Page 72 of Madcap with a Marquess
Rupert cleared his throat. “He seems…nice,” he managed. Rupert wasn’t sure if the man recognized him for who he truly was. For now, he quite liked the anonymity.
The man next to him let out a deep chuckle. “He is a good lad. A deep sense of honor and responsibility runs through him, even when he was younger. Especially toward Her Ladyship.”
Rupert’s gaze flew to the man’s.
The man doffed his hat and dipped a shallow bow to Rupert. So, the man did recognize him. And still spoke to him.
“Mr. George Doherty, my lord, at your service.” He turned back to the fire, staring at Franny and his son. “Your lady spent many a meal at our table growing up. Came to us half-starved most times. She never said anything, but she always had one too many bruises, even for a wild lass such as she. I think Billy saw the state she was in and took it upon himself to protect her in any way he knew how. Always escorting her home, making sure she got back to her father’s land safely.”
Half-starved? Rupert found it was suddenly very difficult to draw in air. He eyed the tall young man dancing, teeth flashing in a wide smile down at Franny. He hated him. He was grateful to him.
“Three years past, her father saw Billy escorting her home. She never came ‘round again after that. Her Ladyship doesn’t know, but her father paid us a visit. ‘Twas not a pleasant one. I can only imagine the threats he put to us matched what he put to his daughter. Billy was in a right state over it. A hard lesson for a young man to learn, that there is a certain way about life, order of things, that limits his ability to help others. He would have stormed the Abbey and rescued her—and then would have surely swung by his neck—if I hadn’t kept an extremely close eye on him.”
“I believe I owe him an expression of gratitude, then. And you as well, Mr. Doherty. I am not unaware of the Earl’s treatment of his daughter. Though it is unfortunate that my discovery came much too late.”
“No thanks required, Your Lordship.” The man caught Rupert’s eye. “She is always welcome at our table.”
If she were allowed. The unspoken words hung between them. The unspoken question. Was Rupert cut from the same cloth as the Earl?
“I am glad to hear it,” Rupert said. “I think I will go express my thanks to your son and relieve him of his current dance partner.”
A grin spread across Mr. Doherty’s face. “I think I will go with you, if you don’t mind, my lord. Ensure my son doesn’t do something as bottle-headed as to insult the Lord of the Manor.”
They made their way over to the bonfires and revelers.
“It wouldn’t be undeserved,” Rupert mumbled to himself, and the older man let out a deep barking laugh.
Rupert paused a yard away from the dancers and Franny. Lord, she was stunning—garland wrapped around her neck, crown adorning her raven plait, and still completely unaware of his presence. He blew out a breath and drummed his palm on his leg, nerves building in a slow wave through his body. Hesitated. She was so happy, carefree. He wanted a piece of that. With her. Every fiber of his being protested that this wasn’t allowed. A lord did not associate with his tenants, let alonedancewith them. But bloody hell, why not?
Mr. Doherty roughly cleared his throat beside him. “I was about your age when I caught sight of the Missus. Dancing with another gentleman at a festival just like this one,” he said gruffly. “Hadn’t even known what my feet were doing before I was interjecting and stealing her for a dance. Spouting some drivel about being captivated by the sight of her, unable to spend a second longer without her in my arms.”
He looked meaningfully at Rupert. “Turns out womenfolk like that sort of stuff. We were married the next month. And here we are, five-and-twenty years and six bairns later.” Mr. Doherty jerked his head to the side where a woman clapped to the music, body swaying and bouncing to the beat, clearly eager to be dancing herself. “Duty calls.”
Rupert looked back at Franny. He drew in a deep breath. Time to interject. Time to join his wife. To live. He marched into the revelers before he lost his resolve.
Rupert clapped his hand on the tall man’s shoulder, and Franny and the man came to an abrupt stop. “I believe it is my turn to dance with the lady.”
Franny’s eyes stretched owl wide. The man turned, and with one scan of Rupert’s person, hardened. And didn’t step away.
Mr. Doherty was right. His son looked ready to squash Rupert beneath his boot and damn the consequences. Rupert’s grip tightened on the man’s shoulder, and their gazes clashed. And held. The man was at least two stones heavier than Rupert, but when it came to Franny, Rupert didn’t think there was any man he couldn’t take down.
Franny smiled at the man. “Thank you for the many dances, Billy. It looks like my husband would like a turn.”
Rupert growled. Billy. His demonsreallydidn’t like that.
Franny’s gaze shot to his, and her lips parted. Shite. She couldn’t look at him like that. Like she liked his possessiveness. That heavy-lidded dark look was dangerous.
She walked up to him and pried his hand from Billy’s shoulder. “I think it’s time to see if His Lordship can keep up with his countryfolk as well as his Marchioness does.” She spoke to Billy, but her eyes never left Rupert’s.
And his never left hers. From his periphery, he saw Billy slowly step away. Rupert hastily took off his topper. “There’s no way it’ll stay on while dancing…”
Franny ripped it from his hand and tossed it in the fire. She smiled cheekily at him. “Problem solved.”
He grinned and hooked his arm with hers, spinning her into the dance. They joined in with the rhythmic clapping as they stepped and spun to the beat of the drum, the jangle of the bells ringing through the cheering and laughter. They circled the bonfires, weaving in and out of each other, following the music’s lead, sending them apart and then back together.
“You finally came,” she said, barely loud enough to be heard over the laughter, cheers, and music.
She moved to step away again, but he caught her wrist and twirled her in his arms, hugging her back to him for a beat and whispered in her ear, “I realized the error of my ways.” And then pushed her away and back into the dance. “I’m sorry I didn’t join you earlier, Franny.”
