Page 36 of Pride of Valor
“Tchaa—.” Sidmouth made a rude noise and shoved him hard back against the wall. “Before you take the coward’s way out, you have a job, no, a duty, tonight.”
Richard again was at a loss to guess the next twisting turn of the duke’s logic.
“The duchess and I have a suite, and I will personally see to Nicholas and Nana’s safety with us.”
Richard let out a hard breath. “Thank you. I was so worried about the fear the boy has of his uncle. He feels safe with you. I wish…”
Sidmouth cut him off again. “Harriet needs protection, which I assume you will take upon yourself, since you seem to be a dab hand at slipping into her bed whenever you assume the rest of the household is deaf and blind.”
Richard’s neck and face flushed with heat at the realization they’d fooled no one with their trysts. He had the good grace to remain quiet while Sidmouth outlined what he expected of him.
“I’m putting one of my drivers outside her door. You will remain inside to make sure nothing happens to my cousin. She is unbearably dear to me. We grew up together in the nursery at Bocollyn. If anything happens to her, I shall hold you personally responsible.”
After long moments of silence, Richard finally recovered the use of his tongue. “I will guard her with my life.”
“Make sure that you do, because if even the tiniest hair on her head is harmed, you will pay with your life. I’ll see to it, even if I have to hire an assassin.
“Yes, sir.” Richard decided a military response was the safest one, considering the duke’s current state of anger.
“And, Bourne…”
“Yes?”
“Whatever is between the two of you? Settle it tonight.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make it clear to Lady Blandford I’m returning to my ship, and my other life, without any further impositions on her, um, feelings.”
Sidmouth gave him another hard shove.
“That’s not what I meant, Bourne, and you know it. You need to face up to what’s between the two of you.”
Richard wondered just how in the hell tall the duke was, because he towered over him in his rage.
“And yes, I know it’s hard to lay bare your heart to a woman, but buck up, man. You’ve faced Barbary pirates. Surely you can handle a marchioness.”
Harriet rearrangedthe dark green fall of silk of her evening dress to cascade down from her knees and slanted Richard a wary look out of the corner of her eye. He’d slipped back into the box with Sidmouth just before the curtain rose on the second act of “Othello.” The way he leaned away in the chair next to her made her decision even harder to share with him later. She knew he was distancing himself to please her cousin.
She could only imagine what Sidmouth had said to make her Marine - yes, by God, he was “her” Marine - so eager to distance himself in the box. Sidmouth had drawn her aside earlier and explained his security plans for their night at Pearce’s Hotel.
Of course, his explanation made sense, but all the same, she’d bristled at his suggestion that Richard should spend the night in her room. She hated that he assumed she was incapable of defending herself, but she also desperately wanted a final night with Richard before she accepted the Viscount Grantham’s marriage proposal.
She leaned close to his ear, even though he’d scooted so far away, she feared he might tip over his chair. “If you’re concerned, I can assure you I did bathe today.”
He threw her a dark look and settled back squarely onto his chair, curled fists on his knees.
She took his hand closest to her and loosened his tense fingers to curl around hers. She bent her head and whispered low. “You might as well relax and enjoy the final acts. Sidmouth said you’re to be stuck with me all night.”
He turned over the palm of her hand and traced the lifeline that began between her thumb and forefinger. “Is that what you want?”
She didn’t trust herself to answer, but instead simply nodded her head.
“I’ll return to my ship in the morning.”
She shook her head furiously and scrubbed away a tear that slid down her cheek.
“You know I’ll turn into a liability to you and Nicholas if I stay. We only thought we were being discreet. Apparently, everyone suspects us, including your ex-brother-in-law, Lord Blandford. He came close to calling me out tonight.”
Sidmouth sneakeda look at Nicholas in the chair between him and his duchess. The child seemed in better spirits now than when he’d first realized his uncle was in the theatre. He’d so utterly charmed the duchess that Sidmouth wondered why he hadn’t hired a little boy earlier to soften his cantankerous mate.