The Earl's Return (Marriage Mart Mayhem) by Callie Hutton

people began moving toward the door, and Redgrave was happy to see the dowager duchess among them. With her eagle eye in the other room he might get a chance to speak with Lady Mary privately.
    “Since most of the card players are among the older guests, perhaps the younger set would enjoy a game of charades.” Lady Breckenridge eyed their little group. “Lady Mary, you are always the first to offer to play the game.”
    Lady Mary grinned. “Indeed. Let us split into two teams. Shall we do the gentlemen against the ladies?”
    “No. The ladies are so much better. We can’t let them have the advantage,” Lord Montrose said.
    Murmurs of agreement had them splitting up, Miss Stoneridge grabbing him by the arm and announcing she would be in whatever group Lord Redgrave was in because he was so intelligent. In any event, he ended up on Lady Mary’s team, with Miss Stoneridge gabbing away while they waited for the slips of paper to be made ready for the game.
    They played several rounds of what Redgrave had always considered a silly game but, not wanting to be a bad sport, he went along with the nonsense. Just watching Lady Mary enjoying herself was enough to keep him entertained. She glowed with excitement as she guessed a clue, her tongue running over her plump lips when she was trying to discover what the player was attempting to say.
    Once the group had gone through all the clues, a tea tray was carried in by a footman. Instead of partaking of the refreshments, Lady Mary slipped out the terrace doors, giving Redgrave the opportunity he’d been waiting for all evening.
    He laid his cup down and headed to the door. Miss Stoneridge stepped in front of him. “My lord, wasn’t that the most fun ever?”
    Groaning inwardly, he stopped and chatted with the girl for a much longer time than he would have liked. Eventually, Danvers joined them, and Redgrave used that as a reason to excuse himself. He kept his eyes straight ahead before anyone else could stop him. He opened the terrace doors and stepped into the darkness.
    Several torches had been lit, casting shadows over the grounds. He studied the area for a while until he saw Lady Mary sitting on a stone bench under a bay laurel tree, several steps from the terrace. Her head tipped back, she seemed to be studying the scant stars in the night sky.
    …
    Mary knew the minute Redgrave left the house and stepped onto the terrace. It hadn’t taken him long to spot her and head in her direction. She didn’t want to talk to him about Claremont. She still hadn’t gotten over the shock of learning he was back from the Continent and betrothed to her childhood friend. She thought—indeed had hoped—he would never return to remind her of her foolishness.
    “Enjoying the stars, Lady Mary?” Redgrave’s silky voice floated over her like warm honey. The man did have a wonderful tone.
    “Yes. The drawing room was growing stifling, and I thought a breath of fresh air would do me well.”
    He settled alongside her. “Have you studied the stars?”
    She shook her head. “No. Mother hired excellent tutors for us as young girls, but astronomy was not part of our lessons. Then when we attended finishing school, our teachers were more focused on subjects that made a young lady more appealing to a husband, such as singing, water colors, embroidery, and dancing.”
    He offered that slow smile that made her stomach quiver. “And do you suppose that is what a husband is looking for in a wife?”
    “No.” She laughed. “I always thought there were more important things a wife could be to her husband than what they taught us.”
    “Such as?”
    “Smart, with an understanding of the world, the ability to keep track of household accounts. She would also need to be able to handle the servants in a kind but firm way. Make a pleasant and welcoming home for her family. Things like that.”
    He studied her for a long time, then looked at the sky. “I see Ursa Minor up