Page 94 of The Miracle of Love
“Oh, my brave husband-to-be. If they irritate you, we can always settle them in a pretty house not far from us. How is that for a compromise?”
“Perfect, love.” He eased back against the settee and shifted her onto his lap.
She threw her arms around him. “Deklan, I love you.”
Mrs. Hyde walked in just then to announce luncheon was ready. But the words stalled and her mouth gaped open.
Grace had let down her guard and called him Deklan within her hearing. She was now making it worse by trying to cover up the error. “Oh, ha, ha…you heard that, did you? This is my pet name for my husband…” She paused and groaned.
He sighed.
Pet name?
Love. Sweetheart. Dearest. Those were pet names. But Deklan? Really? “Mrs. Hyde, summon your husband. I would like to speak to both of you.”
“Yes, Captain Driscoll…I mean…begging your pardon, but who exactly are you?”
Chapter Fifteen
Deklan did notintend to reveal more than his name to the Hydes because the rest was none of their business and they were not going to question too closely while in his employ. All he needed to tell them was that hiswife, Grace, had to go along with their false name in service of his duties.
He showed them his Crown badge, and that would have put an end to all questions had Grace not fled the room in obvious distress, putting more doubt into their heads. They all heard her scrambling up the stairs, and then heard the slam of a bedchamber door.
She was decidedly overset because they were unmarried and yet shared a bed.
“I gather you and the lovely lass are not husband and wife,” Mr. Hyde said cautiously.
Mrs. Hyde shot her husband a frown. “It is none of our business. Can you not see he loves her?”
“Indeed, Mrs. Hyde. I do. We will be married by the end of the week. If either of you dare cast her a disapproving look or ever utter a disparaging word against her, I shall sack you on the spot.”
“Mr. Quinton, it never even crossed our minds,” Mr. Hyde assured. “Why, Mrs. Hyde and I…well, let us just say, he who is without sin…and so forth.”
Mrs. Hyde nodded. “Mr. Hyde and I could not keep our hands off each other. Our daughter was born…um, early. It is common enough. But may I ask you a question, Mr. Quinton?”
He sighed. “Go ahead.”
“She seems very much a lady, not the sort to run off with you even though she obviously loves you in return. Nor do you strike me as the sort to steal off with a young lady and set her up in your home if you were not married. It seems to me there must be more going on than two lovebirds running off together.”
“There is, Mrs. Hyde. I am not at liberty to tell you most of it, but Grace was the one in danger and I was assigned to protect her. Her life was at risk and it was vital to keep her hidden. Traveling as husband and wife was the only way to ensure her safety while on the run. Several attempts were made to abduct her. For this reason, I could not let her out of my sight even for a moment.”
“And you fell in love while on the run?” Mrs. Hyde asked, obviously swept away by the romance of it and not the actual danger of the situation.
He cast her a wry smile. “Yes, Mrs. Hyde. This is exactly what happened. But we received word today the threat has been addressed. My priority now is to marry her.”
“Oh, my,” Mrs. Hyde said, “the poor dear. No wonder she would jump at every unexpected creak and thump.”
“And she kept very much to herself,” her husband added.
Deklan nodded. “For Grace’s sake, I will ask you to maintain the pretense of our marriage. As I said, she will be my wife by next week and I will not see her shamed when none of this was her fault.”
Brighton had been a quiet port town until Prinny, now king, plunked his Royal Pavilion in its midst. Recently, it had become a favorite summer retreat for the London elite. But they were still in the midst of winter and could get away with maintaining the pretense of husband and wife without anyone recognizing Grace and knowing she was a Montford or unmarried.
Grace would have to face the social slings and arrows sooner or later. But by next month, they would be back here, lawfully wed, and with her mother and siblings to support her if snide remarks were made.
He did not think there would be much resistance to her or her family here. Grace was too charming to be reviled for long, if at all, by the local population. She could start going out, join ladies’ clubs, begin to gain allies before the weather warmed and her elite friends descended.
He went upstairs and knocked lightly at their door. “Grace, I’m coming in.”
