“It was magnificent.” She yawned, and Darius laughed.
“Oh dear. You must be dead on your feet. I’ll take you home at once, put you to bed.” He paused. “Tomorrow, I suppose it will be a day of shopping and whatever else is needed to prepare you for your London debut. I must meet with Suzannah to have her advice on hiring a companion for you.”
She struggled to stay awake and focus. “A companion?”
“Yes. It was pointed out to me this evening that as we are not blood related, I must have a companion, a female, to escort you about and live with us at the house as a chaperone.”
For some reason warmth curled in her belly at the way he said “with us.”
“Rest now, Miss Montague. I shall wake you when we arrive home.”
Home. It sounded so lovely when he said it with that deep, rich voice.
“Please call me Meredith,” she got out between yawns.
“Only if you call me Darius. We are family, and I believe society will allow us that intimacy at least.”
“I quite agree…” she yawned again, “Darius.”
Darius knew the exact moment Meredith drifted to sleep. Her head, nestled in the corner of the coach, sank even deeper into the cushioned walls. A heavy sigh escaped her as though her body had at last surrendered to its great need to rest.
Five days in the stagecoach, only one night in a proper bed, and she had done it all on her own. She was a capable woman, he would give her that, but even capable women were in danger when they traveled alone. He wished he could have been there at Uncle Ben’s passing, to say his goodbyes and see Meredith safely and comfortably brought to his home here in London.
What had kept his uncle from writing to them sooner? Pride, perhaps. Pride and a deep regret. The last time they had spoken had been painful. They both said things they regretted.
Two years ago, Uncle Ben had been in London to visit Darius. Darius had been trying to speak about Henry’s exploits, and how his uncle needed to take Harry in hand. Uncle Ben had turned the arguing to Darius’ own activities, namely those of his involvement with the Bow Street runners.
“You’re a duke now. You cannot simply run off into the night, flying headlong into danger whenever you wish. It is time you settle down, find a duchess and produce an heir and a spare, just as your father did.”
To which Darius had replied. “At least I spend my time in services to others, which is more than I can say for your son.”
Uncle Ben had stared him at coldly, his blue eyes just like Darius’s, as he responded with the last words of their fight. “And when you get yourself killed… Harry will have your home and title. Think of all that he could ruin because you want to play the hero.”
The worst of it was that Uncle Ben was right. Darius loved to play the hero, loved to throw himself into a fight when someone needed help. It had almost killed him recently when he’d tried to save Suzannah from being abducted and murdered.
His shoulder still ached where he’d been shot, and his stomach was knotted with scar tissue from a knife wound which sometimes made walking, hell, even breathing hard. He had to use a cane on occasion when the pain that shot down his leg became too much to bear.
But it had been worth it. Kit and Suzannah had been in danger, and he put himself between Suzannah and death. But it didn’t change the fact that Uncle Benjamin was right. Before, he’d had no one who needed him to be safe, to be responsible… Until now. The only thing that was a balm to his wounded heart was knowing that in his final hours, Uncle Ben had still trusted Darius with the thing be believed to be most precious…Meredith.
He turned to Meredith’s sleeping form, and his lips curled into a smile. For the first time in a very long time, he didn’t feel quite so alone. Yes, he had his friends, and they were a huge part of his life, but there was still a part of himself he had keep in reserve, hidden from everyone. Something about Meredith made him want to open that part of himself up, share his secrets, thoughts and dreams with her. Was it because she was so like him in that way? Having to live a life that didn’t seem to fully fit one’s heart?
I’m certainly not alone. At least, not right now.
He would have to see her married off soon, but for now, he had a companion. She was a grown woman who did not need a guardian, but he would abide by his uncle’s wishes. And for now, that made Meredith Montague his.
The coach stopped in front of his home, but he didn’t have the heart to wake Meredith. The coach door opened, and he held a finger to his lips up at the footman, indicating the man should remain quiet. Darius scooped Meredith up in his arms and carried her from the coach. Despite the pain in his shoulder, he liked the weight and feel of Meredith in his arms.
Mr. Chelsea met them at the open door.
“Do you have the Seaside room ready for her?” Darius asked.
“Yes, Your Grace. Nell is waiting to put her to bed.”
“Excellent. Send a note to Lady Kentwell. Ask her to meet me here for breakfast tomorrow so we can discuss hiring a lady’s companion for Miss Montague.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Chelsea, bless the man, didn’t question the propriety of Darius carrying a sleeping woman upstairs.
Darius proceeded upstairs to the Seaside room. The blankets had been turned down in anticipation of Meredith’s return. He settled his charge on the bed and she roused enough to blink at him slowly, her dark lashes fanning up and down over her lovely hazel eyes.
