The Hero Least Likely

by Darcy Burke

Catching her subtle meaning, his skin warmed. How she had talked him into engaging in intimate play at the gazebo, he still couldn’t figure out, but if he was honest with himself, he had to admit that she could talk him into doing anything. Unfortunately, he didn’t think her mind would be on trying the things they had read about in the book after she found out what he needed to tell her.

  “Actually, I was thinking of taking a carriage ride today.”

  “A carriage ride might be a nice change.”

  She winked at him and he glanced at the servants, praying none of them knew what she was hinting at. “I’ll send for the coachman at once.”

  A slight smile curled her lips upward as she rose from her chair. She wouldn’t be smiling for long. He hurried off to arrange for the carriage ride while she slipped into warmer clothing.

  In due time, they were sitting together in the carriage, and he brought her into his embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist in a way that spoke volumes of how much she loved him.

  He kissed the top of her head. “Paula, I love you and nothing will ever change that.”

  She lifted her head off his shoulder and looked at him, her eyebrows furrowed. “You sound serious. Are you about to tell me something I won’t like?”

  Giving her a gentle squeeze, he said, “I received a missive from your brother, and he’ll be coming out here tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “I know I should have told you sooner, but we were having such a wonderful time and I didn’t want to spoil it.”

  She turned her gaze to the small window and didn’t answer for the longest time. When she finally did, her voice was so low, he barely heard her. “How long will he be here?”

  “Two weeks.”

  Her eyes wide, she looked back at him. “Two weeks?”

  Not surprised that she nearly shrieked the question, he took her hand and gently squeezed it. “Paula, not too long ago, you were at his townhouse and seemed to be getting along with him. What’s going on?”

  She let out a long sigh. “Nothing. I…um…I’d like to spend time alone with you, that’s all. As you said, we’ve been having a wonderful time. Just the two of us. I like it that way.” She glanced out the window. “I didn’t think he’d invite himself all the way out here.”

  “Actually, I invited him when we were at Lord Reddington’s ball,” he forced out, knowing full well this wouldn’t please her any more than the news of her brother’s impending arrival.

  “You invited him?”

  “I can’t go into my reasons, but I had to.”

  “Did he make you invite him?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Did he say something?”

  “Something like what?” he asked, hoping she’d slip and give him a hint into what was going on.

  “Something about me wanting him to visit?”

  “No. I extended the invitation and he accepted. I’d like to get to know him better. However,” he began, a twinge of guilt making him reconsider his plan, “when he arrives, I’ll tell him a matter’s come up and he’ll have to return to London.”

  He thought she might agree to it by the way her body relaxed. And as disappointed as he’d be since he wanted nothing more than to figure out what was going on, he’d rather do that than put her under more strain than she could handle.

  She shook her head. “No. Don’t send him away when he arrives,” she said, her tone soft. “It’s only two weeks and after that, he’ll be gone.”

  He’d be lying if he didn’t admit how relieved he was that she relented. And that being the case, he wouldn’t try to coax her into telling him what hold her brother had over her. He’d find out soon enough.

  Paula pressed her hands over her stomach, afraid at any moment she might lose her lunch as Stewart’s carriage pulled up to the front of the house.

  Two weeks. It was only two weeks. Surely, she could do this. Because if she didn’t allow him to visit, who knew what he’d tell Perry?

  She glanced at her husband as he stepped toward the carriage to wait for the footman to open the door. The fact that Perry hadn’t pressed her for more information should have made her feel better about the whole thing. He knew she didn’t want her brother there and yet didn’t insist she tell him why. He merely accepted her answers and still treated her as if she was the most important person in his life. How could someone so wonderful exist? She couldn’t find any fault in him. He was altogether lovely, and she was very much undeserving of his love.

  Stewart got out of the carriage, his gaze lingering on the manor as Perry welcomed him. No doubt he was in awe of how big the place was. Even Paula had marveled at the size of it when she came here. And more than that, the grounds were immaculate and the stables in good order. Everything Perry owned was well-cared for.

  “You must be exhausted after your long journey,” Perry told her brother. “I’ll have the butler show you to your bedchamber and have a bath brought up for you.”

  Her brother’s eyebrows rose as he glanced in her direction. “My sister has done very well in marrying you, my lord. Had I known how good you would be to her, I never would have protested the union the night we met.”

  Through great force of will, she managed to avoid rolling her eyes. No doubt he was thinking that Perry had more money than even the Duke of Leavenshire, and that was to his benefit.

  “That’s all in the past. The important thing is we make a profitable future together,” Perry told him.

  She studied her husband, wondering why he should choose the word ‘profitable’. It almost seemed as if he said it to catch her brother’s interest, but that couldn’t be the case.

  “Indeed,” her brother agreed.

  She nearly gagged. Could he sound any more excited? If he wasn’t careful, he was going to give his intentions away. Then Perry would begin to ask questions, and those were questions she didn’t want to answer. She rubbed her stomach, sure she was going to be sick. How was she going to survive the next two weeks acting as if everything was all right?

  As Stewart passed her, he slowed his steps and whispered, “Are you expecting?”

  “No,” she hissed. How dare he ask her something so personal in front of everyone? Even if he was quiet, someone might have overheard.

  “I meant no offense,” he replied, his eyes widening innocently. “You look as if you’re ready to vomit, and I can only think of one reason why that might be.”

  “Is something wrong?” Perry asked as he approached them.

  “I merely made an inquiry regarding my sister’s health,” Stewart replied. “I thought she looked ill. Thankfully, she’s feeling fine.”

  Perry placed a comforting hand on the small of her back and led her into their home, the butler leading her brother in behind them.

  “Before I see my room, may I have a word alone with my sister?” Stewart called out.

  Her stomach rolled. She was going to throw up. She just knew it! He was probably ready to demand she give him money. And she didn’t have any excuses to give Perry about needing to buy something.

  Perry turned to her. “Did you need to change for dinner?”

  Sweet Perry. Always looking for ways to protect her. He was giving her the perfect opportunity to bow out of this awkward situation. But she didn’t dare upset her brother who could let something slip at any moment. “I’ll go to my bedchamber in a moment. I’m sure whatever Stewart has to say, it won’t take long.” She glanced at him and silently pleaded with him to accept those terms.

  “It won’t,” Stewart—thankfully—consented.

  “All right then,” Perry replied then looked at her. “I’ll be getting ready for dinner.” The footman came in with Stewart’s luggage and took it up the stairs. “We’ll have you all settled in soon,” Perry told her brother. “Paula, if you need me, you know where to find me.”

  She nodded.

  “Will you require anything to eat or drink?” the butler asked.r />
  “No,” she answered before Stewart could open his mouth. “As my brother said, this will be only a moment.”

  “Summon me when you’re ready to go to your bedchamber,” the butler told Stewart.

  Not bothering to see if her brother responded, she hurried to the drawing room. Her knees were so weak that she had to sit on the settee or else she would have fainted. Having Stewart under the same roof was going to be a more trying experience than she anticipated.

  Her brother shut the door and made a show of inspecting the furnishings as he approached the chair next to her. “I didn’t think your husband’s things would be more expensive in the country. I thought he only displayed his best where others could stop in and see it at a moment’s notice.”

  “The portrait is Perry’s grandfather. The desk belonged to his great-grandfather. The other furniture all belonged to his father. As for the inkwell and everything else on the desk, they belonged to his mother. You can’t have anything in this room.”

  He settled in the chair next to her and put his feet on the small table in front of him. “I don’t recall saying I wanted something in this room.”

  “Before you did, I’m just letting you know you can’t. Everything has sentimental value. He’ll notice if you take any of it.”

  “Does everything in this manor have sentimental value?”

  “Most of it does.”

  “These things in his possession were handed down to him from one generation to another?” He rubbed his chin, a slow grin spreading across his face. “But I notice everything is in excellent condition. He has to have money to manage that. And the servants are better dressed than some noblemen’s. The poor man has nothing to do but spend money on people. I’ll be doing him a service. He needs help disposing of his unlimited wealth.”

  “I may not be privy to how much he’s worth, but I assure you, it’s not unlimited.”

  “Well, he has far more than most noblemen.”

  “Stewart,” she warned, her anger starting to overcome her fear of him, “he’s already a generous person. It’s not right for you to take advantage of someone so nice.”

  He smirked. “My dear, dear sister, if he’s too nice to say no when someone needs financial assistance, then it’s his fault if he gets taken advantage of.”

  “I mean it, Stewart. Don’t take advantage of him!” Realizing her voice had been louder than she intended, she glanced at the door and prayed no one overheard her.

  “I don’t know what you’re getting so upset about. It’s not like he can’t afford it. But,” he rose to his feet and examined the room, “in order to stop you from acting hysterical for the next two weeks, I’ll be discrete. If you are that worried, you could always distract him by taking him to bed. A lady with your past must be good at that kind of thing.”

  She stood up to slap him, but he was already on his way to the door. Her jaw clenched, she sat back down. Her body shook with rage. She’d love nothing more than to get rid of him, once and for all. But doing so would cost her Perry’s love, and if there was one thing she couldn’t lose, it was that. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. Two weeks. It was only going to be two weeks. She could make it to then. Her fingernails dug into the palm of her hands. She hoped.

  TWENTY-TWO

  “I must say, this is a splendid meal,” Stewart raved before he took a sip from his wine.

  Perry wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin and set it back on his lap. “Thank you. Cook will be pleased to hear you think so.”

  A glance in Paula’s direction showed Perry that she’d barely eaten her food. Biting back the urge to plead with her to eat, he settled for smiling instead. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought tears filled her eyes before she returned her gaze to her plate.

  “I can’t compliment him enough. I’ve never had venison this good before,” Stewart said, either oblivious to his sister’s condition or too wrapped up in himself to care.

  But as much as Perry didn’t want to think it, he suspected Stewart knew full well how much she was hurting. Forcing aside the rise of guilt he experienced at putting her through this, he set the napkin on the table and nodded to the butler that the meal was over.

  “Paula, why don’t you retire for the evening?” Perry suggested, thinking she needed to get away from her brother right away. As it was, she’d start crying in front of everyone if they lingered any longer. “Stewart and I will play a game of chess in the den.”

  “A game of chess?” Stewart asked. “I haven’t played in years.”

  “Then I’ll try to go easy on you.”

  He chuckled and finished his wine. “I hope so. Otherwise, it’ll be the quickest game ever played. I was never that good at it to begin with. Isn’t that right, Paula?”

  Grabbing his cane, Perry rose to his feet and went around to Paula’s side so he could gently take her by the arm to help her stand up. “Paula’s had a long day. Before you came, we went horse riding together.” He motioned to the maid. “See our guest to the den and provide him some brandy while he’s waiting for me.”

  While Stewart got up from his chair, Perry pulled her to the side of the room. He would have taken her to the hallway if he thought he could have beaten Stewart there, but his limp wouldn’t give him the speed needed for it. After everyone cleared the room, he clasped her hand.

  “Do you mind if I play chess with him?” he asked, his voice low.

  “You can do anything you want,” she replied, her head lowered.

  Placing his finger under her chin, he lifted her face so that she’d look at him. “Paula, what’s wrong?”

  She blinked back her tears. “I’m afraid you’ll stop loving me.”

  He expected her to say nothing was wrong. He’d hoped she’d tell him something about her brother that would help him. But he hadn’t expected her main concern to be whether or not he’d continue loving her. “Why are you afraid I’ll stop loving you?”

  “You’re a good gentleman, Perry.” A tear slid down her cheek, so he brushed it away. “I wish I’d known you were going to be in my life. If I had…” She swallowed. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Contrary to what you think, I’m not perfect.”

  “Yes, you are. Everything you do, you do for the benefit of others. There are people who’ll take advantage of that.”

  While that might be true about her brother, his heart was safe with her, which was why he couldn’t understand why she’d say she didn’t deserve him. Some of the ladies he met took one look at his cane and didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Some didn’t think he was exciting enough to be with. The rare few who might have taken an interest in him ended up married to someone else before he had a chance to know them.

  “I don’t care what brought us together,” he told her. “I’m just glad you’re with me.”

  “Once you talk to my brother, you might not feel that way, but whatever he tells you, please don’t let him take advantage of you.”

  He opened his mouth to ask her what her brother could tell him that would possibly change his opinion about her, but she excused herself and hurried out of the room.

  “Will there be anything else, my lord?” the butler asked as he entered the dining room.

  Listening to her retreating steps as she ran down the hall, he shook his head. “No. Not right now.”

  “And that is why the Corn Laws were passed,” Perry concluded as he moved his chess piece and won the third game of the evening. “Sometimes all it takes is for people in a certain position to do things that aren’t for the good of all.”

  Across from him, Stewart covered his mouth to stifle a yawn. “Yes, that’s very interesting.” He picked up his glass and chugged down the rest of the brandy. “I’ll be honest. I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on in Parliament. I’ve been too distracted by more pressing matters.”

  “What matters would those be?”

  “Oh, I don’t want to trouble you.” He glanced at his pocket wa
tch. “Besides, it’s late.”

  Perry knew full well Stewart was hinting around at something, but he was smart enough to figure out that it was too soon to ask him for money. He’d need to wait just a bit longer until he believed Perry was more likely to give him what he wanted. And that was fine. Perry could wait. He didn’t expect Stewart to expose his intentions immediately. Stewart would need a few more days, and in that time, he would continue to hint while he offered Perry false praise in an effort to win him over.

  Deciding to follow his example, Perry took out his pocket watch. “You’re right. It is late. I can’t believe how quickly the games went.”

  As they rose to their feet, Stewart set his glass down and chuckled. “I told you I wasn’t the best player.”

  “Oh, you did fine.”

  Perry had no doubt Stewart was as bad as he claimed to be at chess, but Stewart’s aim was probably to make Perry feel like a good player. That, of course, was downright insulting since Perry really was a good player. He didn’t need someone letting him win a game to know it.

  As the two made their way out of the room, Stewart said, “I can’t thank you enough for inviting me here. Paula was right about you. She said I’d enjoy talking to you.”

  “It was nice of her to put in a good word for me.”

  “She couldn’t have picked a better husband.” He patted him on the shoulder. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll get to join you for a horse ride.”

  “I hope you brought a good riding outfit for this time of year.”

  “I brought my best one. It might not be in prime condition anymore, but I believe it’s doable.”

  There it was. Another hint at his lack of funds. “If it’s not suitable, we can certainly play more chess.”

  “Or take a tour of this place,” Stewart suggested as he glanced around as they headed for the staircase.

  “I’ll be happy to show you around.”

  Once Perry saw to it that Stewart had his valet’s assistance for the night, he proceeded to his bedchamber. Tonight, he didn’t feel like having his valet help him. His concern was Paula. It hadn’t been easy to find things to talk to Stewart about. The gentleman hadn’t been forthcoming with anything useful, choosing instead to offer senseless flattery. But it was all part of the game he was playing, he supposed.