“Retract that!” Eden snapped, now free of James, who had joined the fray behind them.
“I will not. You bleeding nobles think you rule the world,” another woman said.
“That will do, ladies,” Ash said as he and Gus stepped between them.
“Go about your business, ladies, or we will let them at you,” Gus said. “And believe me when I tell you they are not like other noblewomen; you will not come out of an encounter with these women unscathed.”
Ash gave her look, then mouthed, “Behave.”
“I did not start it.”
“But you can finish it and walk away.”
Somer grumbled, Eden snorted, and Dorrie muttered. But they did as he asked. The men had finished whatever it was they were doing, although Dev and Cam were still throwing insults at the riders as they walked away.
“Do you always behave like this?” Ash asked no one in particular.
“Yes.” James ran a hand over his head. Clearly he’d lost his hat somewhere. “It’s called being alive. We will defend each other in any way we need and will do so loudly. It took me a while to get used to it,” the duke said with a big smile on his face. “But now I find I quite like it.”
“God’s blood, I have a hunger,” Cam said.
Dorrie watched something happen then that she was sure had not happened for quite some time. Ashford Charlton laughed. So hard that tears were soon rolling down his face.
“Yes, they have that effect on me also, brother.” Gus clapped him on the back and then joined him.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Warwick had collected his trophy to loud cheers and whoops from his family. Ash watched and wondered what the hell he’d stepped into. These people did not fit the mold that he thought noble families should. What his father had taught him to believe. They were loud, confrontational, and good people. He had not laughed like that since Gus had left his life. It felt good.
He was sure he knew the path his life was to take, but suddenly he was conflicted. So many emotions battling for supremacy. Hope—he knew that one and acknowledged it. But he could not have hope until Radcliff was dealt with, so there was nothing further for him here with these people until that was done. This was not his life.
But it could be? a small voice inside his head asked.
“I’m unsure if the best man won or the best horse,” Zachariel Deville said, slapping Warwick on the back.
“Oh, the best man won, undoubtedly,” Dorset said.
Deville smiled at her and then took her hand. Ash wanted to punch him.
“I shall see you upon your return to London, fair Dorset.” He kissed her fingers.
“Unhand my sister, Deville, if you please,” Cambridge said. “She is not fooled by your obvious flummery.”
“Come, Zach, I believe you said you’d pay for our next meal if you lost. Which you did,” the Earl of Raine said, smiling.
After they’d left, everyone mounted their horses and headed back to the castle.
“I cannot believe your family,” he said to his brother, who rode at his side.
“They are your family also, but yes, they are quite something. When I first met Samantha, it was because she was being robbed in London. I intercepted the man who had stolen her reticule.”
“That must have been frightening for her.”
“Not much frightens these women, and Samantha was raised by our uncle, Ash. He was a bastard to her.”
Ash didn’t like to think of his sweet-faced cousin suffering in any way.
“James did not even know he had a sister until his father died.”
