But he would have to have a plan for when his devils attacked, to shield her from who he became under their influences. The black devil was the lesser of his worries. In the past, women were drawn to him in this state: his euphoric energy and neck-or-nothing confidence, his insatiable sexual appetite. When the pendulum swung in this direction, he could fuck for hours—couldn’t get enough—and his gut told him that, with Polly, this would not be a problem.
Hell, she’d cometwicewith him in the carriage, fully clothed. Imagining what he could do to her naked in a bed, he’d had to relieve himself several times last night. Even so, seeing her now, with her plump coral lips and big kitten eyes, he felt a hot stirring in his blood.
He would still have the blue devil to contend with, but for that he could fall back on their agreement about privacy. The freedom for each to do as he or she wished with no questions asked. Thus, when his spirits took that despicable plunge, he would retreat somewhere—an apartment he could keep for such purposes. He would commit to going there if he was low… or if his high turned to ill-temper. He wouldn’t emerge until he was himself again. He’d make sure she never saw him at his pathetic worst.
As long as he kept Polly’s expectations low and his devils hidden, there was no reason why he couldn’t make a go of marriage with her. Of course, he had to convince her family that he would make a worthy husband and hence his presence in Kent’s study.
Judging from his future in-laws’ expressions, he realized the task would not be easy. Kent stood, glowering at him behind his desk. The Strathavens flanked Polly, the duchess beside her on the settee, the duke posted like a sentinel behind the ladies.
Whether they liked it or not, Sinjin was going to make Polly his; for her sake, however, he would prefer their blessing. It was clear that she shared close relationships with her kin, and he didn’t want her to feel the strain of opposing loyalties.
He bowed. “Thank you all for seeing me.”
“Polly told us you would be calling.” Kent’s scowl conveyed his feelings about the visit. “You’ll understand why I am not best pleased to learn of your escapade with my sister yesterday.”
The man didn’t know the half of it.Polly had said that she would tell her brother about her meeting with Nicoletta but not the rest of what had transpired—thank God. Heat crept up beneath Sinjin’s collar. He’d never gone courting before, hadn’t imagined he would need more than his title and wealth to recommend him. But Kent clearly saw through those trappings, and Sinjin felt like a schoolboy called to the carpet by an exacting schoolmaster.
As he fumbled for an excuse, Polly spoke up.
“As I explained, it wasn’t Lord Revelstoke’s fault,” she said steadfastly. “He didn’t know that I intended to interview Miss French. I did that all on my own.”
“You were alone with him in his carriage,” her brother bit out.
“The earl was only trying to protect me. Get me to safety,” she insisted.
Her defense of him affected him the way her belief in him had. It was like being struck by a blast of sunshine during a rain shower: unexpected and stunning, its warmth glimmered through him. Save his brother, no one had ever stood up for him, and she was certainly the first female to do so.
Yet as much as he savored his kitten’s loyalty, he was a man who could speak for himself.
“Sir, I regret the circumstances that brought Miss Kent and I together,” he said, “but I do not regret the consequences. She came to my aid when no one else would, and you may rest assured that I will do right by her.”
“You embroiled my sister in your affairs. You’vecompromisedher.” Kent’s palms slammed onto his desk, and he leaned forward, his expression foreboding. “How the devil will you rectify that?”
“By requesting your permission to court her.”
“You want tocourtmy sister?”
“I want to marry her, actually. But she wanted more time to be certain of her feelings.” He nodded at Polly, who was blushing, looking so damned adorable that he ached. “Although the circumstances of how I met your sister are admittedly less than fortuitous, I give you my word as a gentleman that my intentions are honorable. I will woo her until she consents to be my wife.”
He directed the last part at Polly. Despite her stated ambivalence about their future, she was looking at him as if he could hang stars in the sky for her. He wanted her to look at him thusalways. Beside her, the duchess let out a heartfelt sigh.
“Out of the question.” Kent’s peremptory tone dispelled the moment. “You are not wooing, much less marrying, my sister.”
Sinjin wasn’t surprised by Kent’s stance, nor was he cowed by it. “I am, sir, unless she tells me no. Even then, I will move heaven and earth to convince her to be mine.”
“How romantic,” Her Grace whispered to Polly. “Strathaven was the same way, you know.”
Behind his wife, His Grace aimed his gaze to the ceiling.
“Need I remind you, Revelstoke,” Kent went on grimly, “that you stand accused of a heinous crime. In all good conscience, I cannot allow my sister to be associated with a man who is quite possibly a brute.”
A muscle leapt in Sinjin’s jaw. He might deserve Kent’s righteous scorn, but he wasn’t a fellow used to standing down to anyone. As he struggled to control his rising temper, Polly popped up from the settee and came to his side, so that they faced her brother together.
“That is why you must help clear his name, Ambrose,” she said earnestly, “because he didn’t commit that crime. As I told you earlier, I amabsolutely certainMiss French was lying. You know you can trust me on this.”
Evidently, Kent took uncommon stock in his youngest sister’s judgement, for he said in terse tones, “Be that as it may, he’s still not good enough for you. He is the architect of his own troubles. You know his reputation. And the fact that he was at that den of iniquity in the first place—”
“I’m sure Strathaven was no stranger to such places before our marriage,” the duchess chimed in. “And look at him now.”
