They were still no closer to catching De Roux and that worried him. Not to mention Belle had lied to him about being injured.
He would never forget the utter helplessness that had overcome him at her deception. So she hadn’t lied to him outright, but she’d still neglected to inform him of what transpired. At first, he’d been furious, and then concern had replaced anger and finally, determination had set in. It had become quite clear that to remain in London would be impossible. The public incident in the park proved as much. He refused to let the woman he loved die from her own foolishness.
“She will be safer once she is married.”
“And you will be married, also.”
He cast his friend a droll stare. “Have you forgotten that you are married?”
St. Aldwyn waived his comment aside with the flick of his hand. “I had to get married, you know, love and all that.”
Well, hell.
“I care for her.”
I’m madly in love.
“I care for her a great deal.”
Ridiculously in love.
“And she cares for you?” his friend asked.
“Hopelessly in love with me. I just must convince her of it.”
“Ah, I recall my wife saying Lady Belle believed you a bore.”
Simon flushed. “I am not a bore,” he growled.
St. Aldwyn lifted his hand in a placating manner. “I did not say you were. A bit eccentric at times, yes, but not a bore.”
“She will learn soon enough I’m anything but a bore. But, for now, she requires the protection of a husband. Her brothers cannot be present and De Roux is lurking about London. As her husband, I can protect her better. As a countess, her death will attract more attention, more eyes.”
“And why not just inform the lady of your plan?”
Simon snorted. “She’d shackle herself to a rock beneath the ocean before she ties the noose around her freedom.”
“If I recall correctly, Evelyn and Jo felt the same way. Look at them now, all happy with their nooses. There is a compromise to be found.”
Compromise.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as that. Simon was sure Belle’s reservations ran too deep to just accept something she’d spent years fighting and suppressing. “They managed to fall in love with the two of you.”
“And I still gawk in wonder at my wife every day, waiting for her to realize what she’s done.”
Simon chuckled.
“What about De Roux? He may follow you if you abscond with the lady.”
“My plan is not without risk or danger. However, as I said, dispatching an earl’s wife brings more complications than a lady ‘disappearing’ on a whim, which is what I’m sure De Roux would try to make it look like. Especially since her damn brothers are notorious wanderers in the eyes of the ton.”
“I wonder what those two hellions will say when you carry their sister off into the sunset,” St. Aldwyn chuckled, sounding pleased at the prospect of irking them.
“Those hellions are to be my brothers-in-law.”
What will they say about his plan? They’d most likely attempt to stop him if they learned of it. Luckily for him, they were off doing Christ knows what Christ knows where.
Was this what it meant to love? Would he forever feel this madness within him, this concern where she was concerned? Would she understand that once she became his wife, she’d never have to face anything alone again?
