Page 4 of Romancing the Rifleman
“Not if she’s sufficiently frightened.It’s crucial that you terrorize your wife completely.”
Harrington gave the sort of laugh that was both soundless and humorless.It was going to goextremelypoorly for this wastrel once Trevissick found out about this.And Harrington meant to tell him.He wasn’t about to sweep this under the rug.He quite liked Lady Diana.
‘Quite like her?’Horseshit.
All right, in the interest of honesty, he more-than-liked Lady Diana.She was witty.Acerbic.Bloody gorgeous.
Anddeliciouslystrict in a way that made his pulse quicken.
But it was entirely out of the question.She couldn’t marry without her brother’s permission, and Harrington was the absolute last person on the face of this earth that Marcus Latimer would choose as the bridegroom for his precious, perfect sister.
Although the truth was, her dragon of a brother wasn’t really the problem.What wouldDiana Latimerwant with the likes ofhim?He was the family disgrace.He’d been paddled every single day during his time as a student at Eton.It had become a point of pride; once at suppertime during his final year, he’d realized that he had somehow gone all day without incurring the ire of Headmaster Davies.He’d promptly stood up on the table and launched into a rousing performance of “The Christening of Little Joey,” and he meant the third verse, the one about all the things a fellow could do with his tongue to please his lady love.It had been sufficient to keep his streak going.
And those were just the things everyone knew about.Imagine if people knew about his worst flaw, the one he took such pains to conceal from the world.Only his closest friend, Henry, had managed to guess, but that just went to show what a decent sort of chap Henry was.Bless his soul, he hadn’t breathed a word.
He did not delude himself into thinking that the rest of his loved ones would be as forgiving if they were ever to learn what a degenerate he really was.
He had only recently found something he was good for in life, and that was being cannon fodder for the British Army.
The point was, just because Lady Diana had laughed at a couple of his jokes a few years ago, it didn’t mean he was remotely worthy of her.For Christ’s sake, in addition to her many perfections, she was the richest heiress in all of Britain, possibly all of Europe!She could have literally any man she wanted.
It was worse than hopeless.
The first idiot was speaking again.“It will be tiresome keeping her in line.But for a hundred thousand pounds, it’ll be worth it.”
Keeping her in line.What a blithering idiot.Why would you evenwantto keep her in line?The way she had of looking down her nose at you like you were an absolute toad was one of his favorite things about her.
The two arse-heads were still blathering on about how awful she was, and what a chore it would be to marry her.Fucking shicers.It made his blood boil to hear it, but he knew what he ought to do was find a spot where he could watch the door.When the two idiots emerged from the library, he’d learn who they were.Then, he could march down the corridor, find Diana’s brother, and tell him what he’d heard.Trevissick would handle it from there.
Of course, Harrington would help her brother if he wanted him to.
Which he most certainly would not.
That would be the right thing to do.Lie low.Make a plan.
But Harrington had never done the right thing in his life.So instead, he laid his hand upon the doorknob and strode into the library.
Two wide-eyed men turned to face him.Joseph fucking Cumberworth, and Berkeley bloody Blachford.
He might have guessed.
He gave them a winning smile.“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you’re speaking of Lady Diana Latimer, are you not?”
Cumberworth gave him a baleful look.“Astley, what the devil are you doing here?”
“Eavesdropping,” Harrington answered cheerfully.Spying a decanter in the corner, he strolled into the room and poured himself a brandy.“So, you mean to marry Lady Diana?”
Cumberworth’s eyes remained flinty, but he gave a curt nod.“Not that it’s any of your affair.But yes.Yes, I do.”
Harrington gave a low whistle.“That’s an ambitious plan.”
“Ambitious?”Cumberworth’s eyes tightened.“Are you implying that I am not good enough for Lady Diana?”
“Oh, no.Not at all.”Harrington paused for dramatic effect.“After all, why wouldn’t the most eligible young lady in all of England want to marry a pox-riddled little bitch who’s up to his ears in gambling debt?”
Cumberworth’s cheeks reddened.“How dare you!”
Harrington raised a hand, ticking off the points against Cumberworth.“No gainful employment or income of any sort.”
