Page 6 of The Hero

He wondered if the Whitings had an orangery or another private room on the ground floor of the house to which he might take Harry and thoroughly demonstrate his reaction to her continued levity toward him.

Unfortunately, the Whitings’ butler chose that moment to announce that dinner was served.

Fortunately, knowing they were seated next to each other, Gideon was able to present his arm and escort Harry through to the dining room.

He was less pleased at having to nod acknowledgment of Robert Granger as they passed by the other man. The last thing he had expected this weekend was to find himself face-to-face with the man who now held the Plymouth title.

To make matters worse, the younger man was a fop of the highest order. To a degree the ridiculous height of the collar of his evening shirt even managed to make the traditional plain black-and-white evening clothes look outlandish.

This young gentleman had also, Gideon knew, recently become aware of the Ruthless Dukes’ search for the English officer who had been seen to strike down his cousin.

Was that what Granger was doing here?

Had he also realized there was only one officer of their regiment left to investigate? Had Granger come here to carry out that investigation himself?

If so, Gideon would be having words with him tomorrow.

“I hope you will take special note to enjoy the fish course.” Harry drew Gideon’s attention back to her as he pulled her chair back from the table.

He waited until she was seated before taking his place in the chair beside her. “Trout?”

The feigned widening of her eyes lacked all sincerity. “How clever of you to guess.”

Gideon stared at her for several seconds before startling himself with a burst of laughter that had spontaneously erupted from his chest.

Which, considering the darkness of his thoughts seconds earlier, was completely unexpected.

He could tell by the curious glances being cast in his direction that several other people at the table were just as surprised by his unprecedented behavior. The Duke of Oxford was not known for his public displays of humor.

He had no intention of explaining to anyone, including Harry, that her unfiltered teasing was like a breath of fresh air in his otherwise stifling life.

His days were spent at The House and the evenings either at his club or with his close-knit group of male friends. That all four of those friends were now married had changed that dynamic to include their wives.

Which brought Gideon neatly back to the reason he was here at all and why he should not be enjoying the company of Henry Church’s unmarried daughter.

He sobered. “How old are you?”

She looked taken aback by the sudden change of subject. “I am nineteen.”

“And unmarried.”

“Yes.”

“With not even a betrothal in sight?”

She visibly bristled. “I have no wish to be molded into some man’s perfect and obedient wife.”

Gideon gave another chuckle. “The first you might manage, depending on the gentleman’s requirements. But I very much doubt you are capable of the second.”

Her eyes glittered with an intent Gideon already knew to be wary of. “How old are you?”

“Three and thirty.”

“Unmarried?”

He had been right to expect she might retaliate. “Yes.”

“There is no betrothal on your horizon either?”

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