‘No wife of mine—’
‘Save it for the honeymoon,’ Daizell said. ‘Dress up, pretend to be siblings, buy a ring and behave like you’re married. Anything but a repeat of tonight’s arrival.’
Cassian felt obliged to reiterate his point. ‘Nevertheless, a chaperone—’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Miss Beaumont said, unceremoniously dismissing him once again, and turned her glowing face to Daizell. ‘Thank you, Mr Charnage, you are quite wonderful. That is so clever and so very kind, and I do hope not tocause you too much trouble. And I am terribly sorry about last time, really. We’re both dreadfully grateful.’
Marston didn’t look grateful, and Daizell didn’t look gratified. Cassian glanced between them, and said, ‘I’m glad he could help. I think I’m going to bed.’
Chapter Six
There was only one bed.
Cassian hadn’t thought of that. Doubtless, if they had a room with two beds, Miss Beaumont would be given it so she didn’t have to share with the hosts’ daughter. Or possibly vice versa.
It was quite normal to share as a travelling expediency, he knew, if one wasn’t a duke entitled to always have the best room entirely to himself. He was not currently a duke, so he was going to share a bed with Daizell. To be asleep next to him.
That might have presented more of a problem if he wasn’t so tired he could die from it. The long day, the accident, the long walk, and the ale were all catching up with him now, and he found himself swaying as he washed. The lamplight was dim, and he couldn’t tell if he’d need to shave in the morning or it was just the speckled mirror.
‘You look dog-tired,’ Daizell remarked, sitting on the bed. ‘Are you always this chivalrous?’
‘Chivalrous?’
‘Give up the room, save the lady from herself, save the lady from the villain . . .’
‘I don’t think any of that’s chivalry. It’s just responsibility.’
‘You don’t have a responsibility to her.’
Cassian sat on the other side of the bed to wrestle his boots off. He had his back to Daizell, but he could feel theheat of his body a couple of feet away, or imagined he could. ‘You didn’t have a responsibility to anyone in that coach.’
‘That was an emergency. Most people help in a dramatic situation, if only to be part of the drama. People aren’t so ready to do the same for day-to-day situations – a child with holes in his boots, a man in need of dinner.’
He wasn’t speaking with his usual cheer. Cassian pulled his shirt over his head, feeling rather snubbed. ‘I dare say you’re right. Though I don’t really want to be part of Miss Beaumont’s drama at all. I suppose I got carried away when Vier came into it. I saw him thrashing his horses once and we had the most appalling row.’
‘Good for you,’ Daizell said. ‘Though risky: I heard the Duke of Severn once squabbled with him on the subject and Vier chased him off with his tail between his legs. But I didn’t mean to imply that you were inserting yourself into Miss Beaumont’s affairs for entertainment: you were clearly trying to do a good thing. I still don’t think Miss Beaumont’s affairs are any of your business or mine, and I bet we, or at least I, come to regret interfering. But Vier is an utter swine, and I suppose if we can help a little, we might as well. And I also think you’re a very generous man.’
That brought more blood to his cheeks, but this time pleasantly. ‘Oh, well, I wouldn’t say that.’
The bed creaked as Daizell twisted and he felt a warm hand on his bare arm. ‘I would.’
Cassian wanted to turn round, desperately. He searched for some response. ‘Doyou think we’ll come to regret it? That this runaway marriage is a bad idea?’
‘I dare say Marston will be an adequate husband to Miss Beaumont.’ Daizell’s hand was still resting on Cassian’s arm, so casual a touch. ‘In her shoes I’d spend my money on anexcellent lawyer, but here we are. I was more reflecting that we, specifically I, will regret it very sharply when Sir James Vier and his hulking groom arrive brandishing horsewhips.’
‘I won’t let that happen.’
‘Will you not?’ Daizell said. ‘Well, that’s nice. There’s also the small matter of another elopement being ascribed to me, a story which will doubtless do the rounds.’
Cassian’s stomach plunged. He turned without thought of anything else. ‘Oh Lord. I didn’t think – but of course you will be blamed. Your reputation – Oh, no. We can’t allow this.’
Daizell blinked at him. ‘My dear fellow, I was only grumbling. I don’thavea reputation. You must know that.’
‘Yes, but this charge isn’t true!’ Cassian said, and then, ‘Uh – I meant—’
‘You meant exactly what you said.’ Daizell shifted back, turning away to pull off his own shirt. ‘Correctly. I am, regrettably, my father’s son, and beyond his very considerable contribution, I’m the author of my own misfortunes. I did attempt to elope with Miss Beaumont once, so really, what does it matter in the grand scheme of things if people think I did it again? And anyway, it was my idea.’
‘But it’s my fault,’ Cassian said. ‘I asked you to think of something.’
