Delightfully Dangerous (Knights Without Armor Book 1) Read online

  Reeves glanced his way. Richard checked to make certain that Lydia wasn’t paying any attention to him, she was in fact, standing with her eyes closed. The crowd was roaring, and some were cheering on Reeves, while others were screaming for Pip to knock Reeves’s bloody block off. He shook his head at Reeves. Defiant fire lit Reeves’s eyes for one brief second, and then, resignation struck his pose. He’d relented, just as he should. The fight was decided now. Pip would survive and become the winner. Reeves had swallowed a very bitter pill. He’d go down shortly, and not come back up to the scratch. Richard wouldn’t hear the end of this. Reeves would pay him a visit, and want an accounting for the order.

  The crude language filling the air shouldn’t have touched Lydia’s innocent ears. She knew far more than he would have liked to see her exposed to.

  “Jamie, why do you come here if you’re going to keep your eyes shut for most of the match?”

  Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, and looked at the ring. She looked relieved to see that Pip was gaining the upper hand. “I told you he’d come through it in one piece,” she said in a small whisper. “Thank heavens.”

  “’Course you did, Corky, and you were quite right.”

  The crowd that had laid their money on Reeves gaining victory starting booing. Richard hoped their crowd mentality wouldn’t turn into a mob mentality at the upset. This is why he didn’t want Lydia here, and why these matches were discouraged by the magistrates. They could turn into fields of death, not just for the fighters but for the spectators as well.

  “Pip looks quite poorly, doesn’t he? That brute landed a few good hits—I hope he didn’t break anything.”

  “He’ll survive, and bounce back fairly quickly, I reckon. It’s you I’m worried about. You look queer as Dick’s hatband.”

  “I’m fine.”

  She looked anything but. When she started to sway on her feet, he took hold of her, not caring if anyone cast strange glances their way. They could believe what they wanted. Tomorrow morning he might be on the lips of every gossip, but Lydia was far more important than his reputation, or lack thereof.

  “You don’t look fine. We’re going back to the coach, and I’m taking you home. These rough adventures aren’t for you, Jamie. You’re far too delicate. Your constitution just cannot take it.”

  “I am not delicate. I shall have you know, Lord Tisbury that I am made of stern stuff,” she said weakly. “After all, I have Radcliff blood in my veins. I was just a trifle surprised by the viciousness of Reeves. He looked as if he was inclined to murder Pip. What breeds that kind of mindless rage?”

  Richard remained silent. He knew what bred that kind of determined rage. He wasn’t going to enlighten her about it, though. The less that Lydia knew, the better.

  “The crowd is getting quite rowdy. The side that was betting on Reeves has murder on their minds. I say we hasten our exit from this event, before rotten produce starts to fly—or worse, fists.”

  Dumbly, Lydia nodded, and allowed him to escort her away from what was quickly turning into an angry mob. There could be violence, and he didn’t want to see Lydia caught in the middle of that. He spotted their carriage, and headed for it. If anyone decided to cross their path, they would pay dearly for it.

  “Do you think we should leave Pip? What if the mob, err, I mean crowd turns on him?”

  “He has his own supporters, and Alex is a capable fellow. The rest of the Fancy that surrounds Pip will know what to do about ensuring his safe retreat from the match. He is the champion, after all.”

  “This sort of upset is bound to hit all the papers,” she muttered. “It’s definitely going to be in the Weekly Dispatch.”

  He remained silent. He’d have to start following that newspaper to keep himself apprised of whatever foolish ideas that might creep into Lydia’s head.

  “But was he the victor? I mean, I know he won, but I have this sneaky suspicion that Reeves threw the match. He looked bound and determined to make mincemeat out of poor Pip. I confess my heart was in my throat for those few tense moments. Not that that brute Reeves should have been facing someone like Pip anyway, it could hardly be called a fair fight. Not with the training that Reeves obviously has had. He fights…he fights similarly to the way that Micah fights, but he doesn’t have the finesse that Micah possesses. He’s like a hammer just bludgeoning away, with such frenzy. And I could have sworn it looks as if someone told him to stand down. I just don’t understand the swift change that was wrought within him. It is most vexing.”

  “Don’t…don’t give it a second thought,” Richard said, praying that Lydia would put the fight out of her head once he delivered her safely back to her brother’s residence. Her outings would have to end, and until they did, he would have to go along with her on any future ones, to protect her from herself.

  Finally, they were back at their carriage. He helped her up into it.

  “Oh, fiend seize it,” she muttered. “I haven’t collected my winnings.”

  He sighed impatiently. “Give me your receipt. I’ll be right back with them. Don’t leave this carriage, do you understand?”

  She nodded and weakly settled back against the squabs. He shut the carriage door a little too hard, and quickly set about his task. The sooner he collected her money, and they were on the road to London, the better. He made his way through the madness to the banker, and waited while the winnings were distributed. Emotions were high, and if the banker hadn’t been used to such crowds, and an ex-fighter himself, he might have been a little worried.

  As Richard was carefully making his way back to the carriage through the restless crowd, he spotted someone he wished he hadn’t. It was Lord Lumley. The previous owner of Wilton Park, his sister’s new home. It didn’t surprise him to see the old man here. After all, Lumley had been forced to sell Wilton Park after losing his fortune to his gambling addiction.

  “Tisbury, old chap,” Lumley said, hurrying to catch up with him. “How are your sister and her giant of a husband doing?”

  “They are well, thank you,” he said curtly, not wanting to be too friendly. He didn’t want to have his ears talked off, and Lumley had a habit of never shutting up.

  “I saw that pretty little piece that accompanied you. Do not fret, my tongue shall not wag about the two of you.” Now the infernal man had caught his interest. Gads. Did he know? “I take it she’s an industrious bluestocking who took it upon herself to see a match, eh wot? Or…” He smiled widely. “Is she a married lady sneaking out with her lover? I never thought you were one to invite scandal, Tisbury old boy.” With those words, Lumley gave him a knowing wink that made Richard want to plant a facer on the old man. Why couldn’t the fool have fallen for the charade? Richard swallowed thickly. He’d have to diffuse this situation, posthaste. He didn’t wanted to deny or confirm what Lumley supposed.

  “I must away, Lumley. I have—”

  “A lady to attend to, I do understand,” he said smugly, giving him another conspiratorial wink that was meant to show they shared a delicious secret. “Mayhap I’ll see you again before you repair to the country, and you can afford me a proper introduction with the little lass. Do give her my regards. I saw the way she was betting, and I put a good amount on that little bird instead of the beast, and it actually paid off. I’m set for a while now thanks to her.”

  If Richard had his way, he, Lumley and Lydia would never cross paths again. As it stood now, he fully expected to be on the lips of every single gossip in London, and if he was truly unlucky, he and Lydia would be mentioned in a few gossip columns. Fortunately, she would just be listed as a mysterious woman, employing an ingenious disguise. It was far too dangerous for Lydia to risk going out as Jamie again, but she was so stubborn, he doubted he’d be able to convince her of that. He nodded to Lumley and left.

  As he was walking away, he heard the man say, “Always was a fellow of few words and queer taste.”

  Richard climbed up into the carriage, closed the door, arranged himself o
n the seat opposite her, and regarded her. Oh, if only he could be as blissfully unaware as she was.

  He handed her the coin purse containing her winnings, and sighed. “You, my very silly lady, were discovered.”

  “I wasn’t,” she said, her eyes widening. “Who…who saw me?”

  “Lord Lumley, late of Wilton Park.”

  She swallowed thickly, her face went even paler than it was before, and her hands shook nervously. “Did…did he recognize me?”

  “No. He did, however, recognize that you were a lady dressed in man’s clothing.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “And he thinks you are my lover.”

  “Oh, no!” she repeated again; she actually looked as if this announcement might make her faint. “Do you think…do you think…?”

  “That he’ll sing like the popinjay he is? Oh, aye. We may depend upon it. He shan’t employ the discretion that Lord Eden would have afforded us. Lumley’s bone box always has had a habit of running off like a fox during a hunt.”

  “So…it’s official. I’m ruined.”

  “Lumley doesn’t know who you really are. Fortunately, he didn’t see through your disguise enough to come to that deduction. He will, however, present a problem for us. You cannot go gallivanting around Town, or even outside of London, dressed like that ever again.”

  “I won’t do it,” she said stubbornly, making him groan.

  “I pray you mean you won’t put that hideous outfit on again, but there’s a part of me that knows you mean the other,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose, as a headache beckoned. He had to hand it to Lydia. She was a master mischief maker.

  “No. I shan’t give it up. I’m enjoying myself far too much. He’s just a dotty old man. How much damage could he possibly do?”

  “He could kick up a storm that we couldn’t think to avoid. Are you prepared for that?”

  “Are you asking me if I’m prepared to find myself at the center of a scandal that will rock the ton?”

  “Aye.”

  She looked away from him, and nervously chewed at her lip, whilst wringing her hands in her lap. “I am. I do not want my wings clipped yet, sir.”

  “Well, even if you do go traipsing about in those ridiculous duds, I expect you not to go to another boxing match.”

  He watched her closely. She hadn’t uttered another word, though by the stressed look on her face, she was clearly running her reply to him through her head. She looked so vulnerable, and he fought the urge to comfort her.

  “In that, you would also be incorrect. I know you want me to confess that a bloody and brutal fight like that was no place for a lady like me, but I cannot.”

  “You’re a stubborn little chit. I always knew that. What if what you saw today comes back to haunt you? What if you have nightmares from it?”

  “It won’t keep me from going to another bout,” she said, challengingly meeting his gaze. She held her chin up, and though she was trying to convey her complete determination, he could see her wavering slightly under the surface.

  “I would expect nothing less, Lydia. I know that once you set your mind to something you cannot be swayed. I often took you for granted, didn’t I? I never saw you for who you were until it was too late. You’re not cut from the same cloth that other ladies of your class are. You are…you are a rare breed, and I never should have been so blind to all of your charms.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean to say that I never saw your affection for me, until…until you’d quite given me up.”

  “We are all fools from time to time, and we should…we should be forgiven our lapses in judgment, even though sometimes, it’s hard to earn that forgiveness,” she said, looking out the window, and tapping her fingers restlessly on the windowpane. “We make mistakes. My father always said, making mistakes wasn’t a fatal flaw of character, but not learning from those mistakes was.”

  “Your father was a good, wise man.”

  “Everyone who knew him says that,” she sighed. “The question is, do you learn from your mistakes, Lord Tisbury?”

  She was a cunning little chit. He had to give that to her. He’d learned never to underestimate Lydia. She had more tricks and surprises up her sleeve than any other lady he’d ever been acquainted with.

  “Indeed I have. But, have you, my lady?”

  “The contest between Reeves and Bird won’t turn me away from other matches. I am determined to watch at least two more fights before…”

  “Before what?”

  “Before I…oh, dash it all, that’s none of your business, sir. You shall not put me into the corner with your clever words. I shall fight back, yes, indeed, I shall.”

  “What other scheme do you have brewing in that dangerous mind of yours, Lydia?” He leaned toward her. Her wide, expressive blue eyes became even wider.

  “You are looking at me like a wolf would regard his prey,” she said, a little weakly.

  “What are you scheming? I thought the least of my worries was fretting about how to keep you away from the world of the Fancy. But I can see that I should be worried about something far more serious.”

  “I do not know to what you refer, sir.”

  “You do, Lydia, and if you won’t tell me, I suppose I should let you have your way…for now, but I will have it out of you eventually.”

  “I must have insurance.”

  “Insurance for what?”

  “Insurance for Lord Lumley. If he ever figures out that I was with you…and…”

  “I already warned you about that. I told you what could happen should we be discovered, and that’s why I’m asking you to desist in these foolhardy adventures of yours.”

  “I need to…make quite certain that if I am outed…that you will be my…”

  “Knight in shining armor? I rather prefer knight without armor if I’m honest. Wearing armor in this day and age just gets in the way.”

  “As you like it. I need to know that you will…”

  “I will always protect you. I would do anything to see you from being harmed, Lydia. However, I should like to see you go back to being a proper young lady. This…” He gestured to what she was wearing, “This invites all sorts of trouble. Trouble that could seriously harm you.”

  “You like to give me orders, don’t you?”

  “They are not orders, Lydia. They are merely suggestions.”

  “Rubbish,” she sighed. “Oh, Richard. We always end up arguing. I don’t like being at odds with you. And besides, I see now the person I originally wanted to make a bargain with, just shall not do.”

  “I don’t like the sounds of that. What sort of bargains were you going to make?”

  “I’m fagged to death. Might we continue this riveting discussion another time?”

  “You weren’t going to make a bargain with that fool, James Newson, were you? Does he know of your penchant for dressing up like a man and calling yourself Jamie?”

  “Mr. Newson isn’t quite as bad you make him out to be. He’s a little silly at times, but he’s not as foolish as you think.”

  “I relent that you are quite right. He was intelligent enough to pay attention to you. He’d do well in allying himself through marriage to you.”

  “Are you implying that he is only chasing me for my dowry?”

  “It doesn’t bloody hurt,” he muttered.

  “If you are right about that, then…then, I shall…”

  “What shall you do?” He watched her closely. She was preparing herself to leap before she looked again. Perhaps, he could take advantage of that. “You like to place bets, and take risks. I saw that at the fight. You were quite passionate about it all. I shall make you a wager.”

  “Wager away. There’s nothing I shan’t risk.”

  “I wonder if you’d like to eat those words once I lay out the wager to you.”

  “Will you just put it forth, sir?”

  “Oh, aye. Most gladly. If I am right about that peacock, James Ne
wson, and he is pursuing you for the rewards you bring to the match, then…then, I shall be the lucky fellow to win your hand in marriage.”

  Her eyes looked about ready to bug out. “And if you are proven wrong?”

  “I shall give you whatever your heart desires. If you desire never to see me again…I shall disappear from your life.”

  “I agree to your terms,” she said, a little more readily than he thought she would.

  “Splendid.”

  “I have faith in Mr. Newson’s character. He would not pursue me for the financial reward our union would bring him.”

  “Of course, you have another gentlemen interested in winning your hand as well.”

  “You are mistaken, I have no other suitors.”

  “You are quite blind to how others react around you, aren’t you? Alex Mandeville knows what you are. I don’t think he knows who are you, but he knows what you are, and you’re forgetting something quite important.”

  “What is that?”

  “If our names are connected together in a scandal, you will have no choice but to protect yourself by…”

  “By what?”

  “By marrying me, of course. I shall be the only gentleman able to save your reputation.”

  “Devil take you, Lord Tisbury.”

  “That’s the spirit, Lydia. Keep your chin up even in the face of disaster.”

  She gave him a stony eyed glare, and turned her attention to the passing countryside. After a few silent moments, he noticed that she had drifted off to sleep. She looked so beautiful when she was sleeping. Even in her wretched disguise, with the wig that made him wince, her beauty shone through.