Did Lady Gwyn know what her twin had planned? One look at her incredulous expression told Joshua that she didn’t.
“While I agree that under the circumstances your sister could use a bodyguard,” Joshua said, “surely you, sir, would be enough to frighten off Malet.”
The duke drummed his fingers on the writing table. “My sister says she doesn’t want me ‘hovering about’ because it will also ‘frighten off’ the men courting her,” he said acidly. “But most people don’t know of your connection to our family. So you can keep an eye on her suitors without people realizing you’re doing so.”
Lady Gwyn stiffened. “I don’t need a nursemaid for my debut.”
Thornstock arched a brow. “I would hardly call a marine officer a nursemaid. Protecting you will be rather dull for him, I expect. Fortunately, I don’t mind paying him handsomely for such work.”
Joshua could use the money, but given his lack of endurance for loud noises, the very thought of London made him shudder. “There are other considerations, Duke. Like my inability to pursue Malet very quickly on foot should he attempt to abscond with her in that fashion. You may prefer to hire a more able-bodied fellow.”
“You can shoot, can’t you?” Thornstock asked. “And use a blade? Grey said you knocked around one of Malet’s minions so well at Christmas that the fellow could barely walk afterward. So it seems you can use fisticuffs, too. Apparently, running is about the only thing youcan’tdo.”
“I can shoot, stab, and slug a man, yes, but that’s not—”
“It’s good enough to satisfy me.” The duke cast a furtive glance at his twin. “As long as you protect my sister by any means at your disposal, I am content.”
It began to occur to Joshua that despite the difficulties he might encounter, this chance to go to London could also work in his favor. His letters clearly weren’t reaching the War Secretary, but if he could visit the office in person, he might convince the man to put him back in the Royal Marines at full pay.
Before Joshua could ask any questions or even agree to the proposition, however, Lady Gwyn cleared her throat. “I suppose I have no say in this.”
“Of course you have a say in it,” Thornstock told her. “You can either have me hovering about you in society, or you can have Wolfe doing so more discreetly. But one of uswillbe accompanying you during your debut. So you’ll have to decide which it’s to be.”
“That’s not much of a choice,” she said, casting Joshua a look he found impossible to read. Alarm? Anger? Attraction?
He scoffed at that last one. The woman might flirt with him occasionally, but that didn’t mean she desired him. She’d been preparing for her debut for months. Practicing her flirtation skills was undoubtedly part of that preparation.
Still, he held his breath as she seemed to consider the two possibilities. He wanted her to choose him . . . but only because he needed to go to London to see the War Secretary.
It had nothing to do with how lovely she looked wearing something other than a black gown for the first time in months. Nor did it stem from how the light from the window turned her hair redder than flame, or the way her plump lower lip quivered a bit as she considered her brother’s proposal.
God, this was a mistake he’d be a fool to make. Going to London was already a potentially disastrous running of the gauntlet from which he might never recover. But to risk having it happen around her? He could well imagine his reacting to some sudden sound in the street and having her witness the full extent of his vile temper.
So he opened his mouth to withdraw his willingness to serve as her bodyguard, but she spoke first. “Very well. I choose the major.”
Her words so took Joshua aback that he nearly missed the satisfaction flashing across her brother’s face. What was Thornstock planning, and why would he want Joshua to be part of it? Granted, the duke was known to be a rakehell, the sort of chap more preoccupied with debauchery than debuts. But even if escorting his sister about society would curtail his fun, surely he’d rather do it himself than rely on a virtual stranger.
As for Lady Gwyn . . .
No point in trying to figure outherreasoning. She rarely made sense to him. She liked to shop—he sometimes saw her in Sanforth picking out reticules and such. She liked to tease and cheer people up—she’d attempted it with Joshua time and again. But when it came to her brother, she seemed to feel naught but anger. The duke must have thoroughly provoked her ire at some point, and she was still punishing him for it.
Joshua should take that as a warning. The lady held grudges, even against her own twin. So he mustn’t lower his guard around her. It was never wise to expose one’s jugular to the enemy.
The duke turned to him. “And you, too, agree to the scheme?”
If he didn’t, he might end up sentenced to a life in the countryside forever. And even though it was peaceful, which was probably better for his temper, he would rather be at war where no one cared about that. “I agree.”
“Excellent,” Thornstock said. “With that decided, we should settle a few details.” He ran a critical gaze over Joshua. “I do hope you have clothes suitable for going into society.”
“Thorn!” Lady Gwyn exclaimed. “Don’t be rude.”
“How is that rude?” Thornstock asked. “You don’t want him to stick out in society any more than necessary, do you?”
She thrust out that lush lower lip. “It’s just . . . I merely think . . .”
“I don’t mind the question,” Joshua put in, amused by the fact that she was trying to defend him. Her brother’s inquiry was reasonable, given the ragged state of Joshua’s greatcoat. “I still own a dress uniform, as well as an undress uniform that would probably be appropriate for daytime social affairs.”
Thornstock looked surprised. “I thought you had left the marines.”
