Theo held back a growl of frustration attempting to remain impassive. “And how many ships damaged total?”
“Seven, Your Grace.” Reginal said. “Two belong to the Earl of Casterly and the others to a local shipping company.”
He’d ruined two of Rex’s ships? Blast, what was Rex going to think about that? “And we believe the fire started on one of my ships? Which one?”
“The Clarita was one of the first ships to be on fire. Honestly, I am not sure if it’s where the fire began or not. No one can seem to recall if was your ship or Mr. Gregory’s where flames were first spotted. What we do know is that the fire had no more begun and the boiler exploded.”
Theo turned to Luke. “How many of the ships have boilers?”
“Just a few.” Luke ran his hand through his hair. “I was testing them on two of your ships and two of mine to see if they increased shipping speed and productivity.”
“Thank you for the report, Captain.” Theo first needed to find out if the boiler had started the fire or exploded as a result of it. He’d need to remove the other boiler if it had. Then, if his ship was to blame he’d have to make reparations to the other owners, Rex especially. “We’ll see what we can discover.”
The rain had slowed and Violette and Tricia stepped out of the carriage. “Captain,” Tricia called. “Where can we find the injured?”
The Captain pointed up the hill. “In the dance hall, right in the center of town. You can’t miss it.” He gave the ladies an affectionate smile but his eyes lingered on Violette. Theo held in a grunt of protest. Violette was his. He didn’t want other men looking at his woman.
“Thank you,” Tricia called.
The Captain’s eyes were still on Violette when he replied, “But I can escort you ladies, if you’d like.”
“No need,” Theo rumbled. “I’ll escort them myself.”
Captain Reginal gave Violette a final look before he turned and headed back toward the docks. Theo took a cleansing breath. Violette was beautiful. He’d have to get used to men looking at her. That nearly made him growl out loud. With startling clarity he realized that the captain had been completely obvious with him standing just steps away. What would men be like with a beautiful duchess whose husband was halfway around the world?
Violette had come to stand next to him, and without thought, he placed his hand on her back, pulling her close. Her wide eyes looked up at him in surprise. Rather than deter him, he only pulled her closer.
Luke cleared his throat. “Shall we?”
Ryker tucked Tricia’s hand in his arm and the group started up the hill.
They found the dance hall easily and Tricia stepped forward to speak with the women already tending the wounded.
Violette moved to join her, but Theo held her fast. To let her go was to allow her to be without him in a room full of men. Hells bells, he should have purchased a ring for her. Some symbol to show she was no longer eligible.
That thought calmed some of the jealousy that was coursing through him. Perhaps he’d feel better if she were wearing a symbol of their relationship. With that thought in mind, he released her waist.
“I will be back to escort you to the inn,” he said as he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Take care today.”
“I’ll be fine, I’m sure.” One eyebrow rose as she assessed him. “I’ll see you this evening.”
With a final goodbye he turned, but it took a great deal of effort to leave her side. Far more than made him comfortable.
He wanted to return to the hall. He wanted to follow behind her like her favorite dog and make sure no one touched her, no one looked at her. What was happening to him?
“You’ve formally offered for Violette?” Luke asked, walking next to him.
“Yes,” he answered, though he didn’t really want to discuss it. His reasons were…complicated.
Luke nodded. “I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about marriage. You’ll find it far more fulfilling than you imagined.”
“I’m certain it will fulfill me in every way I wish.” Theo bit back.
Luke paused. “What exactly does that mean?”
Theo stopped, then looked at Luke. He owed his brother-in-law a great deal, but he wasn’t sure an explanation about this matter was one of them. “Violette is well-suited to be my duchess.”
Luke gave him a queer look, his face scrunching. “This isn’t a love match?”
Love? Hardly. Attraction, yes. Common need, certainly.
“Bloody hell,” Ryker rumbled behind him. He had to be honest, it took him by surprise. Ryker was one of the most even-tempered men he’d ever met. “You want her because she has experience handling an earldom. You’re marrying a solicitor.”
“What?” Luke’s voice dropped menacingly low. “That can’t be your only reason.”
Theo straightened his shoulders. “She benefits too. I’ll care for her mother, her sister. Help her brother with his earldom. And, she becomes a duchess. It is an ideal match for her.”
“Ideal?” Luke’s vice had risen. “Are you completely daft or just partially so?”
Ryker had moved closer and he put his hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Have you considered how she will feel when situations like this arise and you are not there? Will she travel in your stead? What if she is with child, like Tabbie is now or Tricia was a year ago? You plan to travel no doubt? Will you leave her to birth alone? While managing a dukedom?”
Luke moved closer. “I too saw the look the captain gave her.” His eyes narrowed. “What will happen when you’re not here to protect her? I was a rake, don’t forget. There was many a lonely woman whose husband had ceased to give her the love and attention she deserved. I was more than happy to slip into her room and fulfill her needs—”
Theo stopped Luke’s words with his fist. The picture he painted was all too real. One of a beautiful Violette in bed with nothing on but a negligée while welcoming a man who wasn’t him. He saw the blood spurt from Luke’s nose a second before pain exploded in his jaw.
He didn’t stop to process his jealousy. Instead, he swung at Luke again. Hitting was a bloody good way to relieve the tension that had built inside him. He didn’t want to think about what his jealousy meant.
He missed, Luke ducking his punch when Luke’s fist caught him in the midriff. With a grunt, Theo doubled over but he used his lowered position to place an uppercut straight into Luke’s jaw. He heard the other man’s teeth snap together. Luke stumbled back but caught himself and reversed direction barreling toward him. Theo braced, but Luke’s impact sent them both stumbling to the ground.
They tussled around for a bit landing several more punches before they both grew tired and lay panting in the wet grass.
“Are you two done?” Ryker crossed his arms looking down at them.
“No.” Theo ground out. “Just catching my breath.”
“Has it occurred to you,” Luke said between breaths, “that you hit me because it angers you to think of another man touching her?”
“Of course that bloody occurred to me,” he bit back.
“Your jealousy is proof this isn’t just a marriage of convenience. You’re fooling yourself.” Luke shot him a glare as he lay on the ground.
Theo glared back. “I am attracted to her. There is no point in denying it.”
“Are you normally this jealous of women you’re attracted to?” Ryker asked.
No. “Well, I am marrying her. It makes sense my feelings would be different. And she’s innocent and in need. I want to protect her.”
Both Ryker’s eyebrows went up. “And how will you do that half a world away?”
“My title, my…” He stopped talking. He saw their point.
Luke rolled toward him. “It’s time for you to grow up, Teddy. You’re four and twenty. You can’t continue to put only half of yourself into this life. A man takes on all his responsibility. And that includes his wife. I don’t want to leave Tabbie even for a day. What if something happens to
her or the baby? They are mine to care for. If you marry Violette, you are making a promise to do the same.”
Theo winced. He hoped Rex arrived soon. Because Luke and Ryker made a lot of sense. No he didn’t want to lose money, or his sense of self-worth, his chance to prove to his family he hadn’t been wasting time. Right now, however, those reasons paled in comparison to visions of Violette. Rex needed a reminder of why returning to Barbados was so bloody important.
Chapter Eleven
Violette had stopped counting how many cuts she’d tended or how many burns. These poor men.
At least the work kept her from thinking overly much. Because every time she considered Theo, her heart began to race.
She was marrying a man who was nearly perfect. So why did she want to cry?
Because he didn’t feel the way she did.
There was no choice, however. An offer from a duke was the best her family could hope for. And that was why she’d set off on this journey in the first place. She’d been willing to sacrifice her future happiness. Still was. She just hadn’t expected her impending marriage to break her heart.
There was no doubt that was what would happen. She could already see it. Theo would leave her over and over, to go off on his grand adventures. Never mind that she’d want to join him. The fact was, she’d stay home and say goodbye to her husband. She likely wouldn’t know where he was or what he was doing while she kept the family in order. Tended their flock. It would slowly tear her heart into thousands of tiny pieces.
Shaking her head, she wondered how she would survive. It was better and worse than she had ever imagined, but it was the path she would take.
Tricia stopped next to her. “How do you fare?”
“Fine.” She pulled up the corners of her mouth in an attempt to look happy and hide her inner turmoil. By all accounts, she should be thrilled to be engaged and it was wonderful to help people. There was no reason for her to appear upset. “It’s nice to be of service.”
Tricia dipped her chin in agreement. “It is. At one time, I thought to forgo marriage and devote myself to charity.” Tricia shrugged. “Ryker presented me with a unique opportunity to both marry and continue to help people.
“Opportunity?” Violette perked up at that. “Did you make an arrangement of sorts that would be beneficial to both of you?”
Tricia’s eyes narrowed. “I suppose that we did. Why do you ask?”
“It’s nice to see that sort of arrangement can work out, is all. His Grace is so obviously smitten with you. Did that develop over time?” Violette held her breath hoping that Tricia would say that is was possible. That maybe Theo would grow to care for her in time.
“Not all that long. Even before we’d wed, he’d realized our relationship was more than an arrangement.”
Violette swallowed and hunched her shoulders. For a moment she’d had hope that it might work out.
“Are you all right?” Tricia asked. “Do you need someone to escort you to the inn?”
“Oh no, I’m fine.” She pasted a smile on her face. “I’m glad to help.”
“Are you sure? You’ve been very quiet. And my last comments…” Tricia tipped her head to one side. “I know this is a somber occasion but you’ve just gotten engaged. I heard marriage contracts were being drawn up while we’re here.”
She tried to keep her face impassive but she must have winced because Tricia’s eyes widened. “Are you not happy about the engagement?”
“I am.” She placed a hand on Tricia’s arm, trying her best to be sincere. “I couldn’t ask for better than Theo.” It was mostly true. In many ways she was very lucky to have made a match with him.
“What then?” Tricia asked.
She couldn’t confide in Theo’s sister. It was ridiculous. But then whom could she speak with? She could at least share part of the truth. “Your brother is so handsome and kind. I am truly fortunate. But Theo plans to start travelling again once we’re married. It frightens me to think of a holding up his interests while he’s gone. He wants me to—”
Tricia’s gasp interrupted. “By the saints.” Then she snapped her jaw closed. “I know what his plan is now. I should have known all along. His turn around was after you told him you’d been investing for your brother.” Her foot stomped. “This is the last straw. He can not take his responsibilities from Luke and Ryker and place them on you. It’s absolutely absurd.”
“I’ve no choice.” Violette chewed on her lip. “This match will save my family.”
“He knows it too.” Tricia’s hands clenched as she stared across the room. Then her eyes snapped back to Violette. “I’ll finance your future myself before I allow my brother to do this to you.”
That caught Violette completely by surprise. Her hands pressed to her cheeks as she looked back at Tricia. “What? You can’t mean that.”
Tricia straightened. “I mean every word.”
“My mother…,” she started. “She would never agree. He’s a duke.”
Tricia frowned. “What if I agreed to sponsor a season for both you and your sister? Although you might not marry a duke you could both make excellent matches.”
Violette pressed her hands to her cheeks. Her mother would be hard-pressed to deny that offer. Daffodil would surely flourish with a proper season. And though she hated the thought of losing Theo, the alternative was to lose him anyway. Being his wife while his first love was adventuring would be a loss she could never recover from because she would have to live it over and over. “I do believe she would be agreeable.”
“Good.” Tricia straightened. “Tabbie will help too. No one is angrier at Teddy than her. Ridiculous.” Tricia stopped. “My father was tough on us. But,” she shook her head, “now I understand why. He had good reason.”
Violette nodded. “I loved my father. But he didn’t take his responsibilities to our finances with any seriousness. We are paying the price.” She cared for Theo; in fact she was certain she loved him. But, if given a choice, it was best for her family now, for her future family, to marry a man who understood what it meant to care for the ones he loved.
“How do you feel about my brother?” Tricia asked, reaching for her hand. “Are you prepared to do this?”
Violette swallowed. “I fear I may be in love with him. But I can’t feel that way and marry a man whose first love is the sea.”
Tricia gave her hand a squeeze. “Clever girl. You really are perfect for him. I hope he sees that.” She leaned over and gave Violette a peck on the cheek. “Let’s get you back to the inn. I’ll take you myself. The first blow should be dealt by me. And just so you know, lock your door. Theo is going to be furious that I’ve meddled.”
Violette pressed her lips together. This was going to be terrible.
As she sat alone in her room, she grew more nervous. She hadn’t actually seen Theo’s temper and she’d no idea what to expect.
For the first time in her life, she wished her mother was there. Anyone really, to hold her hand or just sit by her.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Theo. He’d been nothing but kind. But now that she was alone, she wondered, was she making the right decision?
Straightening her spine, she brushed away her worries. She couldn’t be in a marriage where she was the only one in love. Nor could she marry a man like her father who didn’t take on the duties that a man should.
She’d seen that once in her life already.
As the sun began to set, she heard a commotion out on the street. She wondered what might be going on, it had been quiet as could be since she’d arrived.
Giving a shrug, she returned to her thoughts when a pounding know came at her door. “Violette. Open this door,” Theo said, his voice calm but cold.
“I can’t,” she answered softly. “I won’t.” She closed her eyes. She knew this was the right decision, but why did it have to hurt so much?
Chapter Twelve
Theo walked off the ships, shaking his head at the day he’d just survive
d. His face hurt horribly as did his ribs. Not that he’d tell Luke that.
Once he’d gotten over his anger at Luke and Ryker, he began to see their point. That point was driven home when he’d toured the boats. Though the fire looked as though it had started on the next ship over when a keg of gunpowder had caught on fire, the boiler’s explosion had doubled the damage.
What was more, the few sailors who had been nearby had perished in the explosion. It had been a gory mess. This was not a situation that he’d want Violette to handle alone…ever.
Thoughts of Violette made him quicken his pace. He had a fierce need to see her. Tuck her hand in his arm and pull her close to his body. Bloody hell, he wanted to kiss her or even just smell her.
What that meant for the future, he couldn’t say, but at this moment, it didn’t matter. Just being close to her was important. He’d figure out the rest as it came.
Barging into the hall, he hoped that no man was trying to win her affection. He’d have a devil of a time fighting anyone now.
But a quick scan of the room left him puzzled.
Luke and Ryker came up next him. They must have followed him up, though they hadn’t spoken. Fine with him. He didn’t want to talk with them either. He only wanted Violette.
He spotted Tricia coming toward him, her face set in stiff lines. “What is it?” he asked, not bothering with any pretense. “Where is Violette?”
“She’s gone back to the inn.” Tricia stood straighter. Not a good sign and doubt started to make his stomach churn.
He leveled his sister with a glare. She’d done something. Tabbie was an expert at deception but not Tricia. “I specifically told her to wait.”
“If she would be capable of running your affairs then she is certainly capable of walking to an inn,” Tricia snapped.
His first reaction was surprise. How did Tricia now that? And when had she ever spoken to him in such a way? His second was cold, hard dread. “What have you done?”
Ryker moved to stand next to his wife. The entire family was aligning against him.
My Duke’s Desire: Wicked Lords of London Page 7
