Not Wicked Enough (44 page)

Afterward, everyone walked outside into the bright afternoon sun. A few yards distant, several carriages waited to carry the guests and the Duke and Duchess of Mountjoy back to Bitterward for a reception.

She walked out with her aunt, but they’d only got partway down the path when she heard Lily call out, “Ginny!”

With a word to her aunt, Eugenia returned to her brother and her sister in law. She smiled and curtseyed. As any who knew Lily would expect, she was exquisitely dressed. She wore ivory silk overlaid with silver lace with tiny silver blue flowers knitted into it. “Yes, your grace?”

“Here.” Lily removed her Gypsy medallion and, before Eugenia could say a word, hung it around her neck. “For you, my dear Ginny.”

“But this is yours!”

Lily pulled Mountjoy closer to her. “I’ve all the good luck I need, Ginny. The medallion has done its work for me.” She pressed Ginny’s hand and they locked gazes. “It’s someone else’s turn now.”

“I thought you didn’t believe any of that,” Mountjoy said.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Lily asked. “The magic worked exactly as the Gypsy king said it would.” She patted his cheek with her free hand. “After all, the medallion brought me you. There’s no better magic than that, Mountjoy.”

“True,” he said, dropping a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

“Thank you, Lily,” Eugenia said. She touched the medallion, tracing a finger over the bow and arrow engraved on it. The metal was warm.

Lily leaned in to give her a kiss. “I’ll take good care of your brother, Ginny. I promise you.”

“I know you shall.”

“Be sure you sleep with the medallion under your pillow.”

She laughed. “I will.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

A few minutes later, Mountjoy had escorted his bride to their carriage and they were on their way to Bitterward where they were to say good-bye to their guests before leaving for Syton House and parts south.

Eugenia sniffled again as her brother’s carriage rolled away from the church. At the same time she was turning to rejoin her aunt, the Marquess of Fenris was heading for his carriage. Eugenia’s vision was blurred with the remnants of her tears and did not realize how close he was to her. Fenris was inattentive as well, for he collided with Eugenia on the path. If he’d not caught her, she might actually have been injured in a fall.

She found herself clasped in the arms of the man who had told Robert he was making the biggest mistake of his life, marrying her. The man who’d done everything in his power to prevent her marriage. When she had her feet underneath her, she pushed him away.

“I beg your pardon,” Fenris said.

Eugenia stepped away from him. “It’s nothing. I beg
your
pardon.” He was her new sister’s cousin, and therefore she felt she could not cut him dead. That did not mean she had to be anything but cool toward him. She didn’t like him and never would. She dropped him a curtsey and returned to her aunt.

“He seems a polite young man,” her aunt said when they were once again arm in arm. “And very handsome.”

“The man who nearly knocked me over?”

“I didn’t mean the vicar, dear.”

“I suppose.” Eugenia didn’t bother looking at Lord Fenris or she would have seen that he was watching her. She did at least lower her voice. “But I dislike him exceedingly.”

Coming in September 2012
from Berkley Sensation!