Was he really prepared to go as far as that in order to keep his promise to protect Lisette? For there was no doubting that no one would dare to arrest or harm the Duchess of Sutherland—
‘You see.’ Lisette stood up to briskly cross the room before plucking the brandy glass from Christian’s relaxed fingers. ‘I said that you should not attempt to drink brandy in your already weakened state.’ She tutted disapprovingly as she placed the glass down on Christian’s desktop.
His heavy oak antique desk that had once belonged to a king.
Christian, however, was not the King of England, and if he did decide to tie himself to Lisette Duprée, then he knew it would be for life.
A life spent with an impulsive and totally irrepressible woman who would make a terrible duchess.
‘Are you about to take me away and lock me in a cell, m’lord?’ Lisette spoke to Maystone with her usual directness.
That gentleman looked startled by such a suggestion. ‘I— Why, no, I had not thought of doing such a thing.’
‘Why not?’
‘I— Well—’ Maystone gave a shake of his head. ‘I have no evidence— I trust Sutherland’s word if he has vouched for you.’
‘He has,’ Christian asserted sharply, although he could not help but feel surprised that Maystone had ceded his ground so easily.
Indeed, Maystone still looked befuddled, clearly as disconcerted by Lisette’s directness as the next man. And Christian, as the next man, was highly disconcerted by her!
Maystone nodded. ‘I really need time to consider this...situation before taking any further action.’
‘Then perhaps you two gentlemen have visited long enough for today,’ Lisette now told Worthing and Maystone politely but firmly. ‘Christian is weakened still and needs to rest after his long journey.’
What Christian needed was to retake charge in his own household and not have it, and him, dictated to by a mere chit of a girl—
‘I believe you are right.’ Maystone downed the last of his brandy before rising quickly to his feet and placing his empty glass down on the desk beside Chr
istian’s.
Good God, they were all doing it now!
It really was insupportable that Christian’s life, his very existence, most certainly the authority he had possessed since birth, was being eroded in just minutes by this bossy and opinionated French miss.
‘I shall come back and...and discuss this further in the morning, Christian, once I have had chance to ponder the situation,’ Maystone added distractedly.
As far as Christian was concerned, Maystone could ‘ponder’ all he liked and it would not change the outcome; he could not allow Lisette to come to any harm. Indeed, the mere thought of it caused a cold shiver down the length of his spine.
‘Mademoiselle Duprée.’ Maystone now nodded abruptly. ‘Worthing?’
‘Definitely time we were leaving.’ Marcus nodded after a single glance at the thundercloud he no doubt saw forming on Christian’s brow. ‘I shall bring Julianna to see you tomorrow morning, Christian.’
After he had no doubt regaled Christian’s young sister with all the details of his relationship with Lisette. Including what Marcus suspected might have happened in the carriage on their way from Portsmouth to London; as far as Christian could see, the married couple kept no secrets from each other.
He also knew instinctively that his sister was sure to like Lisette, if only for the fact that she appeared to have taken charge of Christian and his household without so much as a by-your-leave.
‘There is no rush for you to leave now,’ he assured his brother-in-law hastily. ‘Indeed, I was about to suggest that perhaps you might care to take Lisette home to Worthing House with you, so that you and Julianna might act as chaperone—’
‘I am not in need of a chaperone—’
‘But of course you are, my dear.’ Maystone spoke up bravely over Lisette’s outraged protest. ‘A single unmarried lady does not reside in a single gentleman’s house without a chaperone, even that of her guardian.’ He gave a slightly bewildered shake of his head. ‘Forgive me, Sutherland, I was—I am still—a little shocked to learn of Miss Duprée’s...lineage.’
‘Half my lineage,’ Lisette cut in dismissively. ‘I fear my father’s identity is unknown, and likely to remain so,’ she informed him at his questioning look.
‘Oh. Well. Yes.’ Maystone looked more disconcerted than ever. No doubt at hearing Lisette speaking so frankly of her illegitimacy.
‘And I do not intend going anywhere, Christian.’ She turned back to him. ‘Now that I am here—’ she gave him a glowering look ‘—I intend to continue seeing that all my good work of these past three days does not become undone simply because you are too stubborn to call for a doctor.’