He felt an arrogant smile break on his face. “I know.”
She looked up at him again, and he tried to frown at her but couldn’t quite manage it. “Is that all you wanted to say?”
He thought a moment. “Yes.”
With a scowl, she shook her head and turned from him. But he grabbed her and pulled her back. “I liked it, too,” he said.
She smiled and closed her eyes. “Thank you.”
When her breathing deepened, Jack put his arms behind his head, stared at the ceiling, and slowly exhaled. Maybe this marriage wouldn’t be so disastrous after all. He’d married her, made love to her, and he hadn’t fallen in love with her yet. Maybe she hadn’t been as dangerous to him as he’d thought. Maybe he truly was immune to the softer emotions.
He planned to keep it that way.
He’d told her they would leave for home tomorrow. He’d be glad to have her under his roof and in his bed. But he didn’t relish the return to London and his inevitable dealings with Bleven.
If Nick was smart, he’d stay out of Bleven’s path for a while, just until Jack paid the Black Duke a visit. If there was any truth to what Bleven had said in the clearing, he would make sure Bleven suffered the consequences.
But the confrontation would take careful planning. Bleven was not a man to underestimate, and he would not rush their meeting. In the meantime, he couldn’t let his guard down. Maddie had to be protected at all costs. If his new wife tripped into Bleven’s path . . .
Jack took a deep breath.
No, he’d protect his new wife, even if it meant locking her in his house and keeping her under guard. No one was going to touch her. And all this do-gooder business of hers had to stop. Good Samaritans were nothing more than prey for the lowlifes of the world. He had seen it before, a do-gooder cut down by the very scum she was trying to help. He wouldn’t let that happen to Maddie.
He glanced at her, watched her chest rise and fall steadily. She might not like his interference at first, but that was too bad.
It was for her own good.
Chapter Fifteen
Maddie paced outside the livery, waiting for Jack. In the distance she could hear the roar of a crowd and what sounded like dogs barking, but the little town was otherwise quiet.
She took three steps forward, watched the wrinkled lavender bows on her gown teeter drunkenly, then turned and took three steps back. She desperately needed a new gown. The lavender and white dress had dried overnight, but it was hopelessly crumpled and more dingy gray than creamy white.
She peered across the street and saw the dressmaker’s shop. She knew Jack wanted her to wait outside the livery, in front of the window, where he could see her, but she itched to take a look in the shop.
She wasn’t worried about her father. The sweet couple who’d allowed Jack and her to stay in their stable had told her that the Earl of Castleigh left for London after he roused the priest and saw the marriage certificate. Even the Earl of Castleigh could not doubt his daughter’s marriage. Maddie hoped her father wasn’t too worried . . . or too angry. She’d call on him as soon as she and
Jack arrived in Town.
She did worry about Ashley and Lord Nicholas, however. They seemed to have disappeared from Gretna Green. Jack had told her that his brother could look after himself, but Maddie made him promise to inquire after Ashley and her new husband.
The crowd in the distance grew louder, and Maddie frowned. Why did she keep hearing dogs? She squinted through the dingy window of the livery again and saw Jack deep in conversation with the owner. Jack wanted loan of a carriage and coachman to drive them back to London and was probably haggling over the price. He’d been in there a quarter of an hour, so obviously the owner was not as impressed at having a marquess in his store as Jack had anticipated.
She didn’t doubt Jack would get what he wanted, but in the meantime, why shouldn’t she walk down to the shop? Or see what the crowd was cheering about? The longer she listened, the uneasier she grew. Her belly felt tight and knotted.
Jack turned and looked at her, and she gave him a reassuring wave. With a nod, he went back to haggling.
Certain her new husband would be in the shop for another quarter hour at least, Maddie slipped away. She had to cross one street to reach the dress shop. It wasn’t far at all, and she’d be gone only a moment.
Jack wouldn’t mind, she thought, and started across the street, walking slowly to observe the crowd at the far end. Maybe she should slip down and look . . .
No. She was going straight to the dress shop and back to Jack. That was all. She would not investigate all that barking and growling.
She tried to move forward, then paused. Perhaps the dress shop could wait five minutes. She would just take a quick peek at whatever the crowd had encircled.
Maddie turned and headed toward the cheering people. As she neared, her heart pounded and the blood thumped in her head like a hammer. Before she could think about it or stop herself, she pushed through the circle of men before her, ignoring the large sweaty bodies. No one paid her the least attention. All eyes were focused on the spectacle before them.
“No,” Maddie breathed, reeling back in horror.
