A Hellion’s Midnight Kiss

by Lauren Smith

  It amused Henry that he had become the protector of a bunch of women he had never met, if only in his own mind.

  Lord Warwick caught the amused look for he said, “You do not find this tedious, my lord?”

  “Of course not. I believe men have underestimated women’s intelligence to their own peril for many centuries now. We could learn from our ancient ancestors about women’s strength, for are they not the ones whom bear children, bring us into this world? They do what we men cannot and never will be able to—give life. Does that not make them the closest to our maker?”

  He say a flash of pompous sneer on Lord Warwick’s face. “I find it tedious. Women need not concern themselves with things like this and should turn their…underestimated intelligence on how to better to please their betters, particularly their husbands.”

  “I, for one, want an intelligent wife. I have large estates to run.” Henry watched the sneer drop off Lord Warwick’s face.

  “That is a good point. An intelligent woman would be an asset. However, my point stands. All the more reason she save her energies for her husband.” Before Henry could respond, Lord Warwick stood up. “Now, I must go. Lady Harrington, I would like a word with you in the hallway, if you please.”

  Henry greatly disliked his tone. The lady in question fairly bristled next to him. “I am not your wife to order about, sir.”

  “She is, in fact, under my care. So, if you would like to speak to her, you will do so in my presence or not at all,” he added.

  The fury flashing across Lord Warwick’s face had Henry standing and placing his body between him and Lady Harrington.

  “Fine. I had hoped to save her some embarrassment. Follow me,” he ordered.

  Henry shook his head, but proffered a hand to Lady Harrington. “Unless you would like me to go tell him to find a special place in Hades?” he said.

  She giggled, and a few of the other women followed suit. “It will…prevent…other trouble if I go to him now,” she said softly as she neared him and took his hand. She glanced at the sister, and he nodded to show he understood.

  They walked out to the hallway where Lord Warwick paced. He stopped abruptly. “What do you mean he is your beau,” Lord Warwick demanded while pointing at Henry.

  “It means he is calling on me, and we are seeing if we suit each other’s needs for a spouse. I would think one who has attained your age would understand that without me explaining,” Lady Harrington said, causing Henry to laugh abruptly.

  The man’s face turned almost puce with rage as he took a step toward her. He raised a hand to swing it at Lady Harrington, but Henry caught his wrist.

  “Do. Not. Touch. Her,” he said, his voice low, his own fury igniting. “I will have you brought up on charges. Her brother… I have a sense that young Richard will do more than that.”

  Lord Warwick tried to take his arm back, but Henry refused to let go. “If you touch any woman here, and that includes your sister, in any manner unbefitting a gentlemen and nobleman, I will make your life a living hell. This, I promise you.”

  Lord Warwick’s face became sneaky, his eyes narrowing and a sly smile crossing his lips. “I believe you,” he answered.

  Henry did not believe him, though. Still, he could hardly stand there holding the man’s wrist forever, so he let go and stayed where he was between Lady Harrington and Lord Warwick.

  “This is not over,” Lord Warwick said, pulling on his cuffs. “I shall be back.”

  “No, you shall not,” Henry said. “This place, this home, is off limits to you. if I ever hear that you even passed by this house, I am going to personally tell the local magistrate about your behavior. Do I make myself clear?”

  “You forget yourself, Lord Strathford. I am a viscount. You are naught but an earl.”

  “My father is a duke, as is Lady Harrington’s brother. I believe it is you who forgets himself. I will be having a talk with the duke forthwith of your behavior and attempt to strike his sister as you have refused to go quietly.”

  Lord Warwick paled at that and stalked off down the hallway, not waiting for the butler to let him out. The house shook as he slammed the door.

  Applause came from behind him, and he turned swiftly to find all the woman clapping. “I did not realize that we had an audience,” he said a bit taken back.

  “We all hate that man, including his sister,” Lady Daphne said. The heads nodding confirmed her assessment. “I have heard rumors…” She shuddered.

  “I will make haste to London today and inform His Grace of the danger to his sister.”

  “I do not need protecting,” she protested.

  “Yes, you do,” he said. “ You have a great will and a fighting spirit. However, he is bigger and stronger. I will teach you some defensive moves I learned while in the Orient fighting the Opium Wars before I was released. But it never hurts to have more protection.”

  She sucked in a breath, and her eyes became all starry. “You will?”

  “Yes, of course.” He liked that look in her eyes, but really, all he did was offer to help.

  “Will you teach all of us?” Lady Daphne asked. Something dark glittered in her eyes, and suddenly, he just knew. She had been beaten before. At least once. Probably multiple times by the same person.

  A determination filled him. “Yes. I shall. We can meet longer for your meetings starting next week. I must get to Lord Harrington today, or I would start immediately.” It would take having his estate manager take over more of the reigns, but these women obviously needed more protection.

  “Next week it is, then. Also, we will have a more proper meeting for you. That is the one we do with unwelcome or judgmental guests present, meaning Lord Warwick, of course.”

  “Of course. Now, I really must go. I know where Lord Harrington will be about the time I reach London as he is meeting with my father.”

  They all said their goodbyes, many friendly hand shakes and curtsies. It all overwhelmed him a little bit. That the barest of kindest was met with such profuse thanks made him angry at all of his gender. Women—no one really—should feel so scared to just live.

  Suddenly, he understood the suffragette movement. If this was how women lived daily, no wonder they grew tired of it.

  In the carriage, Lady Harrington remained quiet for the longest time. “I am going with you to London,” she said suddenly. “I would like to stop for some of my clothing, but I do have some which remain at my brother’s if we do not have time to stop. It is only a couple hours away, but in case we stay overnight.”

  He sat back into his seat and stared at her. “I do not believe you are thinking clearly. I would be pleased to have your company, and in point of fact, be relieved if you were with me and not here closer to Lord Warwick. However, that long in the carriage and a trip to London could ruin your reputation.”

  “Then we bring my maid, if we must. I do not care a fig for my reputation. It is my will to go with you to London, maid or no. In fact, I would prefer not. We will only have a problem if people find out.”

  “And your brother?”

  She turned away from him, staring out the crack in the curtain. The sunlight filtered in, the wisps of hair around her face glowing in the warmth. “Truthfully, I cannot say. He would not want to ruin my reputation, but neither would he want me to stay in harms way. He is a bit of a conundrum to me. One minute, the old fashioned lord of the manor who believes in his mastery over all, and the next, picking up a stray kitten and paying to have it saved for a child on our properties. Paying for its feed as well.” Her attention returned to him as he spoke.

  “We are not that far from London. We can make it and none be the wiser, if that is your wish. I do want to make it to your brother soon. Having my father there at the same time will also make things easier as I can tell them both of my intent to court you.”

  “Oh,” she breathed, her face coloring beautifully. “Then by all means, let us make haste.”

  He returned her grin, keeping watch on
her countenance as she again faced out. Well, she at least would accept his courtship. Would he prove worthy enough to marry?

  Chapter 5

  Colleen spent the rest of the trip getting to know Lord Strathford—dare she think of him as Henry now?—and found him to be a fount of knowledge about a plethora of things. From animal husbandry helpful to farmers, to weather patterns, to flora, he impressed her. And as soon as she had him speaking about trees and plants, his enthusiasm rivaled hers for the paranormal.

  She found it quite endearing and made a mental note to do more studies on herbs and local flora in order to have a more intelligent conversation with him.

  “Your aunt’s gardens are really amazing. The lilacs already being in full bloom an amazing feat this far north,” he enthused.

  Lilacs? Wait, the trees in front whence he came the night of the ball. “Is it? I did not know that. Her companion, Jane, is an avid gardener. She is the one who oversees everyone who works for them. She has studied since she was a young girl. I am afraid I have little knowledge, though I am willing to learn.”

  His eyes widened for a moment. “I have waxed on about the subject. I apologize if I have bored you, my lady.”

  “Not at all,” she said, injecting as much sincerity into her voice as she could. She really had enjoyed hearing his excitement. “Your face lights up when you speak of plants. It is a joy to see. I fear you will be hearing as much from me about the paranormal soon enough. In fact…” She gave him a playful grin. “Did you know my brother lives in one of the oldest places in England? It is built on the ruins of an old Anglo-Saxon stronghold, and many believe that they used the main buildings of one already there and simply built around it to make it bigger?”

  They shared another smile. God in heaven, when had she ever shared so many smiles with another person not in her family? And his eyes? Lord have mercy on her soul, but it made her want to explore what being a woman could really mean.

  “I did not know that.”

  “Well, there is a resident ghost from that time and everything. At least, that is the lore.”

  “I would say it must take a brave man to share his manor with a ghost,” Lord Strathford said.

  “Richard has no time for such nonsense, he says.” She shook her head good naturedly. “I have it on good authority that not everyone can see ghosts, so I shall not hold it against him.”

  “Then I shan’t either. On a more serious note, as we are nearing your brother’s townhouse—not the haunted home, I wager?—I think we should discuss Lord Warwick. Tell me, what do you know of him and his past times?”

  She opened her mouth then closed it, thinking. What did she know, really? She thought back to each meeting, going through them, in order. “I remember not liking him the moment I lay eyes on him. I do not know him very well, but I have learned of his type watching others. He is selfish, egotistical, and cruel. However, he tries to hide it in front of others.”

  “They usually do. Wonder why he slapped you in front of me?”

  “Because he thinks all men of your position believe in the subjugation of those beneath them, and that includes all women of any class. He has said as much. It probably shocked him that you stepped in. Though, if he had not set his mind to have me, then he probably would forgive you as he would see me as your property. As it is, he sees me as his, though I have said no to him, as has my aunt. But there again, as she is a woman, and the daughter of a merchant no less, he feels she has no right to deny him.”

  Colleen’s stomach churned. She hated Lord Warwick’s type, had seen it amongst all kinds. Always, there were people thinking they were better than others, hurting those less fortunate. She counted herself lucky to have had the father she did. Lord Warwick would stop at nothing to get his way, and she very much feared that included having her.

  Lord Strathford took her hand in his. “Whatever it takes, I will protect you from him. That is my promise to you,” he said, his eyes piercing into her very soul with their intenseness. “I know we have not known each other long enough for you to fully trust me, but I keep my promises.”

  She searched his eyes a moment longer, then listened to her instincts. Everything told her he was safe. “I have good instincts, my lord. My grandfather says it is from him. Something all successful merchants have. That way of knowing whom to trust immediately. As I did not trust Lord Warwick from the moment I met him, I do trust you.”

  He nodded, though she saw a flash of satisfaction in his eyes, and she thought relief as well. “I will do my best.”

  Looking away to put some space between her and the urge to kiss him, she swallowed and then took a calming breath. The carriage turned down the street to her brother’s home. The streetlamps marked the passing. Only a few more minutes until they were not alone anymore.

  “Lord Strathford, whatever happens, thank you for protecting me and my friends from Lord Warwick.”

  “Of course. It is a privilege and an honor.” The carriage rolled to a stop, and they both stared at each for a long moment. Their faces became closer as they leaned in.

  “We have stopped,” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he answered.

  The tension in the carriage had her wanting more time alone, yet being relieved when the footman opened the door for them. Heat suffused her face as she stepped out into the sun. Yes, that would be her excuse. All the sun today.

  “Good morning, Harold,” she said delightedly when her favorite stable hand came to speak to the driver about where to put the horses.

  “My lady,” he said awkwardly. She frowned. “What is it?”

  “I am sure my lady would like to take her guest into the study with His Grace,” he said stiffly.

  “Oh, my, yes. Lord Strathford has come to tell my brother he will be protecting me from a would be attacker. He is quite the hero, Harold. Please make sure to give his horses extra oats as we cannot stay. I must get back and protect my friends as well.”

  “My lord,” Harold said warmly, and with a nod then walked to the front of the carriage.

  “Are you friends with all your servants,” Lord Strathford asked. His tone was friendly and curious, and she sensed no malice.

  “No, but I am with a few. The people who care for my horses see me almost as much as my personal maid did when I had one. Now I have Sue, but she is also a helper to my aunts when they need another, and she helps in the kitchens.” Colleen shrugged. “My personal maid, now she was a real friend. However, she married an underbutler for another family, and I lost her to them. I gave her excellent references of course. But how I miss her,” she added wistfully. It had happened right before her parents’ death, as well, making it harder for her to not have the familiar face to put things right again.

  Grief passed over her anew. “I miss my parents,” she said to Lord Strathford and took his arm as they walked up the stairs.

  He placed a hand over hers. “I am sorry,” he said gently.

  Then the butler opened the door. “Lady Colleen!” he exclaimed. “We were not expecting you. I will have Janice fix your room immediately.”

  “I do not believe that will be necessary, William. I must go back to Aunt Julie’s tonight. I have friends I must take care of from a wicked lord.”

  “Quite so, my lady. I will have cook make you a basket to take on your return journey then.” He scooted off with a bow.

  “Come,” she said to Lord Strathford. “My brother’s study is this way. If he is having one of his boring meetings, it will be in there.”

  “As it happens, sister mine, I am having one of my so called boring meetings.”

  “Richard!” She ran to him, happily, giving him a hug.

  “Colleen, as delighted as I am to see you, I am a bit surprised, especially in seeing who has escorted you here.” Underneath his welcome, she heard the implacable brother who would not be distracted until he had answers.

  “Lord Strathford came with me to one of my paranormal meetings this morning. There was some unple
asant business we want to talk about with you.”

  “It is a rather emergency, I think. At least, it is imperative that you know what is happening. I will also inform her Aunt Julie, but I wanted to speak with you and my father as well.

  “Henry!” another man called out as he exited the study as if on cue. She remembered his voice from the night before.

  “Father. It is good to see you. Can we all retreat into the study?” he asked, much to her relief.

  She felt a bit exposed out in the hallway. Though she trusted her servants, it embarrassed her to have been attacked in the first place.

  “The Duke of Canterbury is here as well as the Viscount of Yorkshire for a business meeting…and as luck would have it, they brought their wives. I shall have a very full study now.” Her brother spoke as he walked, so about the time he said wives, she saw into the room.

  Two very stylish women sat next to their husbands. Both had looks of adoration on their faces as they gazed at their men, but the men returned that. Yes, for that, she could give up the notion of being alone. She had very much enjoyed her short acquaintance with Her Grace and the viscountess.

  “If rumors are true, the justice ones, then the Duke of Canterbury would be a welcome asset to the cause I bring before you,” Lord Strathford said as they entered the room. “And for the record, I give no credence to the more unsavory ones. They did not match up to what I know of him.”

  “And what cause would that be?” one of the men asked.

  “To protecting women from a violent lord,” Lord Strathford said simply.

  Richard sent her a questioning look. She nodded and said, “Including me, I am afraid.”

  She was unprepared for the explosion from her brother. “Who would dare attack the sister of a duke?” he raged.

  “Lord Warwick. He also has made his intentions of marrying me known frequently, despite I and Aunt Julie’s continued dismissal of him.”

  Silence reigned around the room for a full minute in which she checked out all the faces around her. You could have heard her hair pin drop on the carpet, it was so quiet in there.