The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(61)

Now Talbot’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me? Careful, lest you find yourself without allies in this strange land.”

“If you’re referring to yourself, I didn’t count you among them in the first place. Now, take yourself off before I lose my temper.”

Talbot smirked. “You’ll regret this interaction.” He turned on his heel and stalked off.

Bran glared after him. “Doubtful.”

He walked back to where he’d been just as Evie arrived, now at a walk.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“No one important.” He held his hands up and helped her dismount. “You went above a trot.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. She’s so wonderful, Papa.” Her brow furrowed as he set her on the ground. “Are you upset?”

Upset? Not particularly, but definitely agitated. “Why would I be?”

Before he could straighten, she ran her hand over his forehead. “You have those lines when you’re tense. Do you need a massage?”

On the ship, there were several days when Hudson had been ill from the motion of the sea. He’d been unable to perform his daily massage, which had made Bran, well, agitated. Or at least made him more likely to be agitated. Evie had noticed this—she was aware of Bran’s morning massage routine—and had offered to fill in for Hudson. She didn’t have the strength he had, but Bran found it didn’t matter. Just having someone press on certain points, his shoulders, his elbows, his wrists, helped.

Without waiting for him to respond, she took his hand and ran her fingertips over his wrist, squeezing and pressing. He straightened his spine and willed the stress from his body as she worked.

She moved up to his elbow and repeated the treatment. “I can’t reach your shoulders.”

“That’s all right.” He offered her his other arm.

“Yes, everything will be all right, Papa.”

He peered down at her, wondering if all children were as intuitive as her. “I hope so. Are you happy here, Evie?”

“I think so. Most days. Today is a very good day.” She glanced toward Artemis, who was back in the care of the groom. “I have Becky and Jo. They make things better.” She pressed her lips together as she massaged his arm up to his elbow. “Do you have anyone that makes things better?”

Bran’s heart twisted. He didn’t want her worrying about his happiness. That was his job. “I have you.”

“I know. We’ll always have each other. You tell me that all the time.”

He did. “And that’s fine by me.”

“Someday, I’ll get married and live in my own house,” she said. “Who will you have then?”

He squatted down again, and she let go of his elbow. “Evie, my darling girl, that is a very long time from now. I don’t want you to worry about me. I have everything I want. Everything I need. Right here, with you.” He touched the tip of her nose with his forefinger and smiled.

Her eyes—they reminded him so much of the sea around Barbados—narrowed slightly. “I’m still going to take care of you. Someone has to.”

He laughed at the seriousness of her tone. “I am the luckiest of men.” He swung her up into his arms again, lifting her high above his head, making her squeal. “Do you want to ride Artemis back to the mews? Walking only.”

“Yes, please!”

He set her back on the saddle, and the groom led her from the park. Bran walked alongside, his brain churning her words.

Someday, I’ll get married and live in my own house. Who will you have then?

He immediately thought of Jo. The last week had been incredible, truly the best days since he’d arrived in London. Just this morning, Hudson had commented that he’d never seen Bran so relaxed. Their massage time had become quite short over the past few days, he realized.

But there was no future with Jo—according to her. He nurtured a hope that she might be mistaken about her fertility, that where her lousy former husband had failed, Bran would be victorious.

And if he wasn’t? He still needed to find a countess. However, the more time he spent with Jo, the less he was interested in doing so. What sort of earl did that make him?

He wasn’t sure, beyond the sort that allowed his daughter to ride astride in Hyde Park and cause a stir. Bran looked around as they left the park. Had anyone else seen Evie riding? If so, had they arrived at the same conclusion, that Bran was a horrible parent?

A surge of homesickness assailed him. He looked at Evie to gain his bearings once more. Yes, they would always have each other. Thank God for that.



Jo arrived at Lady Satterfield’s tea in the company of her sister. The countess was known for hosting social events in the late afternoon at which she served tea and cakes. People came to gossip and be seen. Jo had attended a couple of them since arriving in town and had accepted Nora’s invitation to join her today. They were the first to arrive.

Lady Satterfield smiled widely as they entered the drawing room. “Good afternoon, dears! I’m so glad you’ve come.” She hugged Nora. “You are positively radiant, as usual. Pregnancy quite agrees with you.” She turned to Jo. “And I must say you have a look about you—a merry twinkle in your eye, I think. Becoming a governess must agree with you.”