He reached out curling his arm around her shoulders and rubbing her arm consolingly. “We will get through this, I promise you.”
She turned to look at him intently. “Promise me that we will not have any big secrets in this marriage?”
Silas huffed in amusement, shaking his head. “You and I have no secrets. Everything is already on the table. You already know that I am a spy. I have no need to hide anything from you.”
She nodded. “That is true. But should we have children, let us make proviso for them, so that they are not hit by any shocking revelations should we die.”
He tightened his hold on her shoulders. “Nobody’s dying. And our children will not go through what you did. If there’s anythingI can promise you, it is that. Our children will always be protected, as will you—whether I am here or not.”
She reached out and held his hand. “I do not wish to imagine being left here without you. We’ve known each other for such a short time, yet I have come to rely on you so much. I don’t think I’ve ever leaned on anyone the same way I lean on you. I cannot envisage no longer having you in my life.”
“Well, don’t envision it, because I intend to be here for a long time. Now come on,” he said, pulling her to her feet. “Let us go down to dinner.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Lord Richmont, you should have told me that you were coming! I would have prepared a gift for you,” Amelia said.
Amelia was clearly very excited to see Benedict at dinner. It wasn’t the man’s fault, but Silas could not help but blame Benedict’s charm for Amelia’s infatuation.
He kept glaring at his friend as Amelia smiled at him, her cheeks flaming, as she was continuously flustered in his presence. Benedict, on the other hand, was inclined to ignore Amelia’s overtures, treating her just as a beloved younger sibling.
Benedict smiled. “That is very generous of you, my dear, but completely unnecessary. I’m grateful for the chance to eat at your table. The food is always delicious and the company, as ever, scintillating.”
Amelia beamed. Silas glared. Helena laughed.
Jeeves chose that very moment to bring in the next course, much to Silas’s relief.
“Roasted duck!” Benedict exclaimed, clapping his hands with glee. “I know your cook is particularly proficient at this dish.”
“You know far too much about my kitchen.” Silas said grumpily.
“Oh, don’t be jealous,” Benedict teased. “You are still my favorite person in this house.”
“Ack!” Amelia protested, “I thought that was me!”
Benedict gave her a regretful look. “Unfortunately, your brother saved my life in Hispaniola. That is a debt that can only be repaid with eternal affection and devotion.”
Helena raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
Benedict turned to her. “Oh, you want me to tell the tale?”
“Yes,” Helena and Amelia both said.
“I’m afraid His Grace might feel embarrassed. He is a surprisingly modest man.”
Amelia and Helena both pleaded with him loudly as Silas sighed into his meat.
Benedict grinned at him. “Very well, here is the story. My friend here and I were sent to deliver troops to the governor of Hispaniola when we were but green lads ourselves. It was a test, you see, for whether we were capable of comporting ourselves like responsible men.”
“Who was testing you?” Helena asked.
“The short answer is the Crown. The longer answer is the late duke of Highcliff. I suppose he wanted to see if his son here had the disposition for government work.”
Helena nodded. “So, what happened?”
“Being young men of excitable nature, we thought to venture into the foothills where escapees were said to have formed a community.”
“What did you mean to do?” Amelia asked quietly.
