Blackheart glared at Jeremy at the use of his Christian name, but then turned to Lydia and held out a hand. “Come here, you little fool. You could have been killed.”
Lydia all but flew into her brother’s arms. “I know. I’m so sorry.”
Blackheart was not a man known for showing his emotions. Even despite the unusual circumstances, Jeremy was surprised to see something that resembled both love and pain flicker across the man’s face.
“I’m only grateful you are safe.” Blackheart pressed his jaw against the top of her head and then set her an arm’s length away from him so he could look her in the eye. “But you are never—absolutelynever—to go down to the docks alone again. If you do, I will throttle you. And if I’m not there, Tempest will do the honors. Do you understand?”
A mysterious smile tugged at her lips. “I do,” she agreed, far too easily.
“I mean it.” Blackheart was almost wholly his ducal self again.
“As do I,” Jeremy added.
Lydia squeezed her brother’s hand and then moved away from him, crossing to Jeremy, who couldn’t help but reach out and draw her close. But he addressed her brother. “I’ll send notices of our engagement to the papers first thing tomorrow.” Then he stared down into his fiancée’s eyes. “And to St. George’s.”
Lydia beamed up at him.
“We can talk more tomorrow.” Blackheart moved to go. “My duchess will be wondering where I’ve run off to. Do you have a coat?” As was only proper, he’d come to take Lydia home with him.
Lydia, of course, wasn’t so easily managed by her brother. Even if he was Blackheart.
“I need to tell Ollie goodnight, and Lady Tempest asked me to tell her goodbye as well. I’ve no doubt Lord Tempest can bringme home shortly in his carriage.” And before Blackheart could object, she asked, “What is going to happen to Buck?”
“Ah.” Blackheart rubbed his chin. “I’ve had the boy taken to Heart Place for now. Lost most of his hand.”
“You’ve taken him to Heart Place?” Lydia looked as shocked by her brother’s admission as Jeremy was.
“He risks infection, but if he pulls through…” Blackheart lifted his chin. “He was terrified of dying in Newgate. I’m not certain he’s as hardened a criminal as he pretends to be. If he lives, I’ll see what I can do to help him.”
Lydia’s eyes filled with tears. Jeremy knew those tears. They were the same ones he’d seen in her eyes when he’d agreed to bring Ollie back to Cork Street.
Even so… “I’d be wary of him.”
“I think it’s wonderful.” Lydia smiled. “But you must be exhausted. Go home to your duchess, Brother, and I’ll return to Heart Place shortly.”
Blackheart glanced over at the clock on the mantel. “Within the hour.”
Lydia nodded. She had already pushed him farther than Jeremy would have imagined he’d allow.
Jeremy could hardly wait to have her in his home every night—in his life. He almost wished he’d insisted on that special license after all.
Leaving Lydia in the drawing room, Jeremy walked Blackheart to the door and then reached out. “Thank you again.”
Blackheart grasped Jeremy’s hand and squeezed it almost painfully. “If you ever hurt her again, I’ll kill you.”
“If I ever hurt her again, I’ll deserve it.”
Lydia sat on the settee,waiting for Jeremy to return, smiling when she saw a replacement vase sitting on the table behind it.
“My clever girl,” he said from the door.
In answer, she lifted her arms, thrilled as he slowly crossed the room, not taking his gaze off her for a moment.
“Ollie is already sleeping,” he said, lowering himself beside her.
“I know.”
“And my mother is as well.” He wound his arms around her.
