It made no sense, for she truly did not doubt him for a moment. Was this not a wonderful revelation? Octavian washer guardian and protector, proving himself worthy in countless ways.
He wanted to build a life and family with her.
He was the one insisting on continuing their marriage, even knowing she was likely born out of wedlock.
That Lady Clementine was here meant the scandal surrounding her birth was already making its way around theton. Lady Harcourt must have gone to the London gossip rags as soon as she and Octavian had left her this morning.
With rumors no doubt abounding, Lady Clementine, who was ever the predator, had seen her opportunity to add to their wounds and grabbed it. “My father will see that your fake marriage is annulled,” she said, eyeing Syd with disdain. “No court will uphold a marriage based on fraud. You are not an earl’s daughter. You are a baseborn nobody and the Thornes are well rid of you. Then your husband will be free to marry me.”
“That does it,” Octavian growled and grabbed hold of Lady Clementine’s arm. “No one insults my wife. Out. Get out of here and never come back, or I will order the guards to bodily toss you out.” He dragged her into the hall and slammed the door in her face when she attempted to walk back in.
He growled again, ignoring her screeches as he locked the door and turned to Syd, his body taut and shaking with anger. “Syd…you have to believe me. I had no idea…bloody hell.”
She set down his suit of clothes. “Octavian, I do believe you. I–”
“Because she walked into my office less than a minute before you did. I had no idea what she was doing here, and I had just come around to the front of my desk to escort her out when…” He raked a hand through his hair. “Wait…did you just say that you believed me?”
Syd smiled at him and nodded.
He released a groaning sigh of relief. “Thank heaven for that. The look of hurt when you saw us…”
“She caught me off my guard, that’s all. She still wants you.”
He laughed and shook his head. “No, love. She just wanted to hurt me. She was hoping to ruin whatever feelings you and I have for each other, undermine the trust we have in each other. Even if she does want me, you know that I never wanted her. Syd, you have to know this. Have I not always told you so? Now can you understand why I wanted nothing to do with her? She is another one who only knows to spit poison. I–”
She reached up on tiptoes and kissed him. “You wonderful, big ox. I believe you. Itrustyou. I could have found you naked in here with her and still trusted you…just don’t put that one to the test, however.”
He chuckled. “No, love. My clothes stay on except for you.”
“All right, then. Speaking of clothes, let’s start by removing yours,” she said with an impish grin, carefully shifting aside some papers he must have been working on, in order to sit atop his desk. “We are going to be late if you do not start scrambling, Captain Thorne.”
He unbuttoned the jacket of his uniform. “Are you all right, Syd?”
She nodded. “A little rattled, but only because I did not expect her to behave so brazenly. She did not waste a moment in coming after you, did she?”
“Blessed saints, she’s a shark. She smelled blood in the water and attacked.” He tossed his jacket aside and removed his shirt, his muscles flexing in graceful motion and making her wish they did not have plans tonight.
A sharp, constricting pang shot through Syd’s heart.
Octavian immediately noticed her pained expression and came to her side. “Love, are you sure that you are all right?”
She nodded.
He kissed her on the brow and then stepped back as he began to unbutton the falls of his trousers. “As if I would ever consider exchanging you for her,” he muttered in disgust. “I don’t know how she got through the guards in the first place. They don’t let just anyone up here.”
“She is a duke’s daughter.”
“That still should not have given her access. We’re supposed to have tight security in this building.” He cursed under his breath. “I did not invite her up here, Syd. I never would.”
“I know.” She put her arms around him when he came back to her side, loving the strength of his own and the warmth of his skin that covered his exceptionally fine body. “Your every thought and every action from the moment we met has been to protect me. You’ve taken a punch in the face for me. Fallen off a roof for me. Even married me twice. And now I think you are more rattled about Lady Clementine’s attempt to split us up than I am.”
“You are calm about this?”
“No, I am still angry and quite a bit shaken. But I trust you. I also know you are irresistible to women. That is your lot in life, to be so handsome that every woman wants you.”
He relaxed and emitted a playfully laughing sigh. “Indeed, it is a curse.”
She gave him a light swat to his arm, but turned serious a moment later. “You are irresistible. I cannot blame others for desiring you. I’m still not sure what you find so perfect about me. I feel as though I have put you through the labors of Hercules.”
