Dark Duke by Sabrina York

not if they tied him to the coach and dragged him
along behind in the dust. He was staying here. With Kaitlin.
    Violet set down her teacup. “She cannot stay here with you .”
    “Why do you say you in such a tone?”
    Her lips flapped like a trout. “Really, Edward. You’re a
single man. And something of a rake.”
    “I can stay too.” This from Malcolm. Edward glared him down.
    “You’re not staying if I have to go.” Ned crossed his arms.
    Violet ignored them both. “Edward, I cannot fathom what
you’re thinking.”
    “I fail to see the issue. She’s a hired companion, not a
highborn lady who needs to guard her sterling reputation.” This, he tossed out
without thought. In retrospect, he should have thought. It was curious how both
Violet and Kaitlin averted their gazes. He winced. He had not intended to
insult her.
    Then Violet’s eyes lit. “She can stay with Helena and
James.”
    Edward blinked at the suggestion—because it surprised him
that hearing her name didn’t make him ungodly melancholy. It usually did. He
rather liked the freedom from that melancholy. “They’re on their honeymoon.”
    “Oh. Drat. Of course.” Violet nibbled her lip. “Then she can
stay with Eleanor.”
    “At Ulster House? With Ulster ?” Edward’s skin
crawled. Ulster was singularly the most depraved and wicked person he had ever
had the displeasure of meeting.
    Violet stilled. Her gaze flicked to Kaitlin. “No. Of course
not.”
    “She can stay here. Under my protection.” He flicked a look
at Kaitlin. She interpreted it correctly and flushed. “She shall be perfectly
safe.”
    “I’ll be fine, Violet.”
    Still, Violet balked. “There should be a chaperone.”
    “I’ll stay.” Malcolm again.
    “You’re not staying!” All three of them, Hortense,
Violet and himself, bellowed the exact same words in a chorus. Malcolm put out
a lip.
    Kaitlin cleared her throat. “As his Grace said, a companion does not require a chaperone.”
    “But—” Whatever it was Ned had been about to say, Kaitlin
glared it away.
    They fell into an odd silence, all of the Wyeths of Perth
exchanging speaking glances around the table. Edward had the distinct
impression there was something not being said—yet quite clearly communicated
amongst them.
    He shot an inquisitive glance at Kaitlin. She tipped up her
chin in that daring, indomitable way she had. The look that passed between them
was scalding.
    “I’ll be just fine.”
    “But Kaitlin, darling, what shall you do without me?”
Violet wailed. “You’ll be bored to tears.”
    Oh, he could think of something for Kaitlin to do. The
prospects rained down upon him until he was swimming in a pool of
possibilities.
    He wondered how soon he could get them all out of the house.
Perhaps he could help them pack—
    “I don’t know.” Kaitlin pursed her lips to hide a slightly
fiendish smile. “I’ll probably just do some reading…” She flicked a teasing
glance around the assembly, just barely brushing him with it. But he knew it
was for him. All of it.
    And there, in the drawing room, over tea with his relations,
he burned.
    * * * * *
    It took them three days to leave. Mostly because Tay and
Hamish found an inspired place to hide. Sean would probably have joined them if
the trunk in the attic could have held one more.
    But Hortense was relentless. Like a general planning a
battle, she took the reins, and command of every member of Edward’s staff. A
flurry of packing and last-minute shopping—and searching—ensued. Everyone was
so busy, including Kaitlin, there was no time for them to be together. Each
night, everyone fell into their beds exhausted.
    Except Edward. He wasn’t exhausted. He was restless.
    Then again, he didn’t do much. His staff, however, was quite
enthusiastic in their efforts. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic. As though
they couldn’t wait for the Wyeths of Perth to leave.
    But then, he could understand. He felt on pins and needles
at the