She tossed a grim smile over her shoulder. “And my two brothers-in-law.”
When the door to the parlor swung open, Cadoc understood her grim smile.
Two large men were lounging in the chairs nearest the fireplace with their booted heels resting on their knees and their arms crossed identically over their broad chests. They bothscowled when he entered the room. The five women perched on the seat and arms of the sofa weren’t scowling, but they weren’t smiling either.
“Mr. Morgan, may I introduce you to my family?”
The two men stood, but the women did not.
“Jess, we don’t need an introduction. We know who he is by sight and by reputation.”
The woman who’d spoken held an infant in her arms and he knew immediately she was Jess’s eldest sister, Araminta.
One of the men stepped forward and offered his hand. “Thaddeus St. Simon. My wife is as protective of her sisters as she is of her own brood. As am I.”
Cadoc shook the man’s hand. It was rough, with callouses across the palm, and enveloped his own. He set aside the urge to engage in a battle of wills and strength.
The other man extended his hand as well. When Cadoc accepted it, the lean pressure of his fingers nearly crushed Cad’s. “I’m Cormac Byrne. I’m well versed in the extraction of internal organs. As is my wife.”
The warning was very clear. Cad would be made to profoundly regret any harm he caused Jess Wainwright. The cost of breaking her heart would very likely be his life.
“I understand,” he said as he nodded at the two of them. They nodded back to acknowledge his promise. It was a promise, Cad realized. The kiss in the cloakroom had felt like both an adventure and a homecoming. Like he’d been there before, with the honeyed scent of her skin and the dark cherry-rich taste of her lips.
He wanted to explore whatever was happening between them, but he respected Jess Wainwright’s independence and fortitude too much to coax her surrender if it was against her conscience. His nod had been a promise to refrain from doing exactly that.
With all of Jess’s looming, glaring family packed into the room, there was little Cadoc could do but fold his hands behind his back and remain standing.
“I must confess, Mr. Morgan, I’m not entirely persuaded that your intentions toward our sister are honorable.” The eldest sister narrowed her gaze over the head of the babe she was cradling.
The babe was fussing, and Cadoc suspected it needed to burp. “When my sister was wee, the only thing that would work was moving her legs back and forth. Like she was a little soldier marching down the road.”
The woman gave him an amused glance. “You are full of surprises.”
“You’re not here to give my wife child-rearing advice, Morgan.”
St. Simon sounded aggravated, and when Cadoc turned, he was glowering.
“I know why I’m here, St. Simon. This interrogation is meant to be a show of force. To make me aware beyond the shadow of a doubt that if I trifle with Miss Wainwright’s affections I’ll live to regret it.”
“You’d do well to remember it,” the surly doctor informed him.
“Is this ridiculous charade at an end?” Jess challenged with her hands on her hips. “I am a grown woman and perfectly capable of resisting Morgan’s charms. If he is too forward he’ll become very well-acquainted with my knee.”
Her vehemence amused him and he bowed to the room at large. “I vow to return Miss Wainwright unmolested. And at a decent hour.”
“Unmolested doesn’t necessarily mean unbothered. I’ll know if you lay your paws on her,” called her sister Lavinia as they left the room.
Jess slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and mutely stood when he swirled her cloak around her shoulders and raised the hood.
She stopped abruptly at the sight of his surrey. “You’ve brought a conveyance this time instead of forcing me to ride pillory?”
“I endeavor to remain above censure.”
She made a harrumphing sound as she ascended the steps. “That would be a first,” he heard her mutter under her breath.
He climbed in behind her and folded himself onto the opposite seat. When he removed his hat, she looked on in alarm.
“Relax my little pragmatist. I don’t have plans to ravish you. At least not in a carriage.”
