Page 61 of Their Brazen Countess
“Always, Wood Sprite.” Linc let go of her. “I’m sure Arthur needs a moment with you as well. Let me finish up with Matthew.” He smiled softly at her and walked over to where Arthur was helping the boy finish changing his clothes. “Go on, I’ve got this.”
Arthur nodded and stepped over to hold Jo in his arms.
Matthew yawned mightily as his head poked through his borrowed nightshirt. “Can we climb down a rope again tomorrow night?”
Linc laughed. “I hope that won’t be required two nights in a row.”
“But it was great fun once I saw you and Uncle Arthur there. At first, it was awfully scary. But then you two appeared, and I knew you wouldn’t let anything bad happen.” The boy grinned up at him as he climbed into the trundle bed that rode low to the ground.
Linc’s heart gave a slow thud at the boy’s faith in them. “Of course we wouldn’t. But maybe still, we can find some other adventure to get up to tomorrow?”
“Very well.” He yawned once again. “I’ll sleep on it.”
The boy promptly fell asleep.
Linc stepped over to where Arthur and Jo were still huddled together. “He is quite enamored with the night’s fun. But I suspect he’ll sleep the night through. He seems worn out.”
“No doubt.” Jo smiled at them. “I was disappointed we would not be staying with you two, but I see the sense of staying here.”
“Good,” Arthur murmured. “We’ll be by tomorrow morning to see you both, and we can sort out what comes next. We’ll also introduce you to everyone.”
“Very well.” Jo yawned herself.
“I wish we could sleep with you in our arms tonight, but it will be enough to know that you are safe here.” Arthur caressed her cheek and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Linc embraced her once more. “We’ll see if we can arrange some time for just the adults soon.”
“Please.” She smiled softly at them. “A lady must reward her heroes.”
They slipped from her room and left her to prepare for bed.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Arthurstoodinhisstudy and stared at the fire. He knew what he wanted to do, what he needed to do. But he was worried about Linc.
There was a short, sharp knock on the door, then it opened. “There you are.”
Arthur turned and found Linc standing just inside the door. “Yes, I’ve been here brooding.” He couldn’t help but offer a sardonic smile.
“I can see that. The question is, what precisely are you brooding about now?” Linc strolled toward him.
He sighed. “You.”
That pulled Linc up short. “Me? Why?”
“Yes, you.” Arthur felt the love he had for him well up inside. “I think about you often, you know.”
Linc sauntered forward and pressed up against him. Chest to chest, he cupped his face. “Only the best thoughts, I hope.” Linc winked at him in a saucy manner.
Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle. “Almost always.” He drew in a deep breath and found Linc’s gaze. “One of us needs to marry Jo to protect her.”
Linc nodded solemnly. “I agree. The protection of one of our names would be very helpful, under the current circumstances, though I must say that would only be the icing on the cake. The real treat is, of course, having Jo in our lives forever.”
“Very much agreed but that does beg the question. Who should marry her?” Arthur winced as he posed the ultimate question. “Legally, I mean.”
“I understand what you mean. I should think the answer would be obvious.” Linc stepped back, letting his hand drop from Arthur’s face.
Arthur huffed, annoyance nipping at him as he tried to read Linc’s reactions. “If it was obvious, I wouldn’t have been sitting in here brooding about it.”
