“And what exactly isthis? What gives you the right to interfere?” She was standing beside him now, clad in a nightgown buttoned up to her throat and a soft pink robe.
She gazed up at him with her luminescent green eyes. “Octavian,” she whispered brokenly and put a hand on his shoulder. “What about your life? Your happiness?”
How could he ever be happy if she was miserable? “We’ll work out the terms of our arrangement, I promise. Something to suit us both. I could not live with myself if ever you were hurt.”
She pressed her lips to his shoulder. “Why do you have to be so nice to me, you big ox? I have been nothing but trouble for you.”
Yes, all she said was true. Why he should bother with her at all was beyond him.
As the son of a duke, and now brother to the current Duke of Huntsford, in addition to being a Royal Navy captain wealthy in his own right, he was used to women fluttering around him, willing to hop into bed with him at his mere nod.
They were easy women.
Uncomplicated.
Demanding nothing of him beyond the pleasure of his body.
So why was he determined to marry Syd, this hoyden who would make it her life’s ambition to irritate and rile him?
He saw her shiver lightly as he stared at her.
The girl was scared, but too proud ever to admit it.
So typical of her.
“Gad, you are an idiot,” she whispered.
He laughed. “I know.”
“Octavian, are you serious about marrying me?”
“Yes, Syd.” He stared once more into the flames, afraid to look at her beautiful face for fear he might decide he actually loved her. He wanted affection left out of their union entirely. Syd was already too hard to handle. She would be impossible if she sensed how deeply he cared for her.
Her father needed to suffer a little for his callous behavior and Sir Henry needed to find himself another wife…one who wasnotSyd. In truth, he was doing both men a favor. First, teaching her father there were dire consequences to his foolhardy actions.Second, relieving Sir Henry of the misery Syd would put him through.
This girl was simply not biddable.
“Octavian, if you are going to be stubborn about taking me to Scotland, then you had better know everything. My father has gambled through my dowry and the trust funds my grandmother left me. I went to the bank yesterday and…” Her voice hitched. “The account has been closed. The manager advised me the last of the funds were withdrawn last week. I don’t even have the means to run away with you.”
“Oh, Syd,” he said with a wrenching groan. “You are under my protection now and not going to pay for anything.”
“But I would bring nothing to our marriage.” She appeared sincerely distressed by something that truly meant nothing to him.
His brother had impressive wealth as Duke of Huntsford, but Octavian had acquired his own fortune on the high seas and never required his brother’s largesse to survive in the style to which he had become accustomed. “I don’t need your dowry. The decision to marry you has nothing to do with any fortune you might bring with you.”
“Which is none.”
He wiped a tear off her cheek.
Oh, Lord.
This girl was definitely too proud for her own good.
“We’ll figure this out,” he said, hoping to console her. He could not bear to see her cry. “I promise you, Syd. You know I would never hurt you.”
“I know.” She buried her face in her hands. “Oh, why do you insist on saving me? I had numbed myself to the misery of marrying Sir Henry. I was ready.”
“You will never be ready for what Sir Henry has in mind for you. Get some sleep now. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
