Free Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer

London, Diccan has promised that Bea and I can help
     you look for a house. Bea will be so excited.”
    Grace couldn’t help but smile at the thought of sweet, loyal Lady Bea. Grace was not as certain as Kate, however, that Lady
     Bea would approve of this sudden marriage.
    Grace was tying the ribbons of her bonnet when a sharp voice stopped her cold.
    “Where are you going?”
    She turned to see Phillip striding over to her.
    Diccan took gentle hold of her elbow. “I’m taking my wife back to London.” he said.
    “Tonight?” Phillip demanded, drawing attention. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s already gone six.”
    “Tonight,” Diccan repeated. “I have business there that cannot wait.”
    “Business.”
    “With the government.”
    Phillip crossed his arms and planted his feet, a living barrier. “This marriage needs to be consummated.”
    By the abrupt hush around her, Grace knew that the entire room had heard him. She felt her stomach go hollow. “What?”
    Diccan let go of her long enough to grab the young Hussar by the arm and drag him into a side parlor. The occupants, a brace
     of Guards who had been throwing dice, took one look at the expression on Diccan’s face and fled. Her own heart skidding around
     in shock, Grace followed withKate and shut the door, just in time to hear Diccan berate young Phillip.
    “If your aim is to humiliate my wife,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain, “you’re doing a bang-up job.”
    But Phillip wouldn’t back down. “You know what I mean. What good does it do if you’re allowed to set the marriage aside? Give
     me your word.”
    “I’m standing right here,” Grace reminded them both, through the sudden constriction in her throat. “And while I sincerely
     appreciate your help, Phillip, this is no longer your concern.”
    He swung on her, and suddenly she realized that even after his years on campaign, he really was still a very young man. “I
     promised to protect you, Gracie. He might not want to bed you, but he must, or the marriage could be overturned.”
    Grace literally lost her breath. She knew it was probably true. But to have it stated so baldly stripped her pride bare. She
     felt all her insecurities gather in her chest like sharp-taloned birds.
    “You have my word,” Diccan said abruptly. “The minute I have concluded the pressing business I have, I will gladly bed my
     wife.”
    Another duty to be performed, Grace heard in her head.
    “My, you two certainly know how to make a woman feel attractive,” Lady Kate drawled, her eyes cold. “I’m certainly glad you
     aren’t courting
me
.”
    No one was courting her either, Grace wanted to remind her.
    “This is too important,” Phillip insisted. “I don’t trust him.”
    Feeling oddly superfluous, Grace sighed. “He gave his word,” she said, laying a hand on Phillip’s arm. “You cannot ask more.
     You should be happy for me.” And then, because there was no other way to end the argument, she perjured her soul. “
I
am.”
    Still, Phillip glowered at Diccan. “She has friends, Hilliard.”
    Diccan delivered a perfect, courtly bow. “And a husband.”
    Grace felt Phillip’s hand tense, as if he would strike Diccan down. Lady Kate must have noticed too. “Oh, good,” she said,
     blithely taking his arm and turning him to the door. “That’s settled. Now, Captain, let’s celebrate with a bit of that smuggled
     champagne. I vow I have a prodigious thirst.”
    And out the door they went, leaving Grace behind with the bitter truth lingering in her mouth.
    She was still staring after Phillip when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Diccan rub at his temple. “I’m sorry, Grace,”
     he said quietly. “That was quite uncalled for.”
    She shook her head as if it didn’t matter. “I’m the one who should apologize. I think you’ve had your word questioned one
     too many times today.”
    “Blast my word!” he snapped, and she thought she could actually see pain in his