“I wanted her safe.”
She patted his cheek but said nothing more, then went to Zach and hugged him.
“Your Majesty,” he heard Beth say, then turned to find her sinking into a deep curtsy in her sodden dress with Dimity at her side.
The king smiled at them, appearing not to notice she was wet and what had happened before he arrived. He then moved on to stand before Nathan, who was wet, angry, and wanted to get Beth alone. Instead, he bowed deeply and kissed the ring held out to him.
“I serve bene tibi erit,” the monarch said. He then bowed to Nathan and his brothers before walking away.
“What did he say?” someone asked as the murmurs started.
Nathan only had one person in his sights, and she was looking at him with hurt angry eyes. That made two of them.
Squelching to where she stood, he said, “Move,” to Dimity.
“Nathan, you will behave,” his soon-to-be sister-in-law said.
“I will deal with you two later.” He pointed rudely to Dimity and Abby. “Right now, I want to speak with Miss Carlow alone.”
“You’re wet,” Abby snapped, “as is she. And clearly you’re in need of time to find your manners; therefore, you are taking Beth nowhere and yourself home.”
“Do not get in my way,” he snarled.
“That will do.” A hand landed on his shoulder, the fingers tightening. “Let’s go,” Michael added.
Zach moved to one side, and Michael the other. Gabe took Beth, Abby, and Dimity in hand, and they were soon on their way to the carriages.
“We have created enough of a spectacle for one day,” Michael said. “Move your feet, Nathan.”
“I care nothing what anyone thinks.” He glared at the back of the woman he loved. Anger, and frustration swamped him. The fear of seeing her plunge into that water was something he wasn’t sure he’d forget. He wanted to talk to her, hold her, and shake her all at once. His brothers were ensuring that was not about to happen.
“Get in,” Zach demanded as they reached a hackney. “Gabe will take the ladies in our carriage.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Nathan snapped, looking to where Beth walked with her dress clinging to her lovely body. She had not looked back at him once.
“You sound like a five-year-old. In fact, Ella is better behaved.”
“Zach, I care little for the fact society is watching. I will flatten you if you continue to taunt me,” Nathan growled. “Even if I owe you a great deal for coming to my aid today.”
His brother’s reply was to push him in the back, so he stumbled up the steps into the hackney.
“No, Nathan,” Michael warned. “He is your brother, and while he can be bloody infuriating, it would not do to kill him. Imagine the mess we’d have getting rid of his body.”
Zach snorted. Nathan sat and stared out the window. He could add cold to the list of things he was feeling now. He had no outlet for his emotions, except his brothers, so he sat in silence.
“She is a brave woman,” Michael said softly. “After what she endured, to come to Vauxhall after you would suggest your beloved is a strong young lady.”
“She nearly drowned,” he growled. “She should have stayed home, not been here or in that boat. Plus, because of her we lost Logan. He is now out there somewhere.”
“Or dead,” Zach said. “And while I concede her behavior was reckless, maybe if we had brought her with us and kept her under constant surveillance, this would not have unfolded as it had.”
“She had much invested in this,” Michael added. “Her family have suffered for three years; I doubt I would have sat idly at home waiting for news that my torment is over. And we could do nothing to stop her leaping into the boat as we had left the bank.”
“Logan could still be a threat to the monarchy,” Nathan said refusing to concede that his brother was right.
“But he knows we are aware of his identity now, and what he does and is capable of. If he lives, my guess is he will return to Russia,” Michael said.
“I hope one day to find such a woman,” Zach said.
