Page 8 of Pride of Lyons

Chapter Four

Thomas had assumed Danford would be violently opposed to that proposition, so he was ready when, with a maniacal cry, the earl hurled himself at Thomas’s throat. The hours spent at Jackson’s sparring with Geoffrey and other gentlemen had also made his reflexes quicker than lightning. He threw up an arm to ward the man off, then deftly came up from below in a smooth left-handed uppercut to Danford’s right jaw.

For a moment the earl looked astounded. He staggered back, his eyes rolling up as he crashed to the floor.

Without hesitation, Mrs. Dove-Lyon moved to the door and called to Demetrius, apparently waiting just outside. “Take Lord Danford to his carriage, please.” She stared meaningfully at her escort. “Make certain he is sent on his way.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The big man lifted the unconscious Danford as easily as if he were a child and carried him out.

With a nod of her veiled head, Mrs. Dove-Lyon said, “Please do go on, Lord Braeton.”

“My pardon, ladies,” Geoffrey spoke smoothly before Thomas could open his mouth. “I must speak with my friend before he goes any further.” He clamped his hand onto Thomas’s shoulder in a death grip. “Lord Braeton? A word?”

Well, he knew what this would be about. They had just been through it, and Thomas had been adamant. But Geoffrey was stubborn, so they would need to hash it out yet again.

When Geoffrey had pulled him back into the corner, he set his lips in a thin line and finally let go of Thomas’s shoulder. “Thomas, I beg of you, think before you do this.”

“As you heard, Geoffrey, it is already done. I asked her to marry me.”

“You said she could choose.” Trust his friend to remember every turn of phrase. “You didn’t ask her to marry you. It can be withdrawn without involving your honor.”

Sighing, knowing he was going to make Geoffrey unhappy in the end, Thomas tried to explain the inescapable situation once more. “I cannot stand by and allow this innocent young woman to suffer the loss of her reputation because Danford is besotted with her.”

“You do not have to stand by and do nothing, but neither do you have to marry her. Give her money to go home to her family.” Geoffrey took a quick look at Miss Quinn, then returned his gaze to Thomas. “If she’s out of Danford’s sight long enough, he will forget about her.”

“Did you not hear the man threaten to ruin her and her family?” Thomas could well believe Danford capable of such a dastardly deed. “He means to block her every avenue of escape, make life as his mistress the only option she can take. Already he has severed her from her position. As soon as he tells Lady Danford what has occurred, she’ll berate Miss Quinn to all of her friends, who will, in turn, disparage her to their friends and so on. I’ll wager quite a sum Miss Quinn’s name will be anathema before the week is out.”

“Even so, Thomas,” Geoffrey caught his eye, determined to stare him down, “you are not obligated to offer her marriage. She’s the daughter of a clergyman. You are an earl.”

“Is that your main concern, Geoffrey?” Biting back a smile, Thomas put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “As I understand it, that makes her an eligible match.”

“Eligible perhaps, but your titles and line are ancient. You should marry to improve them.”

“Were I given my choice, Geoffrey, I should marry for love, not status.” Thomas sighed. He’d cherished the hope of a life with a woman he could love by his side. Now, however, that seemed unlikely. “That was but a fancy. I am certain I will be just as happy with Miss Quinn as with any other gently bred young lady.” God, he hoped he would. She was comely enough and had a good bit of spirit. He did like that about her. She’d stood up to Danford and given him a cracking good slap. “In any case, I will let the lady decide.” He made as if to turn back toward the ladies when Geoffrey grasped his shoulder again.

“What if she could marry someone else?” Geoffrey’s tone was insistent, and Thomas pivoted back to him.

“Are you perhaps offering yourself as a potential husband instead of me, Geoffrey?” That raised Thomas’s eyebrows not a little. His friend was somewhat high in the instep, so such an offer would be completely out of character.

“Of course not.” The snort of disdain was more the Geoffrey he knew. “But Mrs. Dove-Lyon could find her someone. It’s her business, don’t you remember?”

Oh, yes. Thomas was well aware of the Black Widow’s penchant for helping unsuspecting gentlemen to a bride. “I do. And I suspect that is why she asked me to come in here with Danford. She’s tried to trap me into marriage before. I was able to avoid it that time. Today’s outcome will likely be different.” The woman had played her cards well. Somehow, she’d known of his stance on honor. Known he’d not let a woman suffer the loss of her reputation when he could so easily remedy it. “She will earn her fee today.”

Geoffrey’s face had drawn down in a monstrous frown. “Only if you allow yourself to be used by her.” Biting his bottom lip, his friend cocked his head. “What if you pay the fee but ask her to find some other gentleman in want of a wife? Then your honor would be preserved, your life would remain as it has been, and Miss Quinn will have her reputation saved.” Geoffrey looked so pleased with himself, Thomas didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d taken that scenario into consideration already.

“That might be possible if…” Thomas held up a hand, “if I trusted Mrs. Dove-Lyon. If I give her the fee and walk away, however, I have no control over who she will put forward as a husband for Miss Quinn. It could be anyone. An old lord trying to get an heir, or a young rake who’s trying to defy his father, or God forbid, a gentleman riddled with the French pox.” He shook his head adamantly. He would not subject Miss Quinn to the possibility of being married to someone worse than Danford. “If I marry her, I will rest easy knowing I will treat her with the respect she deserves. She will be in no danger of mistreatment as she would if I abandon her.” He jutted his chin out, and Geoffrey’s shoulders slumped, defeated. “So, you see, there can be no other solution.”

“Oh, very well. Play the knight errant if you must.” His friend was not pleased, but he’d support Thomas to his last breath. “I just pray you will not regret your decision, Thomas.” He glanced over Thomas’s shoulder at the ladies. “She is rather pretty or will be when she’s not frowning. I doubt you’ll have trouble wanting to bed her.”

“That will come later. I have no intention of forcing myself on Miss Quinn until she and I are thoroughly well acquainted, as though we’d gone through courtship in the usual way.” Thomas laughed at Geoffrey’s incredulous expression. “I want a willing bride, Geoffrey. Not merely a dutiful one.”

“Then you’d better bring your famed powers of seduction to bear on Miss Quinn without delay.” Again, Geoffrey peered over his shoulder and raised a brow. “I think your bride-to-be is about to flee the establishment before you can secure her.”

Thomas whirled around to find Miss Quinn had risen and stepped toward the door. Only Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s hold on her arm was detaining her. He hurried toward them.

“Miss Quinn, I beg your pardon for leaving you so long unattended. I have been making arrangements with Lord Longford in the event you accept my proposal. If you do so, I believe it will be best if we move forward swiftly with our nuptials. I will send Lord Longford to the archbishop to secure a special license so we can marry as soon as possible.” Thomas glanced at Mrs. Dove-Lyon, but of course, her veiled countenance revealed nothing of her feelings regarding this turn of events. He rather suspected things were going exactly according to her plan.

Even so, it was the best one available to the young woman who stood in front of him. He hoped she understood that. Mustering his most charming smile, Thomas grasped her hand to find it pitifully cold. Her face had grown paler, her breathing anything but steady. He prayed she would not swoon and make matters more difficult. Still, there was nothing for it but to carry forward. “Do you have an answer for me, Miss Quinn? Will you marry me?”