Page 89 of Noble Scoundrel

She settled into the seat and before she could even draw her skirts out of the way, his great form climbed in after her to take the seat across. “You, on the other hand, shall have me.”

“I don’t need you,” she lied. “Frederick does.”

There was a pause after her words as he stared intently at her through the darkened carriage. “I’m gonna protect you, duchess, whether you like it or not. But don’t worry, I’ll find a nice dark spot to keep myself away from the fancy guests and their delicate sensibilities.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his intense eyes flickered. “But I will be there. In case you decide you do need me, after all.”

Then he leaned back more comfortably in the seat and rapped sharply on the ceiling to signal the coachman to drive.

As the carriage rolled along the lamplit streets, Katherine accepted Hale’s company with contrary emotions of worry and relief. Worry for her brother’s security while his bodyguard was with her. And relief to have him at her side. She hadn’t realized how nervous she was about tonight’s foray into London society until he’d managed to provide a bit of confidence by the simple nature of his presence.

It was just a party. She’d make it through the next few hours and then she’d be on her way home again. With Hale across from her.

And then what?

Would he escort her up to her bedroom? Would he want to go inside? Heat swept through her at the thought. She forcefully switched direction of her thoughts.

“I doubt I’ll be in any danger at a small gathering of the ton.”

His visage darkened. “Have you considered the possibility that whoever’s after Freddie might try to use you to get to him? The foolish boy would give himself up in a second if he knew you were in peril.”

“As I would for him,” she noted, though the thought of Frederick doing anything of the sort terrified her.

His mouth tilted. “Like I said...foolish.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t do the same?” she asked.

His gaze found hers in the darkened carriage. “I’m not a skinny lad still learning how to throw a proper punch.”

“No.” A smile softened her mouth as she openly appraised his muscled form. “You’re definitely not that.”

He shifted in his seat and his voice lowered. “Don’t be looking at me like that, dove.”

A pause.

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like you’re thinking of climbing into my lap to get a feel for just how big I am.”

She hadn’t actually been thinking of that, but she sure as hell was now.

“And that’s a bad idea?” she whispered.

He growled. “If you don’t want to arrive at your party looking like a well-pleasured woman, it is.”

The raw hum of his voice went straight through her with a tingling effect, arousing every nerve. She held his gaze as rising desire made her bold. “Perhaps we could...be discreet?”

He gave a rough laugh. “I don’t do discreet, luv. The second I got my hands on you, I’d be tearing that gown from your body.”

His words made her breathless.

But then his tone shifted as he added, “Don’t ever mistake me for a gentleman, duchess. I’m a bounder from the East End and always will be.”

“That may be true,” she replied earnestly. “But you’re also a great deal more.”

He scoffed. “Right. I’m a man who likes to swing his fists and run stakes for illegal fights.”

The self-deprecation in his tone had Katherine adding, “You’re also a man who inspires loyalty and confidence in a twelve-year-old boy who has good cause to trust no one. A man who walked away from the life he knew to take in two children who needed him. A man who loves and protects his young daughter in a way he was not.”

There was a long pause.

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