‘What sort of husband would I be, to remain in London when my wife has been brutally attacked?’
‘When did you arrive?’
‘Twelve hours after you were attacked. Ben came to fetch me.’ He traced swirling patterns on her arm with the fingertips of one hand, holding the squirming puppy against his chest with the other. ‘Harri, I thought I was going to lose you.’
When she sent him a probing look, Marc realised he’d allowed his vulnerability to show. He had promised himself, made a bargain with God that if she recovered he would never let her see how much she had come to mean to him. It was the only way he could think of to keep her safe. And yet already he was having trouble keeping to his side of the bargain. It was simply the way things were when it came to Harriet.
‘Nonsense, it would take more than a few inept thieves to do away with me. Here, give him to me.’ She reached out her arms and took Freddie. ‘He just wants to be cuddled.’ She stroked the spiky ruff on the delirious puppy’s head. ‘Did they manage to steal anything?’
‘Nothing of consequence.’ Now wasn’t the time to tell her about the mermaid. ‘But you should rest. I’ll call for Lady Calder to see to your comfort.’
‘I’ve been resting for three days, so you tell me.’
‘Harri, I hope you are not going to be difficult.’
‘Me?’ Her sweetly innocent smile immediately set him on his guard. ‘When have I ever caused you the slightest trouble?’
‘When you sought to confront two burglars, instead of raising the alarm and calling to Swift to intercede. What were you thinking?’
‘Oh, don’t scold me for that. I acted on impulse. I thought they would take to their heels when they heard me approaching. Besides, they would have had less opportunity to steal our possessions if I confronted them immediately, rather than waiting for Mr. Swift.’
‘Well, you were quite wrong to act so recklessly.’ Marc glowered as he recalled the narrowness of her escape. ‘And in case you think I am over-reacting, you should be aware that were it not for little Freddie, we would not be having this conversation now.’
‘Freddie?’ She caressed the puppy’s ears. ‘I remember him barking and alerting me to the intruders’ presence. Did he do something more?’
Marc also stroked the puppy’s head as he endeavoured to marshal his thoughts. How much should he reveal to her in her present fragile condition?
‘Tell me, Marc,’ she said softly. ‘It would be better if I knew the truth. Otherwise, my imagination will only run riot.’
She was probably right about that, and it decided him. ‘Freddie bit the ankle of the thug who stabbed you. Swift saw it from the stairs, but couldn’t reach you in time to prevent it.’ She gasped, then looked upon the puppy with an expression of glowing pride. ‘Freddie’s action caused the man to miss his mark,’ he concluded, thankful she was too preoccupied with the puppy to ask what part of her the intruder had in his sights.
‘He must be rewarded.’
‘Seeing you regain your senses is sufficient reward for him.’ The puppy confirmed Marc’s words by squirming on his back, the length of his growing body pressed against Harriet’s, paws pointing skywards, and eyes closed in ecstasy as she tickled his tummy. ‘As it is for me,’ he finished softly. ‘But Harri, you must promise me never to undertake anything so foolhardy again.’
‘It’s hardly likely the villains will return.’
‘Nevertheless, I still require your undertaking.’
‘Oh, very well then, if it means so much to you, then I promise.’
‘Thank you.’
‘How long have you been sitting beside me?’
‘Why, since I got here, of course.’
She looked as though she wanted to raise her brows before recalling that it would hurt and stopping herself. ‘Why?’ she asked.
‘I’ve been asking myself the same question,’ he replied lightly.
‘You must be exhausted. You are the one who should rest.’
‘Later.’
‘Now, Marc. You look done in, and your valet would die of shame if he could see the condition of that neckcloth. Remove it!’
‘Harri, now is hardly the time to—’
‘I need you to lie here beside me. If you still insist upon bearing me company, I want you to be comfortable.’
‘Sweetheart, much as I would like to oblige you, I hardly think—’
She expelled a frustrated sigh. ‘Fustian, Marc, why must you always argue?’
With a sigh of his own, Marc stood and removed his waistcoat and neckcloth.
‘And your shirt and hessians,’ her voice was surprisingly forceful given the amount of time she had lain unconscious.
Marc did as she bid with ill-disguised impatience and stood before her, barefooted and bare-chested. ‘Satisfied?’ he asked.
‘For the moment,’ she replied sweetly. ‘You would doubtless be more comfortable if you removed your breeches as well, but I can’t risk shocking my family should one of them happen to enter the room while you are resting.’
‘I believe you are enjoying yourself at my expense,’ he said, unable to prevent his lips from forming into a reluctant smile. ‘And I can’t even administer the thrashing you so richly deserve, because of your indisposition.’ He wagged a finger at her in dire warning. ‘But don’t imagine you have escaped your punishment. It has merely been postponed.’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
‘Hussy!’
‘Now come. Push Freddie aside and take his place. You look exhausted.’
He did as she asked but couldn’t sleep. He was acutely conscious of Harriet lying submissively beside him, still weak but thankfully now wide awake. Still furious with himself for not having done a better job of keeping her safe, he felt an overwhelming urge to tell her all the things he knew it would be disastrous to put into words. Marc vowed his wife would never learn the true nature of his feelings for her, feelings that had arisen as a direct result of his admiration for her spirit. He would conquer those feelings in time and return their relationship to its previous footing. But this time, he wouldn’t leave her unprotected, not until he had sought out the miscreants and subjected them to his own uncompromising brand of justice.
‘Go to sleep, Marc!’
Her voice jolted him out of his introspective thoughts. ‘Not unless you do.’
‘I’ve been sleeping for three days. Now it is your turn.’
Before he could stop her, Harriet lifted her head and rested it on his bare chest. With no will left to protest, he raised his arm, draped it around her shoulders, and pulled her against him. And then, common sense be damned, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Chapter Eighteen
Harriet sensed Marc’s resistance melt away as exhaustion claimed him. Exhilaration swamped her when he voluntarily circled her shoulders with his arm and fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as she rested her head on his chest. Her body felt as though it had been trampled by an angry herd of buffalo but it was worth the discomfort because it had brought Marc rushing to her side. She was his wife and he had a duty to protect her. She adjured herself not to read anything more into his actions.
Lady Calder entered the room probably an hour or more later, and Marc was still sound asleep. Harriet’s hair was spread across her husband’s chest and the fingers of one hand tangled possessively in the wiry hair that adorned it. She placed a finger to her lips when she saw the joyous expression light up the other woman’s face and realised she was about to give voice to her relief and happiness.
‘Shush, he’s asleep.’
‘Welcome back, Harri,’ Lady Calder whispered hoarsely, grinning from ear to ear as she managed to restrain her delight. ‘How do you feel, my dear?’
‘Sore, but otherwise not too bad.’
‘Excuse me if I don’t take your word for it. We shall let the doctor decide.’
‘Not you, too. Marc has already scolded me until my ears burned.’
> ‘And so he should.’ Lady Calder placed a hand on Harriet’s forehead and nodded with evident satisfaction. ‘The fever has all gone, I think. You will start to feel better.’
‘I am better.’
‘Don’t be difficult, Harri.’ Lady Calder perched herself on the chair beside the bed. ‘Marc has refused to budge from your side for two days. I felt quite sorry for the doctor, who was only doing his job. It was obvious Marc wanted to throttle him because he couldn’t say when you would wake. The poor man was terrified.’
‘He feels responsible for what happened.’
‘There will be time enough to resolve the issue of culpability later. For now we must concentrate upon restoring you to health. I’m glad you’ve persuaded Marc to sleep. Now you must tell me the truth about how you feel.’
‘Weak, but perfectly lucid. I don’t doubt I shall recover my strength as soon as I’m able to leave this room.’
‘Which will not be for some days yet.’
‘Nonsense! I can’t afford to luxuriate in bed.’
‘As well as a second violent blow to the same region of your head, you have also incurred a deep wound to your thigh, which required stitching. It won’t support your weight for some while, and there’s nothing even you can do about that.’
‘Oh, of all the abominable timing! Things have reached a vital point in the cider mill.’
‘I doubt you’ll be permitted to go anywhere near the place.’ There was an annoying expression of lively amusement in Lady Calder’s eye as she glanced at Marc, his features as fiercely determined as ever, even in repose.
‘We shall see about that!’ Harriet said hotly, forgetting to lower her voice in her agitation.
‘Calm yourself, my dear, and tell me what else I can do for your comfort.’ Lady Calder smiled at some private thought as she plumped the pillows behind Harriet’s head.
‘I’m fine for now. We should allow Marc to sleep for a little longer.’
‘All right.’ She held a cup of water to Harriet’s parched lips. ‘I will inform the rest of the family that you are awake but won’t let them in here until Marc rouses.’
‘Thank you.’ Harriet possessively tightened her grip on Marc’s chest.
‘Come along, little one, let’s leave these two to rest.’
Lady Calder kissed Harriet’s brow, scooped Freddie up and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Alone with her thoughts, Harriet didn’t immediately sleep. Instead, she feasted her eyes on her husband’s sleeping form, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. She took in every inch of his body, relishing this unexpected opportunity to become more closely acquainted with this virtual stranger who now ruled her world. A compelling air of absolute authority clung to him even in repose. She sighed, unable to conceive of a day when she would be able to get the better of him, much less win his esteem. And yet she recalled the expression of deep despair on his face when she had first opened her eyes and he hadn’t realised she was conscious. Hardly the reaction of a man with no feelings.
Harriet’s mind continued to whirl as questions without answers assailed her from all angles. It was only as sleep finally claimed her that she reached a decision. Suspecting she knew what was in her husband’s heart would never be enough for her. She had told him the truth when she said she had never intended to marry for anything other than the deepest, most abiding love. Nothing had changed in that respect.
Except everything had.
She was married, and it just so happened she loved the man she was married to with a passion that stole her breath away. She would find no peace until she forced him to admit to his true feelings for her. She absolutely had to know what was in his heart—even if she had misjudged the matter and her love wasn’t returned. Gingerly she lifted her head and placed a delicate kiss on his lips.
‘Sleep well, Your Grace,’ she murmured, smiling with determination. ‘You need to be rested because I have my own ideas upon the course our marriage should take, and I can be at least as stubborn as you are.’
She then lowered her head onto the pillow that was his chest and, with a protective hand resting in the vicinity of his heart, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
A tap on the door roused Marc from a deep sleep. He had no idea how long he’d remained there with Harri’s head on his chest. He had only intended to close his eyes for a few minutes but could see through a gap in the curtains that the daylight had almost gone. He felt invigorated and assumed he must have slept for at least three hours. The knock disturbed Harri, who opened her eyes and yawned.
‘How are you?’ he asked, ignoring the second, more persistent knock as he examined his wife’s eyes for clarity.
‘Completely recovered and tired of being confined to bed.’
Marc frowned. ‘It’s immediately obvious to me that you have no intention of doing as you are told.’
‘Nonsense, I won’t give the slightest trouble.’
Marc swallowed back an oath. ‘Which means you intend to do precisely as you please.’ He placed a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head upwards until she was forced to look into his determined eyes. ‘I wouldn’t recommend you try it, m’dear. I warn you, you have yet to encounter me when I am in a seriously bad mood.’
‘So, you intend to bully me.’ The light of battle gleamed in her remarkable eyes.
‘I merely wish to establish who’s in control here, and it most assuredly is not you.’
‘Has anyone ever told you that you are a tyrant?’
Marc struggled to hide his amusement. ‘No one but you would dare. But I’m serious, Harri, you will do as I ask and there’s an end to the matter.’
Harriet folded her arms and pouted. ‘Have it your way.’ He could have sworn she added for now beneath her breath.
‘We had best admit your family before they beat the door down.’
‘Yes, let them in, by all means.’
Before Marc could even pull his shirt over his head, the door opened to admit Lady Calder, Charlotte and the boys. Giles hovered behind them.
‘We thought we would call together, Harri,’ Lady Calder said, ‘and get it over with for you in one go. Your mother is still in her bed but knows you are awake. That has eased her mind.’
‘How are you, Harri?’ Charlotte asked. ‘You gave us all quite a scare.’
Harriet welcomed her family with smiles of reassurance, kissing each of them in turn. Marc admired the way in which she allayed their fears by turning their questions back on them, enquiring after their recent activities. Only James appeared immune to her tactics and took up the chair at her side, clutching her hand and contributing little to the conversation.
Harriet accepted a cup of tea from the maid who had entered the room and managed a small slice of toast at James’s urging. Marc, now clothed again in his rumpled shirt, joined the boys in making short work of the rest of the delicacies loaded on the trolley.
Marc kept Harriet within his sights as he spoke to the boys, but he was preoccupied and suspected that it showed. His wife was out of danger and it was now time for some pressing questions to be answered. Unaccustomed to idleness, only his fears for Harriet’s safety had prevented him from addressing those questions before now. As soon as he finished his tea, he excused himself, having warned the rest of them not to tire his wife. With a significant glance in Giles’s direction, he then left the room, his friend following in his wake.
‘I need to clean myself up, Giles.’ Marc glanced down at his rumpled clothing and stroked the whiskers on his chin. ‘Then we shall discuss the situation. The drawing room is not often used, so we might commandeer it for our purposes without causing inconvenience. I shall meet you there directly.’
‘Very well. As always, I’m entirely at your service.’
Marc headed for the attics and attended to his ablutions, shaving for the first time in three days before donning clean clothing. He was conscious of Swift hovering in the adjoining room, awaiting the opportu
nity to explain himself. Marc, his expression flint-like, extracted a modicum of revenge by leaving him to dwell upon his fate for a little longer. Only when he strode towards the stairs did he bark an order at Swift to join him in the drawing room.
‘Well,’ he said, seating himself opposite Giles in front of the fire and leaving the hapless schoolmaster to stand before him. ‘What have you to say for yourself?’
‘Firstly,’ Swift replied, appearing remarkably unruffled in the face of Marc’s concentrated fury, ‘I rejoice in the news that Her Grace is recovering.’
‘It’s as well for you that she has regained her senses, since it’s your ineptitude that exposed her to danger in the first place. You were engaged as more than a mere tutor, as you are well aware. I am paying you handsomely to keep Her Grace safe and yet you failed me at the first hurdle. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn’t dismiss you immediately?’
‘I have no excuses to offer you, Your Grace. Her Grace heard the intruders first and didn’t call for my assistance.’
‘So my wife only has herself to blame for almost being killed?’ Marc’s tone was glacial. ‘I warned you she was independently-minded. You should have been better prepared.’
‘I realise that, Your Grace. I did manage to get to her just minutes after she came downstairs but the puppy interceded before I could.’
Marc flexed a brow, his temper cooling in the face of Swift’s obvious anxiety. ‘You were also unable to apprehend the villains.’
‘My first consideration was for Her Grace.’
Marc curled his upper lip. ‘Better late than never.’
Few people had the courage to speak up for themselves when Marc was in such a dire frame of mind. Swift’s calm explanation of events, along with his obvious frustration at failing to protect Harriet, took the edge off Marc’s anger.
‘All right, we will leave it at that for now. Have you had Sanderson’s and Jessup’s movements observed since the break-in, as I instructed?’
A Duke by Default: Dangerous Dukes Vol 3 Page 20