Page 52 of A Tenuous Betrothal
His face tightened again, and he stepped away. “Except that I never want you to be in such a position again. There is no reason for you to have to feel those feelings, to shake in fear, to have to be concerned for your safety. I do what I do so my family can feel safe.” He shook his head, his eyes agitated, his hands active, as though uncertain where to land. He was more upset than she’d ever seen him. “I do it so that people—so that you—don’t have to be afraid.”
“You are very good at what you do, Marc. I did not feel I was in danger, because I knew you were there.”
His eyes warmed a moment. “And that’s how it should be. I’ll make certain of it.” He held out his arms as though to pull her closer. “I never want you to be in danger like that ever again.”
She stepped into his offered embrace as though she belonged there. His arms went around her, protective, strong, tender, and warm. “I know I will be safe with you.”
But he stiffened and stepped away. “No.”
“No?” Concern tightened in her chest.
“You will be safe because you willnotbe with me.”
She started to shake her head, but he held up a hand, took the reins of both horses, and started walking. “Today, I saw the folly of my misguided attempt to be closer to you,” he said. “You must find a good, safe, pleasant sort of chap to marry.”
Before, she’d found it difficult to see his role in security, hard to believe he was a spy, but now it was clear in his rigid stance, his readiness, his awareness. “Marc.” He walked ahead of her, and with both horses at his sides, she was forced to follow much farther behind. “Marc.”
He shook his head. “I cannot talk about it, or I’ll change my mind.”
“Change it, then.”
But he did not answer, and they walked the rest of the way back to the duke’s home in silence. Rhi went in through the servants’ entrance while Marc brought the horses to the mews behind.
She soon found herself in the kitchen, hoping for something warm to drink, and Marc joined her again. “You can imagine that I have some rather unpleasant tasks to attend to. I trust you will be well?”
“Yes, I will.” She curtsied. Everything seemed so formal. “Thank you for the picnic. It was lovely. Until it wasn’t, and then it was wonderful of you.” She fumbled over her words. “Well, anyway, just, thank you.” She stepped nearer to him, but he stepped back.
Sophie entered through the main kitchen door. “Welcome back.” She seemed to sense the tension in the room. “Is everything all right?”
Marc edged toward the door to the rest of the house. “Is Bartholomew around? Miss Davies and I were interrupted by some undesirables.”
She gasped. “Oh dear. He is in his study.” Immediately, her arms went around Rhi. “Come, let us get you full of warm tea, and I want to hear all the details.”
Rhi looked around Sophie for some encouraging expression from the prince, but he had already made his way toward the duke’s study without sparing her a glance.
Chapter Eighteen
Marc couldn’t decide whether tosit or stand in Bartholomew’s study, so he alternated between the two. “I’ve never been more frightened. If anything had happened to her, I don’t know what I would have done. Father would have been more than disappointed. And I...” Marc ran a hand through his hair. This was precisely what he knew—what he’d always known—he needed to avoid: any kind of personal entanglements, at least until he could return home and set things right again in his country. He could not be worried for Miss Davies’s safety while trying to do his job.
“But it sounds as if you fixed the problem with no injuries and not even too much of a disruption to your afternoon,” Bartholomew said.
“True. But they were novices, hired to rob us by someone they claim is a diamond bandit, if there even is such a person. But what if they had been trained assassins? What then?”
Bartholomew sighed. “I can’t know any more than you can.What thenis a question one could ask about any number of details. Life doesn’t bring with it guarantees. But do you, then, refuse to live because of the worry that you might die?”
“No, I do not. Not when dealing with only my own life. But I cannot involve another in the kind of risks I take.”
They both sat now in the duke’s comfortable space, but Marc could not feel at ease. “I need to tie up the problem of these men. I left one of them tied up in the woods, but the other ran off. I’ll arrange for assistance from the Bow Street runner I hire on occasion while I’m here. He is good to me but will want an explanation. Might I now borrow your carriage?”
“Of course. Do you wish for my company as well?”
“Better you are not in that part of Town.”
“If you’re certain.”
“I’ll call my brothers, and we will take care of things. Don’t be surprised if I take to my ship in the next few days. You’ve been so good to Miss Davies. Is it too much of an imposition to leave her in your care? We shall travel with as many of her servants as will come back with us to Oldenburg, but might she continue on here, find her match if she so desires?”
“It wouldn’t be an imposition at all. Sophie has found a fast friend in Miss Davies, and I think it has lightened her life. Thetoncan be lonely unless one has a confidante.”
