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One month later
“Mr. Andrews.” Demon tilted his head and stared at Rupert. “Or should I say, Your Grace?”
“Technically, you are supposed to say Your Grace,” Aria said with a smirk.
“Hmph.” Demon glowered.
A faint nervousness moved through Rupert automatically, and his heartbeat quickened, as Aria’s former bodyguard quickly strode toward him.
Rupert hadn’t expected that he was his cousin’s heir, but his cousin’s son had apparently been dead for years. The former duke had evidently preferred to make Rupert think that he would be perpetually penniless than bother to tell him that his heir had died abroad. Rupert was the Duke of Framingham, and Aria was once again the Duchess of Framingham, now that they’d wed in London. This time they’d waited the requisite period after posting their banns.
“I should congratulate you,” Demon said.
“I know you told me to stay away from her,” Rupert said.
“Well. Perhaps I was wrong.” Demon leaned nearer Rupert, and his eyes sparkled. “She seems very happy.”
“I’m glad.”
Demon’s face sobered. “And she better be happy for the rest of her life.”
Rupert’s throat dried.
“Absolutely no harm to her, otherwise I’ll be back.” Demon pointed at himself as he said the last words, even though there could be little doubt that he was speaking about himself.
Rupert didn’t mention that Demon was returning to Sweden, but Demon must have realized that Rupert was thinking about it, for he added, “oceans are no problem.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Rupert said, and Demon grinned, evidently happy that he’d impressed upon Rupert his frightfulness.
“I don’t want to hear about any problems between you two,” Demon said.
“There won’t be.”
Demon smiled. “You love her very much.”
Rupert nodded. “I do. I do indeed.”
Demon snorted. “Trying to protect her by yourself.” He shook his head, as if still overcome by amusement. “Ridiculous.”
“I managed,” Rupert said stiffly.
“You did,” Demon said, but he continued to chuckle.
Aria joined them and took Rupert’s arm. “It’s time to leave, sweetheart.”
Rupert smiled, and they strode toward their carriage. This time, Rupert wouldn’t be tasked with driving it. This time, they’d hired a driver.
Rupert gave a last glance at Grosvenor Square and smiled at the Banks family, Demon, and the various servants gathered about to see them. He waved, then turned toward the coach.
His smartly liveried driver opened the door. “Your Grace.”
“Thank you, James,” Rupert said, then followed Aria inside.
Lady Octavia and Galileo were waiting inside the coach. Some things, Rupert supposed, didn’t change.
“We’re going to live in Laventhorpe Castle, Lady Octavia,” Rupert said.
Lady Octavia gave him a skeptical scowl, then sauntered away from him, waving her fluffy white tail.
“We can visit the cottage,” Rupert assured her.
Galileo gave an excited bark.
“Galileo is looking forward to going to the castle,” Rupert said.
Aria smiled. “Galileo was never carried so much before.”
Rupert gave a stern look to Galileo. “That’s unlikely to happen again.”
Galileo still barked excitedly and waved his tail.
“It might happen if someone tries to murder me again,” Aria said.
Rupert took her hands in his. “That will absolutely not happen.”
“No?”
“No.” He shook his head firmly, then his lips twitched. “Perhaps I should send a message in advance to tell the servants to start building a moat.”
“Or just a maze where potential criminals can wander endlessly?”
“That would work, too,” Rupert said.
The carriage moved slowly through London, rolling past immaculate townhouses, guarded by glossy rails and adorned with flowers, content by the city’s frequent rainfall. Soon, they would be leaving London, headed for their castle.
Aria leaned her head against Rupert’s shoulder. “You take such care of me, my dear.”
And he always would.