Darius hadn’t considered this possibility until she brought it up. Were any of his friends suitable as a husband for her? His immediate reaction was a violent snarl at the thought. They were honorable men, of course, and true friends. Yet he’d seen how they enjoyed women’s company. He could trust Meredith’s life to them, but her future wedded happiness? They were the sort of men to offer to keep her as a mistress, not to marry her, not from any fault of hers, but because none of his friends, aside from Kit were ready to settle down. Even Kit’s marriage had been quite the shock to Darius, a welcome one, but a shock nonetheless.
“No…while they are gentlemen, they are not the sort of men I would set in your path for matrimonial candidates.”
“Oh…” Her look of dejection hit him full in the face like a physical blow. Had she formed an instant attracted to one of his friends? She’d only seen them for a brief moment and hadn’t even been formally introduced to any of them.
“Not because of you,” he hastened to add. “But because they are a bit…wild. You need a gentleman ready to settle down.”
And the more he considered any of them, especially the ever charming Vincent or wicked Warren, putting their hands on Meredith, the more Darius’s vision turned red. That stunned him. The group of boys he’d grown up with, Kit, Lionel, Vincent, Felix, and Warren, were as close to him as brothers. Yet he would fight any of them if they set their sights on seducing Meredith. Why?
I am simply protective because Uncle Ben was protective of her, that’s all. She is my ward. I am responsible for her.
It was certainly not because he was reacting to this woman in a way he hadn’t reacted to a woman in a long time.
It must be the shock of losing Uncle Ben, he mused. I’m not acting like myself out of such an unexpected grief.
The coach stopped and Darius glanced out the curtained window. They had reached the theater. One of his footmen opened the door and Darius climbed out, then turned to assist Meredith.
The moonlight accented her swelling bosom as she leaned down to exit the coach. Darius caught the footman focused on the same distracting sight. With a half-cough, half-growl at the servant, Darius took Meredith’s hand and helped her down. They passed by the queuing people outside the theater who were busy gossiping and socializing. Darius spotted a woman selling oranges and waved her over.
“Two, please.” He slipped a couple of coins into the woman’s palm and was handed two plump, ripe oranges. He gave one to Meredith and kept the other. Her brows rose in confusion.
“Once we’re seated, you may eat it. After the play, when we return home, I shall see you properly fed.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” An attractive blush lit her cheeks as she clutched the orange close to her chest. Why that made his heart turn over, he wasn’t quite sure. This was certainly no spoiled little creature, not that he’d expected her to be.
Darius tucked Meredith’s free arm in his and led her inside the theater. Her eyes grew round as she took in the large stage, flanked by the gilded theater boxes on either side. Lush red curtains draped over the stage, illuminated by bright lamps. A decadent dimness hung about the rest of the theater, adding a hint of mystery to the milling crowds and the wealthy attendees that had begun to fill the seats. Darius had always enjoyed the theater, but had rarely attended plays in the last few years. It was Kit’s marriage to Suzannah that had brought him back one of the great pleasures of his life, and he found himself eager to see the performance.
“This way,” he said as he led Meredith up a staircase to the left and down to the private boxes closest to the stage. Kit and Suzannah would be joining them soon, while the boxes on the opposite side would be filled by Vincent, Felix, Warren and Lionel.
Kit met them as they entered the box. “Ahh, Darius.” He then bowed to Meredith. “Miss Montague, may I introduce you to my wife, Suzannah?” He stepped back to reveal the petite figure of his wife. She was a lovely woman, with blonde hair and hazel eyes, much like Meredith’s. Where Kit was large and as intimidating as a badger, his wife was a sweet little kitten who wielded an incredible talent with a paintbrush.
“Miss Montague, it is lovely to meet you,” Suzannah stepped forward and held out a hand. “I would like to have you over for tea tomorrow if that would suit you?”
Meredith gave Darius a hopeful look, and he nodded his approval.
“Thank you. I would like that very much, Lady Kentwell.”
Suzannah brightened. “Wonderful. You must come and sit down at the front with me to have the best view.” Suzannah gently took Meredith’s hand and urged her toward the front of the box.
Kit lingered next to Darius in the doorway. “You did not have Miss Montague with you when you attended the unveiling of my portrait this evening. You said she arrived from Yorkshire?”
“She arrived just as I had retrieved my gloves,” said Darius. “It was an unexpected encounter. I should have left her at home to recover from her journey, but my uncle’s death seems to have robbed me of my sense.”
“I’m sorry about your uncle, if I remember you were deuced close to him.”
“I was,” Darius admitted. That bleak hole in his chest seemed to be carved out wider and wider by grief and regret. “I didn’t visit him in Yorkshire, and I should have. He came to London only occasionally. I feel as though I lost too much time with him.”
Kit placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“And what of the girl?”
“Hmm?” Darius pulled his thoughts away from his uncle.
“Who is she?” Kit prompted. “I thought you only had one cousin. That fellow Harry? I admit I’m damned curious where she fits into all this. Out with it.” Kit’s dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief. Darius was glad to see a hint of the old Kit in his friend, even if it did come at his own expense.
“Miss Montague was his ward, and she was sent to me upon his death. It seems I am charged with the task of finding her husband. A good one.”
Brows rising, Kit glanced at his wife and Meredith. “Your uncle’s ward?” The question was there, silent, but still Darius heard it. Was she Uncle Ben’s child? That was what Kit wished to know.
