“No truly strong man is frightened of a clever woman,” St. Leger said.
Thus ensuring he was at once bathed in fond looks of approbation.
“Angelique is very clever, too,” Delilah said proudly. “She speaks five languages. She was a governess.”
That word. Even after all these years it was like a quick shiv prick to Daphne’s rib.
The tiny shock of it blanked her mind for an instant.
When Lorcan’s earring glinted in her peripheral vision she realized he had turned to look at her because a little conversational lull had set in.
Daphne was practically an Olympian at composure regaining. She’d had a lot of practice.
It began with a deep breath, which she took.
Suddenly everyone pivoted toward the sound of boot heels swiftly crossing the marble foyer.
And into the room without preamble swept two of the most strikingly handsome men Daphne had ever seen.
Delilah and Angelique rose to their feet.
But not before they exchanged a quick “what on earth?” glance.
Lorcan slowly rose to his, too. Daphne followed suit.
Daphne noticed Lorcan’s hand flex at his side. As if he were regretting the absence of a sword.
Her arms went cold with nerves.
“It seems our husbands have blessed us with an unexpected visit,” Delilah explained. And while the word “husbands” was rich with wry warmth, the word “unexpected” was given an interesting emphasis. “Allow me to introduce mine, Captain Tristan Hardy.”
The man with cool, silvery eyes and close-cropped hair bowed.
“And my husband, Lord Bolt,” Angelique announced.
Bolt’s dark hair was longer; he had a long, fine-boned face and unusual green eyes. And he bowed, too.
Both were tall, slim, broad of shoulder, and fierce of expression. Both were profoundly different in appearance in nearly every other way, from their clothing to their posture.
Delilah and Angelique scooted together to the middle of the settee so their husbands could flank them, as it seemed clear that neither intended to leave.
“Last time we met, Lord Bolt,” St. Leger said slowly, “we were dispatching pirates in the Atlantic.”
Bolt’s fixed regard evolved swiftly into delighted recognition. “St. Leger! Almost didn’t recognize you without a sword at your hip.”
“Funny, I always picture St. Leger wearing a noose.”
Captain Hardy said this so lightly that it was a moment before the words registered among those gathered.
And when they did the silence and stillness was so abrupt it sucked the air from the room like a gasp.
Chapter Four
Delilah slowly turned her head toward her husband.
Who had eyes only for Lorcan St. Leger.
Mr. St. Leger was also engaged in not blinking.