Page 45 of The Viscount's Seduction
Lord Bakeley squeezedthe slim hand he was holding. The look on Sirena’s face reflected her gratitude, knit together with kindness toward the maid, and a keen humility. That last they would have to work on if she was to run his household. “I didn’t think to bring any of your things from Lady Jane’s. Thank you, Bink.”
“It was Paulette’s doing.” His gaze flitted from Bakeley to Sirena. “Have you settled your business then?”
The pink that tinged her cheeks made him want to grab her and kiss her anew. Yet the night would be a busy one. Best not to get started down that path.
“Brother, you are the first to know. Lady Sirena has agreed to become my wife.”
Bink’s approving look was gratifying. From the time he’d first met this brother, his nine-year-old self had looked up to the bigger boy. A by-blow, Bink was, but a man of courage and character also. Not long after Bink’s mother’s death, he’d been shuffled from a cruel stepfather to a cruel headmaster. He’d run away and joined the army, had served in the Peninsular War as a sergeant under Major Steven Beauverde, now the Earl of Hackwell. Upon Bink’s return to England, Bakeley had found him working as Hackwell’s steward.
Bink’s approval of his choice of a bride meant the world to him. He’d have at least one ally when he faced their father’s disapproval.
“Welcome to the family, Lady Sirena,” Bink said. “Paulette will be most happy to have another sister.”
She flushed more deeply. “A sister. I had not thought about that.”
“A sister and a great burly Irish brother here.” Bakeley kissed her hand. “Why not go with Jenny and see what she’s brought. The housekeeper will have a room ready for you by now. You may rest for a while, and you’ll want to say goodbye to the Smiths when they leave.”
“All right then.” She turned back to the table and picked up a chain he hadn’t noticed, pocketing it, and led Jenny out.
When the door shut, Bink’s expression darkened. “Kincaid smells a game afoot. I don’t keep secrets from Paulette, but I did make her promise to conceal it from Kincaid. She’ll do it for the lady’s sake.”
“Paulette is still angry with me, I take it.” Bakeley had been involved in their father’s scheme to bring Paulette and Bink together.
Bink laughed heartily. “No more so than with Kincaid, who she’s forgiven. And I don’t think she was ever truly angry.” Bink slapped his back. “Yet it would’ve been so much easier had you at least told us the truth.”
“Yes, you’re right.” It had been his lone invitation to immerse himself in his father’s gambits, and it had almost got Paulette and Bink killed.
Shaldon’s retirement had brought him home to England after years of absence, and the man had not really left his games behind, as he’d proven by using Paulette to lure a traitor into the open.
Well, damn it, Bakeley was done with that. It was time he moved out of Shaldon House and into his own home.
“Father will find out,” Bakeley said. “I wonder what the reaction will be. Swooning? An icy cut? An attempt to lock Sirena in the cellar?”
Bink grumbled low in his throat. “I’m going with that wagon tonight. Those boys will make it to my place safely, and I have men who’ll do as I say. Your biggest danger will be at Doctors’ Commons tomorrow.”
He would visit Doctors’ Commons for the special marriage license first thing in the morning. “I don’t give a damn. I’ll marry the woman of my choosing, even if I have to carry her off to Scotland as you did with Paulette.”
“That’s a very long trip from London.” Bink poured two glasses of claret. “Here’s to you and your bride and to getting those two Irish boys out from under the wily lord’s nose.”
“Here, here.” He took the glass. “I’ve been thinking about this, you know. I’ve been thinking that he won’t give me any problems with the special license because he’s up to something.”
Bink frowned and took a bite of bread. “Casting Lady Sirena as a lure?”
Anger shot through him. “She was down on that dock looking for information on her brother.”
“Meeting someone?”
“I haven’t got to the details yet. Can you get the real story from one of the Smith brothers?”
Bink snorted. “No doubt Kincaid could.”
“Can you do it without using his methods?”
“I’ll try. I can’t stay long at Little Norwick though. I have Parliamentary meetings to deal with before those fools in the Lords come up with another set of Six Acts. And I’ll reckon those boys will want to be off as soon as the one called John can stand up to piss.”
“Josh.”
“Eh?”
