The Aristocrat's Lady (Love Inspired Historical) by Mary Moore Page B

she had met in London. He was an honorable and just man who would fight for a cause, whether popular or not. In her eyes, that was much more important than handsomeness or charm.
    She kept hold of Toby’s arm, occasionally brushing into others because of her thoughts on Devlin’s speech. They finally entered the light of day, and Toby ordered their carriage before the bulk of the attendees had left the building.
    Nicole suddenly heard her name called through the milling crowd and recognized Lord Devlin’s voice as he neared them, almost out of breath.
    In a dangerously low voice and with tightly clenched teeth, Lord Devlin spoke to the pair. “Lady Nicole, what do you think you are doing here? Confound it, woman, no one knows when a speech will incite a riot. You should never have come.” He had her by the arm, and she could hear his anger very close to the surface along with what she thought was a tinge of concern in his voice. “Toby, why have you let her come here?”
    “Didn’t let ’er do anything, my lord. I told ’er myself she was asking for trouble. When Lady Nick gets an idea in ’er ’ead, it’s more than me that can stop ’er. Think I ain’t never tried?”
    “ I should have found a way of stopping her,” Devlin muttered as he handed her into her waiting carriage and stepped in after her. “I will escort you home, ma’am. I still have a few choice words to say to you.”
    Toby chuckled as he climbed onto the top with John Coachman.
    Inside, Nicole clapped her hands then rested them against her heart. “You can be as angry at me as you want. I do not care. I would not have missed that for anything in the world. You were magnificent, my lord, and I am so proud of you. You fought for justice for your fellow man, and I know how hard that is to do in the face of rejection and disapproval.”
    “Nicole…”
    “No, listen,” she interrupted before he could berate her. “I was amazed at your understanding of the soldier’s plights. Will you tell me about your proposal in more detail? When did you visit France? I should like to hear about it. I always hear people glorifying war but I am aware it always seems to be done by men who have never actually experienced battle.”
    “I begin to understand Toby’s frustration. I must remember to apologize to him.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I am not going to get through to you how stupid it was to go there alone, am I?”
    “I was not alone. I had Toby and the Lord,” she said absently. She could not get her mind off his words, and she could only wonder at him for wanting to be her friend! Oh, how she wished she knew more of him so they could talk beyond the everyday platitudes. She felt they could be even better friends, eventually allowing her to reveal her own secrets to him.
    He continued his tirade with much less air in his sails than before. “You had a servant? And it was a lone servant at that.” Devlin ran his hands through his hair in frustration again. “Toby would not have been able to fight an angry mob and get you to safety at the sametime, despite your hero-worship of him. And I have yet to see your God pop out of nowhere to stop an oncoming danger. Do you not understand how worried I was when I saw you in the gallery?”
    “But Devlin, none of that happened. We are all fine. You worried over nothing.” She clapped her hands again in delight. “You let me believe you were telling me all about yourself last night at dinner. I think it is I who should be angry at the moment!”
    Then he laughed in total surprise. “I only know of one other woman who would have done anything as harebrained as you have done.” His laughter ended, but his joy did not. “My grandmother is also the only other person who would have been proud of me for it.”
    “Devlin, those men must be convinced! They must believe the truth and necessity of your plan.” She chewed on her lower lip as she contemplated her own role in that endeavor. “Do