Chapter 29

Thursday

Thud, thud, thud.

"What is it?" Io yelped as she bolted upright with a start and blinked groggily around her, more than a little disoriented.

Oh, she thought after a moment. I'm still in room 320.

And light was streaming between the gaps in the drapes.

She had fallen asleep.

Thud, thud, thud.

"Io, dammit! Open the door!" a muffled angry male voice shouted.

"Corbin?" Io scrambled from the bed, catching her foot in the counterpane in her haste and falling to the floor with a squawk. "I'm coming, Corbin!" she shouted, freeing her foot with some effort before limping across the room. She flung open the door. "I knew you'd—" Her face fell. "Oh. It's you."

"I am so sorry to disappoint you," Zeus said coolly.

"Er—"

"May I come inside, or must we have this conversation in the corridor, Io?" he asked, looking and sounding every inch the Duke of Hastings from the toes of his expensive black leather shoes to the top of his high-crowned beaver hat.

Io turned away and shuffled into the room without answering. Behind her, she heard a soft snick as the door shut.

"Why are you limping?" he asked.

"It's nothing," she muttered, and then dropped onto the settee.

Zeus removed his hat, set it aside, and then stripped off his gloves one finger at a time, his eyes glacial.

Io rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Zeus. Must you? I already know I'm in trouble for not coming home."

He threw his gloves into his hat and came to stand over her, looming.

"You are hurting my neck. Just sit. Please," she added at the last moment. After all, he was a duke, a fact which had probably gone to his head.

An uncomfortable moment passed before he lowered his long body into the chair across from her.

"You are angry," she said.

"That is one word for it."

"I suppose Edith told you where I was. I'm just surprised it took her so long to tittle-tattle."

"Then you would suppose wrong."

She sat up straighter, hope leaping in her chest. "Corbin told you? Then where is—"

"An agent from British Customs told me."

Io's jaw sagged. She lowered her voice, "Is—is it against the law to have"—at the last moment she changed sex to something less offensive— "er, carnal relations outside wedlock?"

Zeus stared. If his eyes got any frostier it would start snowing inside the room. "Your illicit meetings with my friend are not why they have taken Corbin into custody," he said in a withering tone.

"Corbin is in jail?"

Zeus winced. "Please modulate your voice. It is still possible that not everyone in London knows my secretary has been arrested for smuggling."

"What?" she shrieked, not caring how hard her brother winced. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Evidently," he said icily, "it is you they should have arrested."

Io's mind raced and it didn't take long to reach the finish line. "They threw him in jail for importing condoms? The last time I checked that was not illegal. As for the custom duties, that is the responsibility of—"

"Your associate, Mr. Branson," Zeus finished for her.

"Yes, exactly. If anyone is to blame, it is Branson."

"You are correct about the duties. Unfortunately, that is not all Branson was dealing in, Io. He was using your shipment of condoms as a cover for far more nefarious business."

Io briefly squeezed her eyes shut before she forced herself to ask. "What?"

"Weapons."

"Oh, God."

"Indeed."

She forced herself to meet his gaze. "And you say he is in jail?"

"Correct."

She swallowed and then forced her face into a humble expression—not her forte by a long shot. "Can't you talk to them and convince them he is innocent, Zeus?"

"I have already spoken to the men holding him." A scowl settled on his handsome face. "Regrettably, Mr. Masterson had already muddied the waters so badly they have refused to let him go, regardless of my appeals."

"What do you mean he muddied the waters?"

"By confessing," Zeus hissed, anger finally flaring in his gaze, but melting none of the ice.

"Confessing? But why?"

"To protect you, Sister. Corbin is in jail and facing a very long jail sentence for you."

***

Io crossed her arms as she stared up at the man in the cheap, ill-fitting suit. "I won't answer another question without seeing Mr. Masterson.

The agent—Elder, his name was—looked at his partner, Carver. Whatever he saw on the other man's face made him nod. "Fine," he said, fixing Io with a hard look that was no doubt meant to terrify her. "You can have five minutes—"

"Fifteen minutes."

Elder looked as if he was going to fly across the scarred table that separated them and strangle her. Io was well-familiar with that look, having seen it on so many peoples' faces over the course of her life.

Behind her, Carver sighed heavily. "Fine. Fifteen," he said, strolling out from behind her chair, where he'd been standing since she'd taken her seat. She assumed it was meant to make her nervous so that she would break down sobbing and confess to anything they wanted.

Instead, it had irritated her and stiffened her resolve to give them nothing, her only words repeated demands to see Corbin.

Carver leaned a hand on the table and bent until his eyes met hers. "But once the fifteen minutes are over, you will tell us everything about Branson and agree to help us in an operation to bring down his smuggling operation."

Io brightened. "An operation? Yes, of course! I will be happy to do that. I already have a pistol in my satchel and—"

"No pistol!" they both said in unison.

Io glared at the men. "I was only trying to be helpful. So," she said after a few seconds passed and they said nothing. "Are you going to fetch Mr. Masterson now or are we going to engage in yet another contest of wills? Because I still recall how your last one with my brother ended."

Scowling, they turned and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind them.

Io grinned to herself as she relived the memory of Zeus and how masterful and ducal he'd been when they had arrived at the Customs Office.

"Out of courtesy and a desire to help, Lady Io has agreed to speak to you," he'd said in a quiet voice laced with menace. Then he had loomed over Carver. "If you harm a hair on her head you will discover that the retribution of an English dukedom will feel like the sting of a gnat when compared to the ire of an American brother. Additionally, I took the liberty of sending word to my dear friend the Duke of Axbridge before coming here. Should it be necessary, he stands ready to vouch for my character, that of my sister, and Mr. Masterson."

Carver's harsh craggy face had blanched at the name Axbridge and only a subtle nudge from Zeus had kept Io from laughing.

She had been so proud of her brother! He'd turned out so nicely. And to think a mere half a year ago she'd despaired of him ever becoming human.

The door opened, interrupting her private celebration.

"Corbin!" She scrambled up from her chair and threw herself into his arms, which closed around her like iron bands.

"I am going to spank you so hard you won't be able to sit for a week," he growled in her ear.

Io laughed and reluctantly released him just enough to pull back and see his face. "Is that a promise…Mr. Masterson?"

Corbin snorted. "You can take that to the bank, you vixen."

Io gazed into his tired gray eyes, her humor dimming. "I am so terribly sorry to have dragged you into this, darling."

He pushed a lock of hair off her brow, his eyes consuming her, as if he'd not seen her for a month instead of just yesterday morning. "And I'm sorry I wasn't there to meet you last night. Zeus told me you did not come home."

"I kept hoping you would have a change of heart and show up, so I waited. And then I fell asleep," she sheepishly admitted.

"Poor darling." He cupped her cheek, his look so tender it squeezed her heart.

"I have told the men who arrested you that I will give them a statement and all the information I have on Branson, but only after I spoke to you." Io chewed her lip, debating mentioning the part about the secret operation, and deciding against it given how stuffy Corbin could get about such things.

He slid his knuckle under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. "What are you keeping from me?"

"Er—"

"Io." He raised a dark blond brow.

Io sighed. "They also want me to help them bring Branson into custody."

"Absolutely not! That is out of the question."

"I will be utterly safe. You can even come along—I will make that a term of our agreement."

He eyed her steadily. "Is that all or is there more waiting to surprise me?"

"That is all. Once I write out my statement, we should be free to go." Io caressed his stubbly jaw with her palm. "Mmm, so virile," she murmured. She had never seen him so disheveled before. If not for his current predicament she would have enjoyed this more rugged version of her normally polished lover.

Corbin snorted and reached up to feel his other cheek, grimacing at the rasping sound his hand made. "I am eager to get home and wash off the stink of this place."

Io knew it was neither the time nor place, but she could contain herself no longer. "Edith said you were leaving with her and not coming back here. She said you'd only ever planned to stay a year in Zeus's employ." She bit her lip. "She said uglier things, too—about us."

Corbin gave her an exasperated look. "I cannot believe you would listen to a word Edith Barrymore said."

"So then it isn't true and you aren't going?"

"No, that part is true. I am going back to New York City."

"Can't Zeus send somebody else to act as nurserymaid to her? Does it have to be you?"

"I am not going because of Miss Barrymore—that is just a favor I am grateful I can do your brother. I am going because I promised Lizzy that I would return in a year. Although a year is not up, I have decided I don't want to wait any longer."

"So…you are not coming back, then?" Io felt like the lowest of creatures being jealous of a child.

He eyed her with sudden coolness. "Your life will be so busy that I doubt you will even miss me."

Io's jaw dropped. "What? Of course, I would miss you. How could you—" She stopped when a tiny smile tugged at his stern lips. "Corbin, are you toying with me?"

The faint smile turned into a distinct smirk. "Perhaps a little."

"You beast!" She struggled to get away from him, but he held her easily.

"Stop squirming," he murmured, his expression suddenly tender. "You must know I would never leave you, Io—not for long."

"So you are coming back?" She was so jumbled up inside that she was unable to keep a tear from falling.

"What is this?" Corbin asked, looking alarmed. "Tears? From you?"

"What? You didn't think I could cry?" she snapped.

"No. I thought only venom came out of your tear ducts, my darling viper."

Io gave a watery laugh. "Bal told you that, didn't he?"

Corbin laughed, the rare sound intoxicating. "It might have been your brother who mentioned it."

"Traitorous twin. So then what is your plan?"

"I will collect Lizzy and we will come back here. I have already told Hastings that she will be living with me and he kindly offered us a suite of rooms." He pulled an almost sheepish face. "It is not the first time your brother has tried to help me in such a way, but this time… well, this time I will put aside my pride and accept his generosity."

"What if I were to go with you?" Io blurted.

When he just stared, Io tried to inject some levity. "After all, you will need somebody to protect you from Edith's machinations."

Corbin hesitated only a second before saying, "I would like that, Io."

She could guess the reason for his reserve and decided it was her turn to toy with him a little. "I would not go as your lover, Corbin."

The pain that spasmed across his normally inscrutable features gutted her. "I shouldn't have teased on such a subject. What I meant is that I would go as your wife. If you want to marry me that is."

The hope in his eyes was almost as agonizing to behold as the pain had been, as if he didn't dare be happy. His lips parted. "Are you—I mean, marrying you is my dream come true. But is this really what you want? Are you sure?"

"I am sure about you, Corbin. As for the institution of marriage?" Io shrugged. "I will just have to trust you, won't I?'

He nodded somberly. "I wish I could change the laws for you, darling, but what you say is true. You will have to take my word that I will never control or inhibit your actions or beliefs. I swear to you right now."

"Even if I want to bring cases of condoms into the country and hand them out at tea parties"

He smiled. "Even then." His expression became stern. "I have one condition that I would like your word on. It is one I will not budge on."

"What is it?" she asked warily.

"I insist that you bring me with you when you visit dangerous men in the worst parts of town—or jeopardize your safety in any way. I promise not to interfere in any way and I will stand by you when you venture out to spread your message. I might not hand out any pamphlets personally, but I will protect your right to do so. I swear that on everything that is sacred to me. I just do not want you hurt in the process."

"Of course, I can agree to that."

"Are you sure? It will mean me tagging along with you."

"I am sure." She frowned when she saw a shadow fall across his eyes. "What is it? There is something else?"

"I know you do not want children, but Lizzy is—"

"I never said I didn't want children."

He blinked. "Er—"

"I said I did not want to be some man's broodmare. As for Lizzy, I look forward to having her with us, Corbin. How could you think otherwise?" she asked, pained that he would believe such a thing.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to hurt you. I only meant that most people do not start off their marriages with a child—it is something that usually comes later."

"Bal married a woman who has a son," Io retorted.

"That is true," he soothed, and then suddenly smiled. "Lizzy will be over the moon when she learns the mind behind Lizzy Takes Charge is to be her new mama. I hope you are prepared to endure a great deal of hero—er, heroine—worship. Not to mention that you will have to tell her all your new stories before you launch them out into the world."

"That sounds wonderful, Corbin. And she won't just have the two of us—she will have all my brothers and my sister, too."

"I know. Your family is so generous and loving it shames me how I misjudged you at first. Will you ever forgive me, darling?"

She tapped her chin consideringly. "Perhaps after I have made you grovel a bit more."

He laughed.

Io pulled him down and kissed him. "I have already forgiven you, you maddeningly wonderful man."

"I am relieved to hear it. As for going to New York, if you want to come with me—and I hope you will—we will have to have a small wedding and very soon, sweetheart. The ship leaves just three days from now. But we can have a celebration once we return. At Hastings Park, if you'd rather, so that Lord Balthazar can attend.

"That sounds perfect. I've never wanted a large ceremony." She paused and gave him a considering look. "Normally I would not cavil, but as I am now embarking down a more traditional, conservative, virtuous path"—she ignored his bark of laughter— "I don't recall ever hearing a proposal from you, Mr. Masterson."

"No. Surely I proposed?"

"You did not."

His eyelids drooped. "Will you marry me my clever, beautiful temptress vixen harpy—"

"Corbin!"

"—my wicked green-eyed virago—"

"What sort of a proposal is that?" she demanded.

"—the other half of my heart and the love of my life?"

Io stopped glowering and gawked up at him, lips parted. "Oh."

"Is that a yes, sweetheart?"

She nodded dumbly.

Corbin swooped down and kissed her soundly, his lips as firm and satiny as ever, but his scratchy bristles startling a gasp out of her.

Corbin pulled away and set his forehead on hers. "You have made me a very happy…person."

Io snorted. "And I promise that I will be a faithful, loving, and obedient wife."

As she'd hoped, Corbin threw his head back and laughed.

And then, the adorable man mooed at her.