He glanced at his father and saw the discomfort on the other’s rugged features. Like him, Papa preferred to leave well enough alone. Hawk’s inner turmoil must have shown in order for his father to intervene. He recalled the time he’d been beaten by bullies at Eton. Even then, Papa hadn’t said much; he’d taken Hawk to the sparring room, handed him a pair of gloves, and said,“This is how one deals with bullies, lad.”
Hawk raised his brows. “Did Mama put you up to this?”
Papa’s lips twitched. “Not this time. She and Effie are too busy recruiting Fiona for their team.”
“What team?”
“Wives versus husbands.” Humor flitted through Papa’s eyes. “Sorry, son, but you’re not on the winning side.”
He doesn’t know the half of it.
Hesitating, Hawk said, “Shall we have a drink?”
“If it’s the Tobermory, I won’t say no.”
Drinks in hand, Hawk joined his father in the wingchairs by the fire. They sat, sipping the aged whisky in meditative silence.
“Marriage isn’t logical,” Hawk said.
Papa choked on his drink. “Er, what made you arrive at that conclusion?”
Hawk angled forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I cannot seem to make sense of it, even when the terms are laid out clearly.”
“Terms, son?”
Hawk shifted a look at his father. “Can this discussion stay between us?”
“What is discussed in the study stays in the study. Rule of gentlemen.”
“When Fiona and I wed, she wanted the freedom to continue doing her charity work. I saw no problem with it, so I agreed. Now I am regretting my decision.”
“Why?”
“Because she is too reckless and bold by far,” Hawk said savagely. “To help a ‘friend,’ she pranced into a…a shady part of town. If I hadn’t been there, who knows what might have happened? I forbade her from taking further risks for her own good.”
“Ah. How did that go over?”
“Like a bloody bag of bricks. She accused me of being overbearing”—Hawk raked a hand through his hair—“when I am just trying to keep her safe.”
I cannot lose her, he thought fiercely.
“I understand, son. Better than you know.” Papa took a drink of whisky as if to fortify himself. “Like you and Fiona, Mama and I did not know each other well when we wed. It led to a rocky start.”
Hawk’s surprise must have shown for Papa gave a rueful chuckle.
“Things weren’t always a bed of roses for your mama and me. Now, I always knew she was the woman for me; I just didn’t comprehend all of the woman that she is.”
“I don’t follow.”
“The biggest mistake I made in my marriage was underestimating your mother. She may be a delicate lady, but she has a spine of steel.” Papa raised his brows. “Your bride strikes me as being cut from a similar cloth.”
“Fiona is headstrong,” Hawk said grimly. “I have to protect her from herself.”
“Who are you protecting, her or you?”
“What the devil does that mean?”
“You know I hate interfering. You are your own man, and I respect your judgement.” Papa cleared his throat, rolling the empty glass between his palms. “However, you have not been yourself since Caroline’s passing.”
