Page 18 of Brazen Rogue
He was jealous. That was as clear as the water in which they swam, but to talk down to her, tell her who she ought to speak to, and warn her against being a light-skirt, well, she would not stand for it.
She had not arrived at his estate on purpose, and nor would she allow him to believe his telling her off, warning her away from young Marcus—as if she would fall at the young stableman's feet because the marquess was no longer interested—was an insult.
In truth, she had sworn off all men and would never marry. If she found a position in America that kept her safe and paid well, there was no reason why she would look for a keeper, especially if that keeper were a jealous cur like his lordship.
She strolled into the back gardens and looked over to the stables, waving to Marcus, who held a horse's hoof while cleaning out the muck. He smiled at her and waved back before she continued to walk toward a pretty hedged garden that she had not inspected before.
When she reached the secluded part of the park, she found the hedge was much higher than she first thought, well above one story, and dense. She supposed it was very old from the looks of it.
She walked through a small gate cut into the hedge and found a sinking garden in a rectangular shape. Stone steps led down to a central pond of the same shape, and the beauty of the oasis left her speechless.
Tomorrow she would bring Lady Alice here for her lessons instead of the schoolroom. It seemed no one in attendance of the house party had found the hidden garden, and she hoped it would stay that way.
"Good afternoon, Miss Hall," a voice she had not expected to hear here said from behind. She turned and found Marcus standing inside the gate, his hat twisted between his hands.
"Good afternoon, Marcus. I hope your day is going well," she said, unsure why the groom had come to speak to her and not liking how nervous he was about the fact.
"I wanted to come to talk to you, to explain that helping you find the river the other day did not mean anything. I have a sweetheart, you see. I love her and will marry her, so I didn't want you to think that I would do her wrong."
Reign held up her hand, halting his words. Mortification swamped her, and anger, not at Marcus but at one nosy marquess, filled her blood.
"I never thought anything of the kind, and I would appreciate you telling me who put these doubts and thoughts into your head," she demanded, knowing exactly who had warned the groom off and embarrassed everyone involved in the interim.
Marcus cringed, glancing over his shoulder. "I would prefer not to say, miss, but I do hope we can be friends, Miss Hall."
Reign sighed and prayed for patience. She would murder Lord Lupton-Gage when she saw him next. "We were always friends, Marcus, and nothing more. Please do not dwell on the idea that I fancied you. I did not. I only ever wished for a friend, no more than that."
Relief poured from the young man, and her determination to eradicate his lordship grew.
"Well, I'm relieved to hear that, Miss Hall. I wish you a pleasant afternoon," he said before leaving her alone in the garden.
She closed her eyes a moment, thinking of what she would use to knock his lordship over his thick skull. Without further thought, she stormed from the gardens and headed straight for the house. Thankfully most of the guests were on the side lawn playing various games, and the house remained eerily quiet.
Reign came across Chambers, his lordship's valet, coming out of the library. "Chambers, is his lordship in?" she asked, striding toward the door.
"He is, Miss Hall, but he is not available at present," he said.
Reign ignored him and continued entering the room and finding Lord Lupton-Gage behind his desk. The sight of him caught her off guard, and she steeled herself to remain angry and not ogle the handsome monster.
He held a quill, and he quickly scribbled on parchment. The shirt he wore rolled partway up, revealing strong, muscular arms that had once lovingly held her.
She longed to be held by them still, if she were truthful.
Annoying cad.
She shut the door and locked it before striding over to the desk. He leaned back in his chair, watching her, and she narrowed her eyes. Did the fiend know why she was angry and expected her?
She leaned on the desk and tried to tower over him but knew with the several feet of mahogany that separated them, it was unlikely to work.
"So now you're warning off the servants from courting me? How dare you when I liked Marcus too," she lied, pinning him to his chair with a steely gaze. Or at least her best attempt at one.
"So you did fancy the groom. I knew it," he stated, leaning back in his chair and glaring. "As I said, such relationships under my roof are prohibited."
Reign would later wonder what came over her, but having had enough of his detachment and seeming jealousy, she wanted to test him, to prove how much he was fibbing to himself.
She stormed about the desk, leaned down, and kissed him.
Hard.
