Free Smirke 01 - An Unlikely Hero by Cari Hislop

snivelling Lord, it makes my chest ache.”

    “I taught you
better than to g-get skewered by some knave. I hope it wasn’t an
angry father d-defending his family’s honour?” John felt his ward’s
curious stare like a hot slap.

    “The worm
insulted Mamma. I nearly had him left-handed, but I tripped over a
hedgehog. I was on my backside when he stabbed me.”

    “That’s low!
Who was he?” John resisted the burning desire to spit out
Mulgrave’s name and shook his head. He wasn’t going to give his
brother a reason to end up in hell. “Well if you choose to shield
the knave, I’m sure you have your reasons.” Lord Adderbury released
his brother and turned towards Miss Lark. “James mentioned you’d
rescued a beautiful maiden. Introduce me before I start
st-st-stuttering badly.”

    John scowled
as he watched Joan smile and hold out her hand apparently oblivious
to her guardian. “Miss Joan Lark, my brother the Viscount of
Adderbury.”

    “It’s an
honour to meet you my Lord. Mr Smirke has been singing your
praises.”

    “Has he by
Jove? My baby b-brother grows k-k-kinder by the day. I can’t
pretend I’d be half so generous. If you were my ward I’d be tempted
to do something most unguardian like.” John’s scowl deepened as his
ward blushed with pleasure as if she was hoping to be the next Lady
Adderbury; her legal protector apparently forgotten. John stared at
his beautiful older brother with growing jealousy. Peter Smirke was
a beautiful man with eyes carved from the same lump of obsidian as
his blonde brothers, but his face was framed by short black loose
curls. John barely repressed the impulse to tell his brother to go
to the devil. The only passable looking woman who’d fall in love
with him would fall in love with his more eligible brother. John
would never be loved; life would be hell…and then he’d do something
stupid and end up back in the real hell. John forgot about hell as
the sensation of Joan’s small hand suddenly tucked around his elbow
as she leaned towards him.

    “I think the
novelty of being a guardian is wearing Mr Smirke’s patience paper
thin. I’m afraid he plans to get rid of me as soon as
possible.”

    “Don’t fret
Miss Lark; our John has never had any patience to lose.” Peter
cheerfully pinched John’s unhappy pink cheek. “When John was
fourteen he went about telling young ladies he was eighteen…”

    “Enough of my
embarrassing youth; have you come on your own?”

    “The boys are
freshening up…” John unconsciously pressed Joan’s hand into his
ribs as he contemplated the awful thought of one of his nephews
winning her heart. “…young men are singular c-c-creatures Miss
Lark; on hearing there was an unattached young lady in r-residence
they rushed upstairs for a wash. Oh here’s Cecil…” John clenched
his teeth as Joan’s eyes widened in appreciation as a blonde young
man of nineteen kissed Agnes on the cheek and then sauntered over
to the group by the window with the unstudied grace of one who
could confidently compete with any of nature’s perfections.

    “Hallo Uncle
John, I see you’ve survived another duel to snare a wife. You make
a handsome couple. You must be Miss Lark. You’re lovely, though I
believe that cornflower is a bit bold for…”

    “Spare Miss
Lark your et-t-ternal spring of truth Son and k-kiss her hand
before she slaps you.”

    “Papa
please…don’t embarrass me.”

    Peter winked
at Joan deepening John’s melancholy. “Our Cecil is inc-c-capable of
k-keeping an opinion to himself. Your uncle is not engaged to Miss
Lark.”

    Cecil looked
back and forth between the joined couple in disbelief. “Really?
They look engaged to me.”

    John felt like
he’d woken up from a nightmare to find he really was standing naked
in the street. “Perhaps your eyes need examining child; I’m not
engaged to my ward.” His ward’s hopeful smile was suddenly turned
up at him causing his heart to tap in rhythmic