Page 79 of The Untamed Heart

Her dark eyelashes were spiky and wet, her eyes red-rimmed, and her nose pink.

“I’m sorry,” he said helplessly. “I’m so sorry you were frightened, that…that a man like that forced himself into your life, into your house. It’s all my fault and—”

“Oh, no.” She pushed out of his arms and stood with her hands on her hips, looking remarkably fierce and rather angry.

Marcus regarded her warily as she raised a finger and wagged it at him. “Marcus Hamilton, if you have the temerity to take on another load of guilt, which is not yours to bear, I shall not be responsible for the consequences. This was not your fault. This was the fault of a wicked, cowardly man who envied you and who allowed his envy to poison his soul. He did this. You did not, and if you ever dare say anything of the sort, ever again—”

“Pax, love!” Marcus said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I take your point. It was just… My God, Eustacia, I feared I might lose you.”

The fight went out of her at once, and she ran back into his arms. “I know,” she said helplessly, the desperation behind her words telling him she had felt the terror every bit as keenly as he. “I know.”

She reached for him, pulling his head down for a kiss. He complied with alacrity, willing to give her everything, to give her all he was and all he would ever be, and whatever that might be, he knew he would be better, stronger, and happier with her.

Despite war, despite murderous plots to kill him, despite everything, including his own wayward thoughts, he had a future, and he was going to live every moment to the full with Eustacia by his side.

Chapter 22

Weddings and other complications

Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 1st October 1816

“Where’s my tea? And I want my books. I can’t be stuck here for bloody days with no work I shall go stark, staring mad,” Lucius proclaimed irritably, throwing the blanket one of the maids had settled tenderly over his knees onto the floor.

Sherry sighed, he’d been utterly impossible from the moment they’d got here.

“As shall we all,” Hawkney retorted, glaring at him. “For God’s sake, Lucius, I’ll shoot you myself if you don’t settle down.”

Sheringham sent Hawkney a sympathetic smile but drew him to one side. They were ensconced in the duke’s study, Lucius sitting with his feet up by the fire, but everyone was still on edge after the events of the morning.

“I know he’s a pain in the arse, Al, but he’s anxious. I think being away from his home unsettles him dreadfully. It’s all right when he’s working for his mind is occupied, but I think he’s in earnest. He cannot be still, cannot be without something to do.”

Hawkney glowered but let out a breath and nodded. He went to his desk, took out a notebook and a pencil, and threw them into Lucius’s lap. “Write down everything you need, every book, every pencil, every file. You may even bring the bloody ostrich if you must. I’ll have it brought here at once.”

Lucius blinked at Hawkney, snatched up the pencil and began writing, his expression intent.

Hawkney shook his head in despair and turned away to pour himself a drink.

“Lucius!” Sherry said sharply.

Lucius glanced up with a frown. “What?”

“Say thank you, you ungrateful arse.”

Lucius looked mildly surprised by the reprimand. “Didn’t I?”

“No!”

“Oh. Er… Thank you, Alex. Good of you.”

“Yes, it is,” Hawkney replied tersely, but he regarded Sherry with amusement as he sat down with his drink. “Well, all’s well that ends well.”

Sherry nodded and picked up the glass Hawkney had poured for him, settling himself down too. His nerves were still jangling. Though he’d not been involved in the life and death struggle Marcus had endured, or that Hawkney had witnessed, seeing Lucius shot had been a tremendous shock. He knew, of course, that life was precious and often far too short, but he had never witnessed such violence before. Oh, he’d had his fair share of fights, but those had been all about giving the other fellow a hiding, not about taking his life. It had unsettled him and made him look a little closer at his own life.

He wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.

Sherry smiled as he sipped his drink, amused that Lucius was content now he had something to occupy him. Heaven help the poor servants tasked with bringing everything he needed for his convalescence.

They’d had the devil’s own job persuading the impossible man that he could not travel for a while. Even though it was obvious he was in pain, Lucius had insisted he must make the journey back to Sevenoaks until Hawkney had lost his temper and put his foot down. Astonishingly, Lucius had listened to him, but that did not mean he’d been gracious about it.