Protection (5 page)

Turning to the steward who’d escorted them to the same palace drawing room where Nathaniel
had cooled his heels for the previous fortnight, he requested two glasses of water.

“Unless you would prefer something stronger?” he asked Sir George.

“No, thank you. I shall need a clear head for our coming discussion. Although you
might like to take something fortifying.”

Judging by the look on the older man’s face, Nathaniel decided he would be wise to
abstain. With his heart hammering in his chest, he sought the words to form a suitable
apology, but Sir George spoke first.

“Before we address the more delicate issues at hand, I’d like to begin by saying that
you have my heartfelt thanks for keeping my daughter safe when I was unable to protect
her.”

Nathaniel stared at him blankly.

“Anneliese has enlightened me to the dangers she faced while she was forced to flee
her home, along with your heroic interventions on her behalf,” Sir George continued.
“I cannot possibly put into words how grateful I am she escaped grievous injury, or
express my relief at having her returned to me alive and well.”

“You’re very welcome, sir,” Nathaniel said after a brief hesitation. “It was my pleasure.”

“So I gather.”

Regretting his ill-chosen wording, Nathaniel opened his mouth but was silenced with
a sharp slice of Sir George’s hand.

“When I first became aware of the impossible situation in which my daughter found
herself—and don’t think for a moment I am unaware certain pressures were brought to
bear on her during a time of great vulnerability—I was of a mind to see you severely
punished.

“I debated between having you horse-whipped; seeing you hung, drawn, and quartered
and your body parts sent to the four corners of the Empire as a warning to other libidinous
young gentlemen; or having you dipped in boiling tar and coated in feathers, ultimately
deciding a combination of all three were too good for you.”

Nathaniel swallowed hard, not that he blamed the man for his threats. It was his sweet,
innocent, and virginal daughter who’d been taken advantage of, after all.

“But it quickly became apparent that Anneliese would be upset if I carried out even
one such punishment.” Sir George eyed Nathaniel grimly. “Becoming convinced she is
sincere in her profession of affection, I realised I’d have to find it within my heart
to forgive you.”

He took another sip of his drink, while Nathaniel decided that silence was the better
part of valour. With a trembling hand, he reached for his own glass, regretting his
decision not to have poured himself a fortifying libation after all.

“Quite simply, Lord Marsden, my daughter loves you.”

Sir George’s words warmed Nathaniel’s heart, but he kept a sober expression.

“She might be young, but I don’t believe her attachment is fleeting. If you haven’t
already learned, you will soon discover Lisa is a determined young lady. When her
mind is made up it tends to stay that way.”

Nathaniel waited, speaking only when Sir George remained silent.

“While I’m aware my treatment of her speaks volumes to the contrary, I care a great
deal for your daughter, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to prove my sincerity.”

Lisa’s father measured him with a long, assessing look. Appearing to reach some inner
conclusion, he nodded once.

“Relinquishing your titles would have been a grand gesture, but what I can’t understand
is why you didn’t just come and talk to me before embarking on such a foolhardy path.
Your commitment is not in doubt, but your intelligence appears to be in question.”

“It seemed the logical course of action at the time.” Nathaniel resisted the urge
to squirm like a schoolboy being addressed by his headmaster.

“Yes, well.” Sir George harrumphed. “Before I so much as consider an alliance, I must
be confident you are worthy of Lisa’s affection and my trust. Can I place my daughter’s
future happiness into your safekeeping? Will you cherish her as she deserves, irrespective
of fashionable opinion regarding the treatment of and expectations placed on one’s
bride? Will you be faithful to her always? Will you treat her with respect, honouring
her above all others?”

His rapid-fire demands did not set Nathaniel on his heels but were in complete accord
with his desires. Answering with determination, he vowed, “I will, every moment of
every day.”

“There’s one more thing,” Sir George said, his expression not softening one whit.
“Every couple, even those fortunate enough to share a deep attachment, will have moments
of discord.”

His eyes narrowed, and Nathaniel caught a glimpse of the renowned officer lurking
beneath the polished exterior. Recalcitrant subordinates must have shaken in their
boots to be the recipient of such a look, and Nathaniel was no exception.

“Under no circumstances do I ever want to hear the choices my daughter was forced
to make have been thrown back in her face or used against her, choices that you played
a significant part in. Is that understood?”

“Perfectly.” Nathaniel nodded. “I have yet to meet a braver, more admirable lady than
your daughter, Sir George. I promise, on my word of honour, that I will treat her
with the respect and consideration she deserves.”

Lisa’s father studied him for a moment longer.

“Then we’re in agreement,” he said, and Nathaniel’s shoulders sagged. “Having said
that, any decision we come to will need to be ratified by the King.”

“Which should be fairly straightforward now her heritage has been revealed.”

“Let’s hope so.” Sir George frowned. “Anneliese’s happiness is paramount, and I won’t
have her used as a political pawn.”

The carriage slowed to a halt, and Nathaniel gathered his thoughts. Like her father,
he only wanted Lisa’s best, but his confidence as to how that should be achieved had
taken a battering in light of the King’s lofty plans.

Chapter 5

Congratulations

Nathaniel spied Hugh playing billiards, his friend forfeiting the game when he approached.

“I expected you earlier.”

“My plans changed. I should have sent word, but I didn’t think of it. My head’s in
a spin.” Nathaniel kept his voice low as the two men made their way to a quiet corner
of the crowded establishment.

“Your audience with the King didn’t go well?”

“On the contrary.” Nathaniel blew out a long, slow breath. “Lisa arrived at the palace
while I was in an audience with the King, her father and my sister in tow. She came
to plead with him on my behalf, and after meeting her, he gave us a blessing—of sorts.
He’s going to announce our betrothal at a ball in two weeks’ time but only if Lisa
doesn’t change her mind about wanting to marry me.”

“I see.” Hugh waited until they were seated and had drinks in hand to continue. “I
can’t imagine she’ll renege after coming all this way. It’s not like she has any other
options.”

“More than you’d think,” Nathaniel muttered.

“I don’t understand.” Hugh stroked his beard. “This is good
news. Why aren’t you rejoicing?”

Why indeed?

Nathaniel rested his elbows on his knees then looked at his friend.

“Lisa’s mother was a princess—French—one who escaped the
Terror
.”

“Good God!” Hugh nearly shot out of his seat. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly. She’s related to half the royal houses of Europe, our own sovereign included.
I can count myself fortunate not to have been flogged and thrown into the Tower.”

“I take it your request to marry her wasn’t well received.”

“Not particularly.” Nathaniel sighed.

“It can’t be because her father’s only an officer. With her mother’s heritage, she
would have to be of a high enough standing—”

“Too high.” Nathaniel shook his head then brought his friend up to date with what
had occurred at the palace. “I knew the King would be impressed by Lisa . . . how
could he not be? But I’d hoped it would work to
our
advantage, Lisa’s and mine, not that he’d want to use her to strengthen some foreign
alliance. He told her she could be queen of her own country one day.”

Hugh’s eyebrows rose high on his forehead. “How did she respond?”

“She insisted she has no interest in pursuing a royal alliance and accepted my proposal
of marriage.”

“Do you doubt her resolve?”

“It’s the King’s word I have reason to question. Lisa seems quite determined that
we should be together.” Nathaniel managed a small smile.

“Damnation.” Hugh sat back. “I’m glad to hear she still cares for you, but why didn’t
she tell you who she was back at Worthington? You would have protected her—in a more
acceptable manner than the one you chose, I might add.”

“Because she didn’t know about her royal connections. Sir George was planning on telling
her before she had her debut this season, but Copeland showed up and—”

“She fled to Worthington, where you
made her your mistress.” Hugh eyed Nathaniel wryly. “At least she wasn’t raised a
royal, though surely
that
we would have discerned. I still can’t believe we didn’t recognise she was a lady,
albeit one raised in obscurity.”

Nathaniel took another sip of his drink. Maybe that explained Lisa’s less than reserved
demeanour. Most men of his acquaintance would have jumped at her offer to sneak out
of her room and meet him, for what could have only been a highly illicit
tryst. But quite aside from the promises he had made to her father, a gentleman did
not treat his future bride like a mistress, even if she had once filled the role.

Which brought him to the confession Lisa had made in the palace courtyard before he’d
proposed. It was true. She wasn’t cold and unfeeling, a description he had attributed
to the female members of society when informing her why he wasn’t looking forward
to marrying one.

“Do you no longer wish to wed the girl?” Hugh asked.

“Of course I do. I’m just not sure how to proceed.”

“In what way?”

Nathaniel stared at the drink in his hand. “I don’t know how to treat her now that
I’m aware of her true status. Our previous relationship was characterised by a great
deal of freedom—on my
part, at any rate—for which I have apologised profusely. I can only imagine how deeply
I offended her with my actions.”

“Or so you assume.”

“Assume?” Nathaniel looked up. “She’s not just gentry—as if that wouldn’t be bad enough—she’s
an aristocrat.”

“And there’s the rub. As far as English gentlemen are concerned, blue-blooded ladies
are too refined to appreciate the pleasures of the flesh.”

“You don’t agree?”

Hugh snorted. “I may spend an inordinate amount of time in the south keeping your
sorry arse company, but I’m still a Scotsman. We like our women to have a little fire
in their blood. After the lambasting your young lady gave me the day I questioned
her motives, I believe she would fit in quite well in my home borough.”

“What do you mean ‘questioned her motives’?”

“I visited her rooms a few days before your father returned to Worthington.” Hugh
raised a hand when Nathaniel went to stand. “Nothing untoward happened, I assure you.
Her story didn’t add up, and I was suspicious,
that’s all.”

“You knew who she was?”

“No! I never thought for a moment she might be Copeland’s runaway bride. I just didn’t
believe she was a servant. I suspected she was sent by one of your father’s political
opponents in an attempt to discredit you. Although I found it hard to imagine an experienced
courtesan would disguise herself as a scullery maid.”

Nathaniel’s racing heartbeat slowly returned to normal. He could only imagine Lisa
hadn’t told him about Hugh’s visit because she’d been frightened of his reaction.
He deserved no less, but it galled to think she’d not trusted him enough to say anything.

“So what were your conclusions after speaking with her?”

His friend eased back in his chair now the danger had passed. “That Miss Brown, or
rather I should say Miss Barlow
—
”

“
Lady
Anneliese, actually.”

Hugh blinked. “Right . . . Lady
Anneliese
seemed determined to sacrifice herself rather than see you harmed in any way.”

Nathaniel swallowed around the lump that formed in his throat.

“She gave me quite the tongue-lashing.” Hugh’s smile was tinged with admiration. “Dressed
me down, in no uncertain terms, for assuming a girl of common heritage has no reputation
to protect or that she would automatically welcome the attentions of a gentleman
.
”

A smile tugged at the corner of Nathaniel’s lips. “That sounds like Lisa.”

“She also gave me the distinct impression she had no intention of remaining as your
mistress once you were wed.”