay.

And while Marlin had hired extra guards, by the time he’d rallied some men and returned to the shed, the goods had been moved.

Frustration was not an emotion he often had to contend with. He was a man of action, accustomed to actively seeking out solutions to any issues the estate faced. Being run in circles did not sit well.

He’d spent the better part of a fortnight attempting to alert the correct authorities to the thieves he’d found on his property, and all the while his mind had been fixed on Jane.

He ought to have visited her by now.

A muscle in his jaw twitched at the memory of that fear in her eyes when he’d caught up to her. The panic when she’d fled. The terror in her eyes when he’d told her they needed to speak.

He ought to have visited, but…

Blast. Those memories were the reason why he’d held off.

His own fiancée was afraid of him.

Of him.

In fact, Jane had seemed less frightened of the thief aiming a dagger in her direction. And if that wasn’t disheartening, he didn’t know what was.

If he meant to see her again, he’d have to find a way to make his presence less…abhorrent.

With a wince, he rubbed at his chest as he once more replayed their every exchange, her every look, and then, of course, as always, his mind lingered on that kiss.

His breath left him in a shuddering exhale. He’d seen his betrothed plenty since the day the contract was formalized. Once a month, at least.

So then why was it he felt as if he’d only just met the girl?

“Don’t you think so, Lord Marlin?” The voice came from his left, and Marlin sat up straight in his seat.

Lud, what had happened to him?

He turned to face his friend Mr. Everson. Fortunately they’d been friends long enough, Everson didn’t seem overly concerned by Marlin’s glower…or the fact that he clearly hadn’t been paying attention.

It wasn’t that they’d been lifelong friends. It was more a case of Everson having been a friend to his brother, and when his brother passed and Marlin returned from the army to take over the title he’d inherited, he’d found he’d inherited a friend as well.

Which was for the best. Making friends had never been one of his talents.

“Apologies, Everson,” he said. “What were you saying?”

Everson was the smiling sort. And right now, his eyes glimmered with laughter as he considered Marlin. “You’ve been distracted of late, my friend.”

Distracted? He was a man obsessed. But before he could apologize again, Everson continued. “Of course, anyone would be after what you witnessed, I imagine.”

He didn’t argue. Everson was the first he’d told of the smugglers, since he’d returned home that day to find his friend waiting for him. This was not unusual. As Everson had been close friends with his brother, it often felt as though Marlin’s friend was more comfortable in his home than he was. And on that day, in particular, he’d been glad of it.

His friend had been a levelheaded ally. Everson had even joined him and the other men to raid the shed, and upon finding it empty, together they’d formulated a plan and set off in different directions to tell the authorities.

Marlin still felt gratitude for his friend’s assistance. But grateful or not, he wasn’t about to explain to his new friend that he’d been distracted not by smugglers, but by his fearful fiancée. So he merely murmured in agreement, “I’m looking forward to having this matter handled.”

Everson nodded in understanding. But if he was going to reply, he was cut short by a new arrival.

“Lord Marlin.” A younger man with light brown hair and a likable smile approached. Marlin recognized him, but couldn’t place the name.

“Lord Albright,” the man said by way of introduction, sticking out a hand to shake when Marlin stood. “Sir Farring asked that I take over the, er—” His gaze flickered to Everson for a heartbeat. “The matter .”

“Ah, yes.” Marlin shook the man’s hand. “I believe we’ve met before at the…”

The funeral.

Blast. He’d been about to say the funeral . The one and only time he’d met Lord Albright had been at his wife’s funeral.

And this was why Marlin was much more content to stay at home than mingle in society. He was unbearably bad at small talk.

Lord Albright’s young wife had been a distant relation of his mother’s. Marlin’s mother had long since passed, but attending Lady Albright’s funeral had seemed the right thing to do to represent the family.

Albright’s small smile was sympathetic. “It has been a while, has it not?”

“Yes. Quite.” Marlin felt a pang of gratitude that the other man had let him off the hook.

Marlin turned to Everson. Even though his friend already knew the sordid details of that encounter in the woods, he suspected Albright would prefer a quieter interview.

Everson took the hint promptly. “I’ll go see about dinner, shall I?”

He was off, leaving Marlin alone with Albright. “I did not realize you were involved in such matters, Lord Albright.”

“I’m not. Typically.” Albright grimaced slightly. “I’ve agreed to help out my cousin. It seems the authorities have been tracking a ring of smugglers for some time now. And for various reasons, they’ve begun to suspect that the smugglers have assistance from someone with connections and influence.” For a moment Albright seemed to weigh his words. No doubt sifting through how much he was able to say. Finally, he added, “There’s some conjecture it could be a gentleman. Perhaps even a peer of the realm.”

Marlin’s brows lifted. “Indeed?” His mind rushed to fill in the implications even as Albright spoke them.

“It’s a good thing you reported this latest development as quickly as you did or you might have been a suspect yourself.” Albright said it with a small smile that managed to do away with any possible offense.

Marlin studied the other man. Mild-mannered was how he’d best describe him at first glance. He had a quietness about him, an even-keeled way of speaking and acting that put a person at ease.

With such easygoing manners, he suspected Albright was the perfect choice to question members of the ton.

“I know you’ve already told the tale several times,” Albright said with an apologetic wince. “But if you wouldn’t mind…”

And so Marlin waded through the murky story again.

And yet again, he did his best to shield Jane in his retelling. There was no mention of her running away—no one looked good if he admitted he’d been chasing his terrified bride-to-be into the woods. And no mention of the kiss either.

He kept it a secret for her sake, of course. She’d be embarrassed, no doubt, even if they were to be married.

But he found he also kept it a secret for his own sake. He’d been hoarding the memory like a treasure he’d tucked into his inside pocket to pick apart and savor at his leisure.

When he was done speaking, however, Albright brought Jane up again, asking if she might have more information to shed on the matter.

Marlin’s insides tightened, a protective surge rising up fast and hot. “I don’t wish to see her involved in this matter.”

“No, of course,” Albright said. “It’s only that I’m acquainted with Jane and I thought perhaps she and I could speak in an informal manner, or?—”

“You’re acquainted?” It came out more abrupt than intended, and Albright’s eyes widened slightly.

Jane . He’d called her Jane. Not Lady Jane, but Jane.

An odd heat uncoiled through his chest and into his lungs. Just how well did Albright know his Jane? He eyed the man anew. He was handsome, undoubtedly. And with his smile and his manners, he couldn’t imagine any young lady would run from him in terror.

Before he could ask how he was acquainted with his fiancée, Everson joined them again, and it seemed he’d overheard. “Oh yes, of course Jane would undoubtedly be agreeable to speaking with Albright, don’t you think?”

Marlin could only stare blankly at Everson.

He’d called her Jane as well.

Everson turned to Albright. "You'll be seeing her at the ball tonight, will you not?"

Albright's expression brightened. "I’m sure I will. And you're right. It might put her at ease if we speak with her friends nearby."

Marlin turned from one man to the other. The world seemed to have gone topsy turvey. How were they both so well acquainted with his Jane?

And…her friends? What friends?

He had questions. Too many questions.

Questions that made him feel utterly ill at ease. But before he could ask a single one, they were interrupted.

“Albright, there you are!” The young, handsome, and notoriously charming Duke of Carver joined them, his much more standoffish cousin The Marquess of Kalvin strolling along behind him.

“Lord Marlin, what a pleasure to see you here,” Carver said.

Marlin greeted Carver in turn, but Kalvin seemed content to share a nod of acknowledgment.

Something told him that he and the Marquess would get along quite well.

“Meg and I were just talking about you,” Carver added. His smile was aimed at Marlin, and his demeanor was nothing if not pleased.

Once again…questions. Namely, who in blazes was Meg and why were they discussing him?

“You were?” he said.

“Of course. Meg’s convinced that you’ll surprise us all by attending the ball tonight.”

The ball. He supposed he may have received an invitation to a ball—but if he had, he’d tossed it. He glanced over at Everson, making a note to ask him about this blasted ball when the others left.

“She’s betting on you, you know,” Carver added with a conspiratorial wink.

Marlin was utterly flummoxed. “I beg your pardon?”

The Duke, who was at best an acquaintance, leaned into Marlin’s personal space and spoke in a quiet, knowing tone. “As I’m sure you well know, your fiancée is dear friends with my bride-to-be, and while my Meg would never divulge the details of their conversations, it’s enough to say I feel I ought to congratulate you, my friend.”

Marlin’s eyes widened. Then he blinked.

“Congratulate me?” he echoed like a ninny.

Carver clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Jane is a sweetheart, and if it’s not too bold to say, I’m truly glad to hear you two are becoming…better acquainted.”

At least some of Marlin’s confusion must have been evident because Carver winked. The man winked. “And fear not. I will not tell a soul you’re a romantic at heart.”

“I—” He cut himself off abruptly.

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

“Now.” The Duke leaned back so he was no longer invading Marlin’s space, and his smile was filled with good cheer. “I know your fiancée is expecting to see you tonight, so I suspect we well, eh?”

His laugh was knowing as he nudged Marlin’s elbow. Everson was smiling as well. Even Albright was giving Marlin an indulgent sort of smile.

Only the Marquess remained sober.

Marlin’s mind sifted through all Everson, Albright, and Carver had said.

Jealousy speared through him at the realization that every man present seemed to know his fiancée better than he did. And he had no doubt they frightened her less as well.

It was impossible to imagine anyone alive was capable of frightening her more than he had. As the other men began to talk amongst themselves, Marlin replayed every word the young Duke had spoken.

Carver’s fiancée Meg was a friend of Jane’s. That much he understood. And whatever it was Jane had told Carver’s fiancée…

Something warm and bright began to replace that dark jealousy.

I know your fiancée is expecting to see you tonight…

Hope flickered in his chest.

I will not tell a soul you’re a romantic at heart.

Romance, was that what they expected from him? Was that what she…wanted?

He straightened, adjusting his cravat as determination made his addled brain clear for the first time in a fortnight. “Everson.” He leaned over to speak to his good natured friend in private. “Tell me more about this evening’s ball.”