Page 2 of Tempting the Marquess

“My Sophia,” he said hoarsely, a single tear inching its way down his usually emotionless face. “Gone.”

“No! She’s just swooned, that’s all. Mama,” William pleaded, taking her pale, delicate hands and chafing them frantically, “Wake up! A doctor will surely be here any minute and everything will be all right. Just holdon!”

Lord Standish shook his head, but the movement made him cough and a dark stream of blood trickled from the side of his mouth onto his formerly snow-white cravat.

“Too late, son, and it’s my...fault. Didn’t... protect her. Should have. Man’s duty...to protect women. Thought I knew it all...how to defeat evil. But I failed. Especially your mother. I failed her...completely.”

“How can you say that?” William choked out through the giant boulder now resting in this throat. “You loved Mama, I know youdid!”

“Yes. And look...what happened. I couldn’t think in the crisis. Couldn’t act. She tried to save me. Threw herself... in front of a goddamned bullet. Your mother is dead... because I was the worst of fools. So much less than I should havebeen.”

“Father, no...”

“Be quiet...and listen, boy. Swear to me...” Lord Standish paused, and a heavy, gurgling sigh escaped his mouth. More blood flowed, and his skin took on a frightening gray tinge.

“What do you want? I’ll do anything! Please!”

“Swear you won’t... make the same mistakes as me. Emotion makes you…vulnerable. Enemies use it against you. Duty, always. Nothing more. No matter what...” He trailed off, his head lolling sideways as his breaths became shorter and shallower.

Too soon, they stopped altogether.

Shuddering, nearly numb with grief and so cold he didn’t think he’d ever be warm again, William leaned forward and gently closed his father’s sightless eyes. Then he sat back, bowed his head and crossed himself.

“I swear.”