Page 37 of Master of Games
Her body was too new to lovemaking to consider entering her again. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t kiss her. Show her just how much attention he intended to shower upon her.
But just as he was about to tell her so, a loud, quick knock sounded at the door.
“My lady,” a male servant called from the other side of the door. “Men approach with weapons drawn.”
Caden was on his feet in a moment crossing to the door.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tabbie gasped in a breath as she jumped out of the bed. “What?” she gasped even as Caden threw open the door.
John stood on the other side.
“How many?” Caden asked, drawing himself up.
“Five, we think,” John answered. “The footmen can see to the danger, but I wanted her ladyship to know.”
“Good man,” Caden slapped John on the shoulder. “But I’ll see to the interlopers myself.”
“Caden,” she gasped, shaking her head. He’d gone mad. “You can’t.”
“Of course, I can. What’s a man for if not for this?”
“But,” she looked down at his bandaged arm. And then she looked at her footman. “John, surely His Grace need not put himself in danger. Not so soon after his injury.”
John looked at her with sympathetic eyes but did not answer. Which she should have suspected. He was not arguing with a duke. “Caden,” she started, drawing in a deep breath. “John is not only the man who helped carry you inside, he is the one who pulled me from the tea house. He is?—”
“Is that so, John? You are the man who saved Tabbie from the burning building?”
“Yes, Your Grace. It was my pleasure to do so.”
“As I was saying,” she huffed. “John is capable of taking care of the threat, I’m certain.”
Caden turned back to her, grabbed her arms, and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “I am your protector, darling.” And then he turned back to John. “I’d like you by my side.”
“I’d be honored,” John answered.
“And I’d like a few footmen to stay here with the mistress.”
Now she was getting mad. “Nonsense,” she huffed. “If there is a threat to my home, I should be by your side.”
Caden turned back to her. “Don’t be ridiculous, my love. You are far more valuable than myself.”
“You’re a duke. Of course, I’m not.”
He pulled her against his body. “You’re a woman. When we are wed?—”
“We’re not yet wed.”
“When we are wed, you will hold the future in your body and then your hands. My one job will be to protect you as you complete yours.”
“But we’re not…” Her voice died as his face hardened.
“I am proving to you that I’m up for the challenge. I won’t hide, Tabbie, and you don’t want a man who would.”
Drat him all to hell, he was right. But that didn’t change the fact that he was not at full strength.
“I’m frightened for you.”
