Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

FOR ALL SYD'S forward thinking bluster and supposed independence, Octavian could see she was appalled to be found in his bedchamber by his staff the following morning. There was no help for it now. A select few had to be told since he was not going to have her don those boy's clothes she was wearing last night and try to sneak her out pretending she was a lad. She needed proper gowns to wear once they were on the road, and the Huntsford housekeeper would immediately notice if the so-called lad started pulling out gowns from Adela's wardrobe.

Nor did Octavian intend to drag Syd in front of a blacksmith and ask the man to marry them while she was garbed as a boy. She needed a pretty gown for her wedding day. As for her shame, she would be returning as his wife and her supposedly scandalous behavior would quickly be forgotten.

That she took it so hard surprised him.

Syd was tough, but he was seeing this very feminine side of her now, this traditional and genteel side she usually took great pains to hide. He liked it very much, but it also made him ache for her because she now felt so much shame in spending the night with him.

He was a dolt for not thinking twice about it last night.

But what could he have done differently?

No one was going to protect her as ably as he could. Nor did he trust her to stay put and not run back to her father, which was the reason he had insisted on their sharing quarters in the first place.

"Syd," he said quietly, "you know you can always rely on me. I will protect you from anyone and anything." This is what he kept assuring her in the hope she did not decide to cast aside their plans and run back to her father.

Or she might simply decide to run off on her own.

Syd on the loose was a dangerous thing.

"I am fine," she insisted, holding herself so stiffly Octavian was certain she would crack. "You needn't worry that I will suddenly disappear. I've agreed to our make-believe marriage."

"Good, because everything will be all right. I promise you." He requested the assistance of the housekeeper in packing a few of Adela's clothes for Syd. The housekeeper, Mrs. Quinn, was an efficient woman with decades of experience in the role. She next brought in Adela's personal maid to assist her, as expected.

Adela's maid chose well, he decided when Syd met him in the hall after washing and dressing in the duchess quarters while he did the same for himself in his own bedchamber. The soft rose color of her travel attire suited her complexion, although she was still too wan for his liking.

The gown molded delightfully to her body, but he tried his best not to gawk. It was not as though he could see much of her soft skin since the gown had a matching jacket that Syd had now buttoned to her throat. "You look lovely, by the way."

"Thank you, Octavian." She was obviously surprised, and also unsettled as the housekeeper and Adela's maid looked on while he spoke to her.

She was still suffering doubts about everything, he realized.

Was this the same brash, confident girl who had pushed him off the roof last night?

To his mind, that midnight excursion of hers was far more perilous than being caught in his bedchamber. Was it not clear to his valet and anyone else who poked their head in that the bed had been occupied by only one person? The pallet was still on the floor by the fireplace and he had left it there on purpose in order to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that they had not shared the bed.

Well, Syd always was that odd mix of independent firebrand and conventional lady. One never knew which side would come out in any given situation, but it was usually the firebrand. Why was that hotheaded girl missing today?

Perhaps he was the one who was clueless about women, having himself been raised in a family of all males. He had only courted a few young ladies and only halfheartedly at that before losing interest. His latest had been Lady Clementine Renfield, daughter of the Duke of Renfield, a beautiful debutante with an angel's smile but a devil's scheming heart.

Quietly extricating himself from that arrangement had proved thorny despite the passage of months, for Clementine was prideful and vengeful. He hoped his time in Scotland would give her the opportunity to move on and find someone else to marry.

Nor did he care if the gossip rags reported she had rejected him, which they would report because the vain girl was not going to let him walk away without dishing out a dose of humiliation.

Whatever it took to escape her clutches was worth it.

Syd also had her pride, but it was different. There was not a mean bone in her body. In truth, she was too loyal, too compassionate, and too eager to sacrifice everything for those she loved.

In their own way, both young ladies were hard to handle. For this reason, Octavian satisfied himself with casual dalliances where no commitments were required.

Not that any of it mattered now.

Once he married Syd, there would be no cheating on his part.

"Come have a bite, Syd." He was eager to grab a little sustenance before they got on the road.

Syd stared in dismay at the tray the housekeeper had just brought in and set atop his desk. "I'm not sure I can hold anything down."

"We're not going to stop along the way, Syd. You had better eat something. How about tea? And a little bread with honey."

"All right. You are quite the mother hen, did you know that?" she teased when he cut her a slice and began to pour honey on it for her.

"Never a mother hen." He grinned back at her. "I am a man, therefore I am considered manly and protective."

They shared a light breakfast while the Huntsford footmen loaded their bags onto his carriage. However, he had given more thought about their planned travel to Scotland and decided to send the coach and driver back to London once they reached Oxford. Upon arriving at that thriving town, he would make new arrangements with one of the local coaching companies to take them the rest of the way to Scotland in an unmarked conveyance.

Keeping his carriage or riding in one from Ambrose's selection would have been too conspicuous while they made their way north, especially with the Huntsford crest emblazoned on the door.

He could not risk them being so easily noticed.

A gentleman and his pretty wife signing in as Captain and Mrs. Thorne would not be nearly as conspicuous as Captain Octavian Thorne, brother of the Duke of Huntsford, traveling with a companion he claims to be his wife but why had no one heard of his marriage?

By the time he and Syd were ready to depart, they had been seen by just about everyone in the household save for the cook and scullery maids. Since Syd's presence was no longer a secret, Octavian summoned the entire staff. "Lady Sydney is here and under my protection because her life is in danger," he said, his tone quite serious. "If anyone comes around asking questions, you must tell them that you have not seen her. Her life depends on your silence. I cannot stress this enough. She was never here. Am I understood?"

They all nodded.

Syd's face was so pale, it served to confirm the peril of her situation.

That she stood silently beside him also helped convey the direness of it. He hoped she would remain meek and quiet until they were on their way. He did not need her mouthing off with false bravado and diminishing the importance of the warning he was conveying to the Huntsford staff.

"Captain Thorne," the head butler said, clearing his throat as he stepped forward.

"Yes, Greeves?"

The man appeared confused as he glanced at Syd before returning his attention to Octavian. "Are we to say nothing even if it is her family asking?"

"Especially her family." He now handed over the letters he and Syd had written last night. "These are to go out immediately to Lady Withnall, Lady Dayne, and Lady Gregoria Easton. This next one also goes immediately to Lady Muir or her husband, the Marquess of Muir. Either one will do. I trust them both."

In truth, he hoped Marigold, Lady Muir, would report the news immediately to her husband. The marquess, Leo, was smart and tough. He would look after the two dowagers, as well as Gregoria and Marigold, in the event Syd's father or Sir Henry sought to apply any pressure on them. Indeed, Leo was as fierce as a lion, as his name indicated, and would rip those scoundrels apart if they dared intimidate any of those ladies.

Octavian now held out one final letter. "This last one remains here and is to be handed over immediately to whichever brother of mine returns first."

The head butler took this last one from him, too. "I will hold this one safe and attend to these others at once, Captain Thorne."

Octavian nodded and dismissed the rest of the staff save for the Huntsford head butler and housekeeper. "If my brothers should ask, we are headed to Greenock and will return in about a month." He glanced at Syd, trying to get an indication of whether she would marry him or not. They had agreed upon their plan last night, but Syd was such a skittish thing, and she was so lost in her misery that she was not even looking at him.

So be it.

He said nothing about their marital intentions since he had no idea what would happen within the next hour, much less the full week it would take them to reach their destination.

Let his staff speculate, if they wished.

He would clarify the situation upon his return.

It was not quite seven o'clock in the morning by the time their bags were loaded onto the carriage. He helped Syd climb in and then did the same, settling in the seat opposite hers. He did not mind having to look at her lovely face the entire journey to Scotland, although he hoped to see her smile on occasion as they put distance between them and London.

She turned to stare out the window once they were off and making their way through the relatively quiet streets of London that would be bustling within the hour when many of the shops and businesses began to open. She remained staring out the window, ignoring his presence as the carriage clattered toward the outskirts of town.

Octavian glanced at her from time to time, his lips pursed in thought. Is this what their marriage would be? Her turned away from him and completely withdrawn?

What in blazes was he doing?

Syd suddenly gasped and drew back, trying to burrow into the fine leather of her seat. "That was Sir Henry's carriage. What is he doing out at this hour? He should have been home hours ago. And that is not the way to his home or my family's home. Where is he going? Do you think he knows? Is he looking for me? What if he is headed to your residence?"

"First of all, the Huntsford townhouse is one of the last places he will look. Did you not tell your family you were staying with Lady Withnall last evening? He will go to her first, and I can assure you, that tough, old bird will keep him waiting until proper visiting hours and then tell him nothing."

"All he has to do is question her staff and they will tell him I am not there."

"Perhaps, but Lady Withnall has probably trained them well by now. It is just as likely they will give out no information whatsoever."

"That is wishful thinking on your part, Octavian. Oh, dear. What if the cur is there when your messenger arrives with my letter?" Her eyes widened. "What if he steals that letter? I told her everything about our destination and our plan to marry."

"Syd, you are allowing your fear to get the better of you. Her butler will not allow him to touch her letters, nor will Sir Henry think to do so since he is going there because he believes you are sleeping over at Lady Withnall's home. So why would you write her a letter if you are already there?"

She let out a breath. "I see your point. But will he grab it once he knows I never showed up at her home? Her head butler must be over one hundred years old and will fall over if anyone merely blows on him."

"Syd, he is elderly but still has his faculties. You are grasping for reasons to alarm yourself. Lady Withnall has footmen who are young and strong enough to haul even me out of her house if she bade them. Sir Henry does not know you are with me and probably has yet to realize you are leaving London, so just calm yourself."

She leaned forward and grabbed his hands. "Octavian, if he does come after us…if he catches us and draws a weapon on you, then do not fight him. You must promise me this. He is vicious and will shoot you."

Gad, did she not get it yet?

He was going to protect her even at the risk to his own life.

He arched an eyebrow and regarded her with a look of boredom. "Fine, I will save my own hide and let him carry you off."

Her mouth formed a little "O" of surprise. "You will?"

He snorted. "Of course not. He can follow you into the bowels of hell with an army and I will be there ready to fight them to the last man."

"All of a hundred men?"

"Sir Henry is not going to travel with an army. Nor are we marching into the bowels of hell. We are only going to Gretna Green and then on to Greenock so I can complete my work on behalf of the Admiralty. You may have noticed I am wearing my uniform. It is because I am on official naval duty."

She emitted a breathy sigh. "You look splendid in it."

"Thank you, but that isn't my point. At best, Sir Henry will bring along five or six men, but no more. It becomes too unwieldy to move fast with many more men, not to mention the expense of feeding them all and difficulty in finding lodgings for them without advance planning."

"He will hire cheats and scoundrels, men no doubt used to being on the run. They can set up camp anywhere."

"Those men might, but Sir Henry is not going to sleep in a meadow, wash up in an icy stream, or dine around a campfire. He is used to his luxuries. But that raises a good point. We may have to abandon this carriage and our belongings and go on the run if Sir Henry catches up to us before we reach Gretna Green. Can you manage sleeping under the stars or eating whatever we can scavenge?"

"Sleeping outdoors? Eating…what exactly is scavenged food? But I'm sure I can." She leaned forward and gave his hands a light squeeze to emphasize her point. "I will manage. You'll just have to tell me what to do."

He sighed. "So, you've never camped out before?"

A blush stole up her cheeks. "I've gone hungry a time or two when my father had us running from creditors, but never for more than a day, and we always had a decent roof over our heads when we slept."

"So that's a no to all of it. All right. We'll come up with something if and when the situation arises."

She pursed her lips and frowned at him. "Should we not plan ahead for this eventuality? Especially since I am inexperienced in this matter."

"No. Besides, for a smart girl, you are inexperienced in many ways." Some more important than simply going on the run. He was thinking of the bedchamber, but quickly abandoned the thought because Syd would not appreciate that discussion. "I will show you what to do if ever we have to rough it outdoors. Stop looking for reasons to fret. This is not likely ever to come to pass. I'm sending this carriage back to London once we reach Oxford. We'll ride the rest of the way to Scotland in a hired coach."

"Is that supposed to make us less obvious?"

"Yes. I'll also use other stratagems to keep him off our trail."

"I hope they work," she muttered. "Sir Henry is quite dogged."

"I've noticed he seems to have developed an unhealthy fascination for you. Even so, he will have to get through me in order to get to you. He may be a dog, but I am a big ox and he will never get past me." Since she had yet to release her light hold on his hands, he traced a thumb across one of her small hands in the hope of soothing her. "Syd, whatever happens between here and Greenock, know that I will be with you."

She nodded unconvincingly, so he kept talking. "My first priority is to keep us out of sight as much as possible."

"That won't always be possible, especially if we are stopping at coaching inns."

"True, but I am never going to let down my guard. What we do in the unlikely event he finds us will depend on the circumstances. My battle training has prepared me for any eventuality. I'll use whatever resources available to protect you. The terrain, the weather, the proximity to friends who can hide us if Sir Henry manages to catch up to us before we are married. There is nothing to concern ourselves about right now. So, will you please stop fretting?"

She let out a soft breath. "All right. I'm sorry. It's just that I am so torn about whether I am doing the right thing. I'm putting you and my father in danger."

He emitted a soft growl. "We are both grown men. Don't you dare place blame on yourself for a situation completely of your father's own making. As for me, I volunteered. You did not coerce me. Nor could you have forced me to do anything I did not wish to do."

He stretched out on his seat bench when she released his hands, and tried to settle his large frame as comfortably as possible upon the soft leather. "I plan to catch up on my sleep since we got very little of it last night," he said, folding his arms across his chest and closing his eyes. "I suggest you do the same. You look exhausted, Syd."

She also looked achingly beautiful, but he preferred not to mention this because they were already in too close quarters and his thoughts continually strayed toward the impolite things he wished to do to her.

Oh, the things he could teach her.

Well, perhaps once they were married.

He watched her through hooded lids, pleased when she curled up on the opposite seat. "Octavian, I slept quite soundly once I was in your bed."

"Good, Syd," he muttered.

"It is a very nice bed and the scent on your sheets was quite pleasing. I think it was your scent, bergamot. Well, the point is that I felt safe and my sleep was delightful because I knew you were near me."

He stifled his yawn, for he did not want to discourage Syd from talking to him. "I'm glad. This is why I intend to stay near you during our ride north."

"You really have a very comfortable bed. But I am still quite spent from all the tension of this situation." She paused a moment and nibbled her lip. "I don't mean that your offering me a rescue plan is the reason for my tension. It does calm me to a point, but now I find myself worried about your getting hurt."

There was only one way he would get hurt and that was if Syd ended up not caring for him. Again, he intended to keep that thought to himself.

She was not ready to hear anything of a romantic nature.

Nor did he understand why he liked her as much as he did.

"What keeps me tense is my father and his foolish investments," she said, apparently not yet finished chattering at him, "not to mention his gambling, and Sir Henry being such an ogre. These are what have me so worried. I want to help my father, but I shudder to think what would happen if I married Sir Henry to settle my father's debt and then learned my father ran up more debts. Do you think Sir Henry would help him out with those new obligations?"

"Syd, surely you know the answer. He will let your father rot because Sir Henry has no incentive to help him once he has you. In fact, he will laugh at your father when this happens. Is there a doubt? How many times does it bear repeating? All you will accomplish by shackling yourself to that despicable man is gain a life of misery for yourself. Meanwhile, your father will continue his foolish ways, continue to run up debts, and get himself in trouble again within a year."

"You may have to keep reminding me. I am in so much agony right now."

"Because your loyalty is misplaced. Yes, he is your father and you love him. But it is he who made the mistakes and must own up to them. Even so, I will do what I can once we are married." He had been viewing her through hooded lids, but now opened his eyes fully and met her gaze. "Let me sleep, Syd. We will discuss this again later if you insist on it."

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to keep you awake. It could not have been very comfortable for you to sleep on your floor."

"It was fine."

"You are only saying this to be kind. You come across as cross and gruff, but you are quite a fine gentleman. I wish my father was more like you. I used to think he was so charming, but I know better now. Well, he is charming and affable, but quite selfish and scatterbrained. I would add forgetful, too. How does one ignore one's own mistakes and repeat them not even a few weeks later? He is so much like a child."

"And you are not his mother," Octavian warned.

"But I am his daughter."

"That's right. His daughter. Not his cattle to be sold at auction." Is this what married life was going to be with Syd? Constant talk? Constant reassurance that she was doing the right thing? Perhaps he was the one who would need the reassurance once they crossed into Scotland and were about to wed. "Are you going to keep me awake the entire ride to Oxford?"

"My, but you are a grumpy fellow." But one look at her big eyes and the soft smile she now cast him removed any doubts he might have about marrying her. This girl needed him and he felt bloody good about it.

Perhaps he needed her, too.

He had not figured out why yet.

Octavian realized he must have drifted off to sleep for at least an hour. When he woke up, they were well outside of London and making good time. If the weather held and this Huntsford carriage was exchanged for a plain passenger coach without delay once they reached Oxford, it was possible to get a good distance beyond Oxford before nightfall.

He would need to arrange for the safe return of his carriage to the Huntsford townhouse. Hopefully that would not take too long, either. Hastings was an experienced driver and knew how to care for the carriage and horses.

Most of all, Octavian hoped the weather would remain clear so they could put more distance between them and Sir Henry before the old bounder realized Syd was no longer in London.

As for sleeping arrangements, he decided they were better served by veering off the main coaching roads as night approached and finding a quiet, reputable inn within one of the smaller market towns. It was safest to remain slightly off the path rather than seek rooms in the larger cities or popular coaching inns situated along the well traveled routes.

Yes, he thought it best especially to avoid the larger cities since they were more likely to encounter other members of the ton there and easily be recognized. Settling Syd in a seedier part of whichever city they reached was a possibility, but held no appeal for him.

They would attract too much notice with him in his navy uniform and her in her elegant gown. Every cutpurse in the area would come after them.

Syd was no weak maiden, but he had no intention of placing her in added danger. Besides, he wanted to spoil her. Give her the best.

Again, this feeling baffled him.

What was it about Syd that made him want to give her the world?

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, although Octavian did not yet feel comfortable enough to take his eyes off her. They were not far enough away from London and Syd was unpredictable.

She could easily have a change of heart and run back to her father.

It was with much relief that she was still with him when they stopped at an inn just south of Chipping Campden for the evening. As the carriage rolled up to the Burford Inn's courtyard, Octavian turned to Syd. "All right, here we go. Our first test as lovebirds. Do you think you can act like a besotted newlywed?"

She arched an eyebrow. "Can you?"

He laughed. "Yes, so long as you do not rile me."

She cast him a playfully offended look. "You can be just as impossible, you know. Do not rile me and we shall be just fine. Oh, the innkeeper is scurrying toward us. What shall we say if he asks us questions?"

"About our marriage? That we were wed two days ago. A quiet ceremony in a local London church. Actually, describe Ambrose and Adela's wedding. Same details, just ours was two days ago. You are now Lady Thorne. No, make that Mrs. Thorne. Better to keep things simple."

"Wonderful," she said wryly. "How did you propose to me?"

"Same way Ambrose proposed to Adela."

She laughed. "Impossible. He insisted on marrying her because of a perceived scandal. I will not allow myself to be considered ruined and in need of your saving. Scandal is out of the question. You are in love with me, so quick…how did you propose?"

"At Lady Withnall's supper party a month ago. You looked radiant and I was transported." He groaned. "Enough, Syd. No one is going to ask us these questions. If you are at a loss, just bat your eyes at me and let me do the talking."

"You? You are going to make a mess of it."

He threw his head back and laughed again. "There's my Syd. Glad to have your insolent self back."

She winced. "I am not insolent, just–"

The carriage door was thrown open as the innkeeper and his staff hurried forward to attend to them. Octavian registered them as Captain and Mrs. Thorne, and requested their finest room.

Syd pinched his hand but he ignored her.

They were off the beaten path.

No one was going to find them tonight or follow their trail here anytime later. So why not indulge in the best for themselves?

"Yes, Captain. You are in luck. Our largest guest quarters happen to be available."

"Good," Syd said, obviously believing the innkeeper's reference to his largest quarters indicated a bedroom and a private salon– and therefore a sofa– which it probably did not have. "My husband is a big man and needs space to walk around after being cramped in a carriage all day. Would you kindly send up light refreshments for us? Dearest, would you like a bottle of scotch sent up as well?"

Octavian tried to hold back a chuckle.

Dearest?

In truth, the endearment sounded nice coming from Syd, but she must have struggled to keep from choking on it. "No, my love. A pot of tea will do for me."

The innkeeper smiled broadly. "Ah, a love match. Ye look like a pair of newlyweds."

Syd nodded. "We are, Mr. Hutchins. Married all of two days now."

The innkeeper's eyes brightened. "I knew it. Yer husband cannot take his eyes off you."

Syd turned to Octavian with an impish grin and batted her eyelashes. "Yes, he is quite besotted with me. It was love at first sight for him. Goodness, he was quite ardent in courting me. Of course, I took a bit longer to return his feelings because a gently bred young lady must be cautious in the man she chooses, don't you think? You must admit, he does look quite a bit rakish. But he has proven himself to be loyal and true. Clings to me like a little, lost lamb."

Octavian was going to throttle her if she did not stop talking. "Indeed, I cannot get enough of my new wife. If you will excuse us, we would like to retire to our chamber now. We intend to be back on the road at first light." He ordered breakfast to be sent up at the crack of dawn.

The room turned out to be quite pleasant, larger and more elegantly furnished than Octavian expected, but it was only the one room and it contained a big bed in the center of it. However, as elegant as this guest chamber was supposed to be, it had no decent carpeting. The room had small rugs the size of mats on either side of the bed so that their feet would not touch cold wood when getting out of bed, but those would not even accommodate the breadth of his shoulders if he attempted to sleep on them.

The bare wooden floor was going to be a problem.

He was not looking forward to spending the night on it after already spending last night sleeping on his carpet and then part of today sprawled uncomfortably on the narrow seat bench of their hired carriage.

His back would go out if he continued to sleep awkwardly along the journey.

Well, he had asked for this.

If he wanted a comfortable night's rest, he could have left Syd hidden somewhere in London and gone to Greenock on his own to attend to the Admiralty assignment. But those blasted protective instincts of his would never allow him to leave her behind.

Not knowing what was happening to her would eat his guts raw.

Syd was now making herself comfortable and had removed the matching jacket to her travel gown. Since it was actually Adela's gown, the fit was a bit tight and pushed up Syd's bosom so that an enticing bit of cleavage and swell of her nicely formed breasts showed.

She bent forward to retrieve something out of her travel pouch.

He needed a drink.

Perhaps he would ask for that bottle of scotch and get himself a little drunk. Better yet, he could get Syd drunk. He knew he could coax his way into that bed with her once she was feeling warm and tingly.

Well, no.

He was never going to take advantage of her in this fashion.

"Syd," he said, once the proprietor had left them and they were alone in their chamber, "need I review all the things you did wrong down there?"

"No, Octavian. I am quite aware of what I said and did. I am not in need of your lecture."

"Then why run off at the mouth, telling him how I courted you and followed you around like a lovesick lamb? Seriously?" He shook his head and sank onto the mattress. "You cannot spread lies wherever we stop. At some point, you will forget which lies you told to whom, and then we will be found out. It is your reputation at stake, not mine."

"You are right, but I needed something to ease my tension. I did not mean to irritate you. It was just gentle teasing. You and I both know you never looked at me with adoring eyes or ever followed me around other than to keep me out of tavern brawls. But we seem to have a bigger problem that I am sure you have noticed. This is a cold, hard floor. And there is a breeze coming through the door and window cracks. You cannot sleep on that floor or you will catch an ague."

"What do you propose? I am not letting you sleep there, so do not bother to mention it."

"I shall ignore the stupid remark. I can be ill and it won't matter. But you have to stay healthy and strong to protect me."

He eased back on the bed, propping his hands behind his head as he rested atop the pile of pillows. "You are not sleeping on that floor. And do not point out that I am already stretched out on the bed. It is just a temporary relaxation to ease my coiled muscles."

"Precisely the reason why you need the bed and I do not."

"Out of the question."

She sighed. "What if we asked for an adjoining room? We could tell the innkeeper your snoring seems particularly bad today and I–"

"No. I am not letting you out of my sight."

"Why? Don't you trust me?" She looked hurt. "I would never lie to you or steal from you. You know I am trustworthy."

"Syd, must I say it? Here's what I trust you will do. I trust that you will thwart me at every turn. I trust that you will run off without warning and do as you please. I trust that you will break your promises to me."

"Octavian!" She sank onto the bed and sat beside his prone form. "That is very unkind of you to say."

"But it is true, Syd. Do not bother to deny it."

"Is this what you think of me?"

Blast, now she looked ready to cry. But he wanted honesty between them, even if the truth was painful. "You also have many fine qualities, but cooperation is not one of them."

She pursed her lips, for she could not deny this was true. "Is it so terrible that I do what I think is right? My motives are always honorable."

"Honorable? Or hotheaded?" He grunted in exasperation. "And yes, it is terrible because you are not always right. You are sometimes so bent on doing whatever you want to do that you fail to consider the consequences to others or fully consider the consequences to yourself."

"Are you referring to those louts who accosted me and Gory in that tavern near the Royal Society when were trying to help Adela solve the theft of that priceless book from the Huntsford Academy library? The tavern was a respectable place frequented by scholars, and–"

"And you got yourself and Gory hurt because it was not quite as respectable as you believed. You were asking dangerous questions. Did you not consider that the thief would have friends? Because of you, I was left nursing a black eye for a week."

"Which only happened because you interfered."

"Interfered?" He wanted to throttle her for that stupid remark. Instead, he scooted over a little to give her more space to sit beside him on the bed. "I saved you. Which is something I had to do because you disobeyed my instructions and went to the tavern instead of going home as you were supposed to do. Syd, you could have been badly hurt had I not followed you there and got the two of you out in time. My black eye was nothing, for it quickly healed. But what bothered me most was that I could not trust you."

"It isn't the same," she insisted. "Yes, I defied you, but I never made you any promises. In fact, Gory and I were adamant about remaining involved in the investigation. You were the one issuing edicts I had no intention of following. But it all worked out in the end, so why are we quarreling about it now?"

"We are not quarreling. We are discussing that old situation as it relates to our current situation. If I tell you that you must do something, it is not because I wish to be an ogre. It is because I know what will happen if you defy me. Syd, at the heart of the matter is that we need to trust each other. I need you to promise that you will not run away from me."

"I won't run away from you. If I decide to leave, then I will tell you. I promise. But you must then allow me to leave if this is what I wish to do. Respect goes both ways."

He rubbed a hand along his jaw and groaned. "We are going to talk in circles. You still intend to do whatever you want to do. It does not give me any confidence. Just because you are going to tell me before you go off on your own doesn't make it right. It leaves me worried that you are going to run into trouble and will not listen to me, no matter how worried I am about you or how dangerous I know the situation to be."

"My valiant protector," she whispered, leaning forward to kiss him primly on the cheek.

Her bosom pressed lightly against his chest, the accidental gesture setting him instantly on fire because this is what Syd seemed able to do to him with her slightest touch.

Gad, why her?

Why could he not have these feelings for some biddable mouse of a girl?

"Give me time, Octavian," she said, her voice shaking with genuine feeling. "If you were raised with a loveable fool of a father and a mother who would rather suffer in silence than ever take a stand or make a decision of her own, you would understand me better."

"Ah, Syd. I do understand you. In fact, sometimes it is scary how well I seem to know your mind."

"You do have an impressive ability to thwart me at every turn," she acknowledged.

"I do not thwart you nearly as often as I wish. In fact, you outwit me constantly. Trying to stay a step ahead of you is usually a losing battle and exhausts me. But we would be quite something if we worked together instead of at cross purposes."

"Where would the fun be in that?" she said playfully, and then drew away when she heard a light knock at their door. "Oh, that will be our refreshments."

She rose and was about to hurry toward the door when he grabbed her gently by the wrist and whispered, "Syd, stop."

She turned to him in confusion. "Why?"

"Exercise a little caution. We don't know who is behind that door."

She frowned lightly and pursed her lips. "Octavian, you are being ridiculous. Who do you think is behind the door?"