James blinked as if he had never thought about it that way before. For a moment, she thought he was going to respond kindly, even tenderly. But then he scowled at her.
“I’m merely doing my duty,” he said curtly. “My father’s dog rings were the worst of his illegal activities. They were shut down after he died, but this particular gang keeps operating them, and I won’t stand for it, Violet. Just because I was in London for the Season, doesn’t mean I do not notice everything.”
Violet nodded, and as she looked up at the determined expression on her husband’s face, she softened just a little towards him. She still found him arrogant to a fault, but it was nice to know there was another side of him, other than the one that enjoyed tearing down his enemies and teasing her mercilessly.
And she found herself wondering if perhaps there were more sides to him than she had initially thought.
Chapter Nine
“We shall stay here tonight,” James announced, once his wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law had gathered around the table in the inn’s dining room for supper that evening. “And then tomorrow, I will go to meet with the men who are running the dog fights.”
Violet looked up from where she had just taken a seat at the far end of the table and narrowed her eyes at him. “You are going to meet with them?” she asked. “But aren’t they dangerous gangsters?”
Rosalie and Lady Carfield also looked up. Intrigued was etched no his sister-in-law’s face, while Lady Carfield looked worried.
“They are gangsters, yes,” James said calmly, “but I have dealt with them before. These men have been making a living in the duchy for a long time. This isn’t our first interaction—or even the first time we have been in conflict.”
Violet bit her lip. “But will it be safe?”
James shrugged. “It will be safe enough.”
“So you’ll take your guards with you.”
He paused as a maid entered with a carafe of wine and filled their glasses.Anyone can be a spy for Farrell, he reminded himself.
After the maid had exited, James shook his head. “I will not have my guards with me, as I must leave them here with you.”
“Because of my father?” Violet asked. She hadn’t touched her wine, but James grabbed his glass and took a long sip.
“Yes, partially because of your father,” he confirmed, once he’d put the glass down.
“Your Grace, we don’t want to put you in danger,” Lady Carfield said at once. “I am sure my husband didn’t follow us all the way here. You should take your guards with you.”
Across the table, James enjoyed watching the consternated look on his wife’s face. He could tell Violet was having conflicting feelings. On the one hand, she wanted the guards to stay here and guard her family. On the other hand, she would feel guilty if she exposed him to danger because of her.Especiallyafter she had insisted on coming with him.
He tried to suppress a smile but wasn’t altogether successful. He always enjoyed it when he made his wife squirm.
“That is very kind of you, Lady Carfield,” he acknowledged, turning to his mother-in-law. “But I wouldn’t dream of leaving the three of you unprotected. It’s not just your husband I fear, but any of my enemies who might use you to get to me. If any of these men are going to strike against me, I would rather they strike me, not my wife or her family.”
Violet’s face softened, and James’s heart swelled for a moment. “That’s very kind of you,” she murmured.
“I agree with Mama, though,” Rosalie interjected, looking at James with wide, scared eyes. “You cannot put yourself at risk! You could be killed!”
“That’s enough, Rose,” Violet chided gently. “His Grace is experienced at negotiating with dangerous men. He will take all the necessary precautions.”
Her eyes met his, and they seemed to ask,You will, won’t you?
He smiled coyly.Perhaps I will, perhaps I won’t.
The food was served after that, and James refrained from speaking about his plans to confront the gangsters in front of the inn’s staff, still paranoid that one of them might be working for Farrell. The women followed his lead and also said nothing.
After dinner, they retired to their rooms, and James was intrigued to find that when he followed Violet to their shared bedchamber, she looked at him with alarm.
“You have your own room, surely?” she asked as he held the candelabra he’d borrowed from the sitting room high so she wouldn’t trip on the stairs.
“No, the inn only had two free rooms,” he explained. “Your sister and mother are sharing one, and you and I are sharing the other.”
“But…” Violet turned around to stare at him. “That is not part of the conditions of our marriage! You were the one who insisted on it.”
