Page 31 of Noble Scoundrel

“Claire goes where I go,” he said bluntly. “And her nurse.”

“Of course,” she replied with ready acceptance.

When he said nothing more, she turned and started toward the door. Apparently, his silence was all the agreement she needed. Pausing at the threshold, she looked back over her shoulder. “You have our address in Mayfair?”

“I’ll find you.” Mason crossed his arms over his chest and tossed her a weighty scowl. “So that’s it, then?”

She arched a brow. “Is there anything else?”

Mason thought about his plans for the future. “I’ll be wanting a reference.”

Confusion flickered across her face. “A reference?”

“I’ll be providing a service, dove. I’d expect the typical recommendations if I do it well, and the word of a duke—or a duke’s sister—tends to carry some weight.”

A pause. Then, “Agreed.”

He gave a short grunt of satisfaction. “We’ll be round tonight.”

Nothing in her expression changed, but he felt a shift in her demeanor. He just wasn’t sure what it indicated.

“Excellent,” she replied after a beat. “We shall discuss more of the details after you arrive.”

Then she left. And Mason remained. His blood still hot and pulsing, his mind rushing through the implications of what had just occurred. Had he really agreed to be the personal bodyguard to a duke?

Sure, it was just Freddie, and Mason would give hell to anyone who tried to hurt the boy. So why did it feel so much bigger than that?

Chapter Eleven

The main drawing room in the Duke of Northmoor’s London residence had not been fully redecorated since Katherine’s grandfather’s time, and yet it retained a timeless sophistication. Their country manor in Lincolnshire hadn’t been nearly so elegant. Katherine wouldn’t admit it out loud, but when they’d first arrived in London, she’d been overwhelmed by their lush and stylish new home. There were still times when she’d look around and felt a bit like a visitor in someone else’s life.

Glancing at her brother as they sat side by side on the burgundy sofa, Katherine noted that he appeared relaxed and confident. They’d retired to the drawing room after supper, having agreed to welcome Hale and his daughter together. Frederick wanted to ensure Claire wouldn’t be frightened by the unfamiliarity of the mansion.

Although she was pleased to see her brother so calm and accepting of the new circumstances, it made her own anxiety that much more apparent.

When she and Frederick had returned to the house a few hours ago, they’d been relieved to discover their carriage and driver had both returned safely. A quick interview with the coachman revealed that after he’d been thrown from the perch by their attackers, he’d resourcefully managed to catch a ride with a hack traveling in the same direction. They’d lost sight of the ducal carriage at one point, but eventually discovered it abandoned in the street. Though the coachman performed a search of the area, the Blackwells were nowhere to be found, nor were the two men who’d commandeered the vehicle.

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