At His Lady's Command by Nicola Davidson

Author:Nicola Davidson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2019-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

C avendish Square, London

TO ASSIST IN HER ‘HAPPINESS’, Halstead had wasted no time whatsoever in shoving his sister onto the marriage auction block.

Barely concealing his disgust, Randall let his gaze travel the full and noisy ballroom in Butler House as more guests flooded in. The marquess had changed his mind, deciding that having a bodyguard raised the family prestige, and retained Randall’s services for a few more weeks. To remain close to Lady Portia, he had accepted.

But events like this were a security nightmare, for the cavernous space boasted many pillars and alcoves, several large street-facing windows, extra hired servants coming and going as they pleased, and four doorways to watch. Far more troubling, Lady Portia stood in the receiving line, her lovely face like stone. It seemed her family were determined to break her spirit, for her hair had been arranged in a fussy style of created loose curls, she wore a pale pink silk gown, and so many diamonds glittered at her throat and wrists that she resembled a damned chandelier. The unwed peers around her were salivating like a pack of hungry dogs, both at such an ostentatious display of available wealth, and at the thought of taming the notorious Pistol Portia. In his mind he had already inflicted broken jaws, blackened eyes, and more than a few dismemberments.

It had all begun two days ago, the morning after they arrived.

The dowager had presented her stepdaughter with the first of her schedules. As he’d feared, Lady Portia’s freedoms had been severely curtailed: her clothing had been replaced with a wardrobe selected for her, she had to be accompanied at all times by Marie, Kitty, or the dowager as well as himself, the bracing strolls she enjoyed so much were forbidden entirely, and she could only attend balls, soirees or musicales personally approved or hosted by her brother.

Randall was only able to touch her by way of assisting her in and out of a carriage, and he didn’t dare allow himself anything more than the briefest of finger squeezes to convey his support and affection. After the unforgettable evening in his Surrey bedchamber, the hot, rough fucking, the tender embraces, the shared laughter and open conversation…their present circumstances couldn’t be worse. It proved, as always, the power of bloody damned money. With it, you could rule the world. Without it…you just had to take the blows.

“Excuse me, Captain.”

Randall glanced down at the unknown footman in Halstead livery. “Yes?”

The lad smiled apologetically. “His lordship says…er, requests…um…that you smile.”

“What?” he said incredulously.

“I’m sorry, sir. His lordship said he would tell you himself, but he is busy with the receiving line. He wishes you to…er…behave in the spirit of the joyous occasion, the potential betrothal of the Lady Portia, not…um…look like a man at a funeral.”

Fury burned through him. Halstead remained a petulant child even when he held the upper hand. The marquess had already expressed his displeasure with Randall’s plain attire of gray breeches, white shirt, and black jacket earlier in the evening, demanding to know why he wasn’t wearing his dress uniform.

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