“Ash…” Dominique’s voice was low, his accent thick as it always was when he was annoyed at the world. “…you will stay for dinner.”
“I will,” Ash repeated numbly.
“I have another task that needs… your touch.”
Ash sighed and moved past Dominique. “Tell me, am I to stay with you while I’m in London as well?”
“Your rooms have been ready for a week.”
“I was joking.”
“I never joke,” Dominique said sternly.
Pierce moved slowly back down the stairs and gave a silent nod of acknowledgement. Lucky bastard was most likely making an early escape before he too was roped into the chaos.
“Bloody brilliant mansion!” Cornelius all but shouted.
Dunlin, following too closely, slammed into Cornelius, who tripped into Sofia, who then gripped Dominique’s lapels like a lifeline.
“What is… this?” Dominique clipped.
Naturally, that was when Samson approached and promptly sneezed in Dominique’s face.
Serafano yawned and mumbled, “Bless you.”
Gerald and David rolled their eyes while Benedict stayed back.
“This—” Ash held his hands out wide. “—is the Royal Guard sent to protect your lovely cousin. Now do you see why I was… detained?”
“Good God.” Dominique glanced at the men then back at Ash, his eyes pleading.
“They shall stay here as well… right?” Sofia asked in a soft voice.
And suddenly Ash felt so much better about being in residence, especially considering he was going to get a front-row seat to the madness it would cause the great beast.
“I, uh—” Dominique stuttered, glancing to Ash for help.
Ash was silent.
Dominique’s eyes blazed.
“Of course!” came the female response as Dominique’s wife Isabelle made her way toward them. “We wouldn’t have it any other way. Why, they’re practically family. Right, Dominique?”
His eyes narrowed. “Er, right.”
“Whiskey?” Ash offered Dominique, but he was already two steps ahead of him, bounding toward his study. Ash followed as the sound of Isabelle’s voice filled the great hall.
“Ah, great of you to join me.” Hunter lifted the decanter of whiskey into the air and pulled out another two snifters.
“What. The. Hell.” Dominique spat. “Tell me those aren’t the men sent to protect her?”
Hunter grinned, offering Dominique the glass. “All right, those weren’t the men sent to protect her.”
“Thank God.”
“He lied,” Ash interjected, taking his own glass and sitting on the settee. “Why else do you think it took me an age to bring the chit here?”
“Chit?” Dominique repeated darkly.
“Woman.” Ash’s eyes narrowed. “Would you rather I call her a dove? A lovely creature with perfect skin and—”
Hunter’s chuckle mixed with Dominique’s growl and cut off any further suggestions, though that was probably for the best, considering he was arousing himself with such talk. Never good for such things to occur in the company of men.
Dominique sat, his face a stern mask. Then again, the man always appeared harsh and uncompromising. From his strong jaw to his cold blue eyes and wickedly dark hair, he hadn’t gained his nickname for smiling at children and helping the elderly.
The scars on Dominique’s hands seemed to illuminate with the crackling fire, making him look even more daunting. No wonder Sofia had been terrified. Anyone who’d heard the story of Dominique’s youth would wonder if he too was cursed like his father — cursed to bring about nothing but death and madness to those he came into contact with.
Fortunately for her and for the rest of society, Dominique was more of a trained housecat. He had a temper, but he also had a wife willing to knee him in the family jewels when necessary.
“She told you… what happened?” Dominique finally asked.
Hunter stood quietly by the fireplace.
The only sound was that of the crackling wood and the light tapping of rain against the house.
Swallowing, Ash nodded. “She told me enough.”
“Then you understand why her safety is of the utmost importance.”
He wasn’t so sure he liked the general direction of the conversation, but Ash gave another nod just the same.
“I trust you to be discreet.” Dominique swirled the whiskey in his glass then took another long sip. “As discreet as you know how to be in your certain line of work.”
“He means killing people,” Hunter offered helpfully.
“What exactly are you asking me to do?” Ash asked.
Dominique stared into his glass. “I thought it was obvious.” His head lifted. “You are to be her protector, her shadow, her chaperone, her everything… until she is safely married. You will be her other half. That is the job you took over a month ago, and I will see it carried through.”
A cross between a moan and a growl erupted from Ash’s lips.
Hunter grinned, chuckling into his glass before taking a sip. “The Season just became so much more… entertaining.”
“You cannot—” Ash sputtered, throwing back the entire contents of the glass before slamming it onto the table. “You cannot mean for me to… attach myself to her person. It is not proper!”
“Since when have you cared about propriety?” Dominique scowled. “Better yet, when have I ever cared?”
“But if she is to find a husband—?”
“She’s a damn princess,” Hunter interjected. “Finding a husband is the least of our worries.”
“And the most?” Ash was almost afraid to ask.
Dominique’s eyebrows arched while Hunter poured himself another hefty glass, his lips curving into a knowing smile.
Ash groaned.
“Why,” Hunter said as he lifted his glass into the air, “that much is obvious. It should be interesting… how mad she will be able to drive poor Ash before he turns on his own sword.”
Ash barked out a laugh. “A mere child would not evoke enough emotion for that type of drama, believe me.”
“A child?” Hunter circled the room slowly. “Is that what you think when you see the princess?”
“Absolutely.”
“You’re positive?” Hunter pushed harder.
“Yes! Damn it!” Ash almost stomped his foot. “She is nothing but a child, not even a woman, yet. Hell, she has seen nothing of the world! I am not tempted by innocence… no matter how pretty you may dress it.”