Page 75 of The Moonstone Marquess
“We’ll see about that.”
She ignored Richard, saving her malicious sneer for him alone, and returned to her admirers.
“That woman hates you,” Richard muttered. “What did you do to her?”
“Went off to war and left her behind. Lost my arm. Not that its loss was any of her business. But I suppose she believes it is not punishment enough for my not asking her to marry me before I went off to fight Napoleon.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Are you jesting? Not for a moment. I was never going to ask her, and she knew it. I took pains to be clear about it before I ever touched her. I do not lie about my purpose because it is important the lady knows my intentions and comes to me willingly.”
“She may have hoped to change your mind. A woman’s heart is a fragile thing, is it not?”
“Yes, but that woman has no heart.” She was no innocent when he first touched her. “Indeed, she herself broke several hearts and gained quite a reputation before I ever came along. Richard, do not be a fool. She is never to be trusted. She thinks first, last, and always of herself. Just keep away from her, will you? Better yet, come back to Westgate Hall with me. You will recover from one night without a woman. But you will not recover from spending one night with her.”
“What makes you think she will have me? She ignored me and spoke only to you.”
“She will pounce on you if you give her the slightest encouragement because you are connected to me. If she hurts you, then in her mind, she is also hurting me.” He did not give Richard the choice, just took him by the arm and urged him out.
They rode back to Westgate Hall, had a few drinks, and then retired. But Cormac knew his friend was going to do something foolish. It proved true when Cormac knocked on his door an hour later to check on him. The door was unlocked, so he looked in. “Bloody idiot.”
Richard’s bedchamber was empty.
He went downstairs and strode to the stable. The horse he had given Richard to ride during his visit was not in its stall.
“Bloody, bloody fool.” He raked a hand through his hair, debating whether to go after him. “No,” he finally decided. Perhaps the stubborn dolt needed to learn from experience. Cormac just hoped Richard would not be too badly burned.
*
When Richard stillhadn’t returned by daybreak, Cormac went to the inn to fetch him.
“Good morning, Lord Burness. What can I do for you?” the genial clerk at the front desk asked with a beaming smile.
“Good morning.” Good heavens, who could be so chipper this early in the day? “I’m looking for my friend, Lord Crawford.”
“Ah.” The young man blushed, and then glanced around to make certain no one was in hearing distance. They were the only ones at the front entry, since it was barely after sunrise and the well-heeled guests would not be up this early. “I believe he is visiting Lady Whitford.”
A polite way of describing what those two were doing.
Richard was no longer innocent, but Cormac had no doubt Seline had taught him an eye-popping thing or two last night. “Send one of your lads to wake him. He is to return home to Crawford Hall this morning, and his carriage awaits.”
“Very good, my lord.” The clerk swallowed hard and then winced. “The lady has a bit of a temper.”
“I have been on the receiving end of it a time or two.”
“And survived unscathed?” The young man gave a nervous laugh. “I had better be the one to knock at her door. You see, Constable Angel is my uncle. She may demand he be summoned to arrest me for disturbing her peace. He won’t, of course. I am family.”
“What’s your name?”
“Thaddius, my lord. Thaddius Angel.”
“Good to meet you, Thaddius. It seems everywhere I turn, I meet another Angel. The constable. The bank manager. The tavern owner. How many of you are there in Moonstone Landing?”
Thaddius laughed. “At least twenty, I should think. More if you count the surrounding villages.”
“Well, I shall certainly stand by you if Lady Seline is so deranged as to demand you be arrested or discharged.”
“You needn’t worry about me. I’ll be owner of this inn someday. Mr. Egdon is not going to discharge me.”
