Always His Earl (11 page)

“Of course I do. I don’t trust Philips,” George said.

“Nor do I. Watch him carefully. His second is surely no better. He’s been in many suspect duels from what I hear.” Myles had done his homework. The navy may not have been his choice, but the connections provided Myles a link to information and people not generally accessible to many of the lords in London. Navy men didn’t trust outsiders easily—titled or not. Myles had earned his rank no matter how he entered the navy or what he’d inherited since.

Philips and his second rode up on horseback. Myles knew the second to be a gambling cohort of Philips rather than family but it didn’t matter. This was war and the prize was honor. It was as simple as that. Myles had confidence and right on his side over the opposition. Honor trumped law.

“No witnesses. As agreed,” Philips said as he dismounted. “I’m surprised you showed up. Is a woman really worth this fuss?”

“You can leave,” George replied.

Philips laughed. “I hide from nothing. Apologize for stealing my wife and return her, if you wish to live.”

Myles shook his head. “My sister is not for you to abuse. Apologize for your cruelty and divorce her quietly.”

“Never.” Philips laughed.

“Then there is only one way to solve this,” Myles said.

Philips pointed to his second.

The second checked the pistols and nodded at George. “To the death.”

“Death,” George agreed.

Myles wouldn’t accept an apology or anything less than Philips’ dead body as restoration of his sister’s honor and life. The mindset possessed Myles. He had to kill that bastard to save his sister. She was innocent.

If Myles had to kill his brother or father as well, in that moment, he could’ve done it. The memories of Claire’s battered body that first night and the days of her unconscious and painful recovery fueled Myles. Her life of fear and sorrow had to end now. A bit of revenge for what his father had done to Myles would feel good.

Yet if his father and brother lived, would Myles have the right to challenge Philips? His honor said yes. The world, no doubt, disagreed.

The men took their weapons and stood back to back. Myles towered over the little baron, but a well-placed bullet could kill a man regardless of his size. Myles made peace with his own death if it came, and prayed that it would not, if only so he could make up for those lost years to Claire and George.

George and Philips’ second counted off the paces and stood closer than others in an average duel. Distrust filled the air. The steps seemed to take an eternity.

Then Myles heard a shot. His body was untouched. He spun and took in the view. With every second that ticked by there was a chance he could be shot and two men who might be behind it. The baron lay on the ground, gun in his hand.

George? Myles’ head snapped to find his lover.

Instead, Myles saw Philips’ second pulling a gun on George, whose own pistol still smoked. There was no other explanation. George must have shot Philips for turning early. The earl was defenseless. Myles couldn’t let anything happen to George!

Holding back his emotions, he pointed his gun. His life was one thing. George’s was not something Myles could risk. He aimed and hit Philips’ second dead in the chest, sending the second’s shot wildly off target. George’s would-be murderer fell as the blood bubbled from his chest.

George cursed and grabbed his shoulder.

Myles stared for a second but his lover stood straight and there was little blood.

“I’m all right.”

With George safe, Myles checked Philips’ body lying on the ground. His gun was the only one still loaded. Myles kicked it out of the wounded man’s hand.

The coward was flat on his back wheezing his final breaths. Myles realized his opponent had indeed turned early and was ready to commit murder. No honor. Just more proof that Philips was completely unworthy of Claire or any title. Philips went limp and the world was right again. Honor restored. The entire country was better off.

“Are you all right?” Myles’ feelings flooded him now that the battle was truly over. The fear was nothing but the near loss of his lover made it hard to breathe.

“Damn! That burns. The bastard turned early. I shot him in the back but there was no choice. He showed up here simply because he didn’t want to be called a coward.”

George moved next to Myles. “You were excellent.”

“As were you.” Myles forced himself not to touch George. People would be coming soon to help and George’s footman didn’t need to see the intimacy. Once Myles held George, he’d never let go.

“Then his second had the nerve to draw his pistol. Lunatics.” George looked satisfied with their morning’s work.

“They’re both exactly where they belong: burning in hell with my father and brother,” Myles sighed in relief.

“What the hell do we do with two bodies?” George asked.

“Don’t worry. I told you before, I’ve handled it,” Myles assured him.

“H
andled it?” George asked. “How can this be handled? No one can have proof we’ve done this. With Philips dead, it’d be his second’s problem. We drive away and leave it to them. This is a complication.”

Myles tore George’s jacket a bit more to see where the bullet had grazed his second, then he stuffed a handkerchief in against the scrape. “Not too bad. You won’t need a doctor. A jury of your peers wouldn’t convict one of their own for a duel. You’re safe. They all believe in honor and the right to claim it. Simply because something is lawful or not, doesn’t make it right or wrong.”

“I hope that’s how everyone will view it. The wound is nothing. What did you arrange, Myles?” George asked.

Myles smiled. “Not all of my naval connections are bad. I made some trusted friends.”

George turned as he heard wagon wheels. Behind slowly walking horses, a big open cart rolled up with two old men sitting in it.

“Sir, you’ve had luck today.” One of them waved.

“We knew you’d win, sir. Honor was victorious.” The other nodded as the cart stopped.

George noticed the powder blast on the second man’s face. “Is that man blind?” George asked Myles.

“Yes, my lord. But my ears do work as well as ever, and I’ve got a strong back, I promise.” He hopped down and helped the other man out of the cart. “I’m Benjamin, my lord. This is Evans. It’s an honor to be of service. A couple of old tars like us in the presence of Lord Thistledown. What would my mother say?”

The men bowed to George and then saluted Myles. When Evans hopped to turn to Myles, George noticed his wooden leg. These men had both been injured in the service of their country. They were old enough to have seen battle and know what they were doing. One had graying hair that hung nearly to his shoulders. The other was almost entirely bald. Guessing they were in their fifties, George wondered if either had any family. They were commoners who certainly had lived rough.

“Thank you for your assistance. I’m not quite clear on the plan.” George looked at Myles.

“Oh, we’ll get them out of the way.” Evans guided Benjamin to the first body.

With Myles’ help, they easily hefted Philips into the cart filled with straw and burlap sacks. Then Phillips’ second was tossed in next to him. Benjamin went back to the driver’s seat by holding onto the cart and following along. As Evans covered the bodies with straw and burlap, he gestured to the field. “Not even a bit of blood left on the ground, no sir.”

“Thank you, Evans. Well done.” Myles smiled and turned to George. “They served onboard with me before they were injured. Good men who can be trusted. They’ll take the bodies to a bad part of London.”

“Aye, sir; that we will. The worst part of the back alleys. Take their items of value and make it look like they were mugged properly.” Evans tied the dead men’s horses to the back of the cart.

George frowned. “The horses?”

“We’ll scatter them just outside of town so it looks like they got loose. Maybe the robbers took them? Maybe they got spooked? No one will know for sure.” Benjamin smiled.

“Very good.” George nodded. Turning to Myles, he asked softly, “What do we owe them?”

“A living, or rather a retirement. They’ve served their country well and were cast off because of the injuries. We’ll just set them up with a place on one of our estates.” Myles shrugged.

Pulling a packet of money from his jacket, George had come prepared for the potential that bribes might be required. “This should hold you for at least a week and get you in comfort to my estate. Don’t sell off anything you take from the bodies, the authorities will be looking for those items. The cash is yours but make sure nothing from these men can be traced back to you. Certainly not back to us.”

“It’s not our first ball, my lord. We know the dance,” Evans chuckled.

Benjamin nodded with a grin. “We’ll wait out the week and turn up at your place.

Sounds like a nice last hurrah for us in London.”

“One of you can stay at each of our estates. That’ll make any connections less obvious. Speak to our men of business and they’ll set you up with a cottage, medical treatment, and an income,” George said.

“Separate? No, my lord, I don’t think so. One cottage is plenty for the two of us. Can’t be blind and live alone, can I?” Benjamin asked.

“And I need his strength. Some days I’m a bit weak with my bad half-leg.” Evans climbed up and patted Benjamin’s arm, giving it a little squeeze.

In that instant, George saw the connection. He smiled at Myles. “Sorry, I didn’t think that through. I have one very nice cottage on my property. It’s set a bit back from the rest. It’s yours for life if you handle this quietly. See my man when you arrive, he’ll be expecting you. Tell him you’re the pair of cousins who saved Lieutenant Harris while at war. You’ll have everything you need for the rest of your lives.”

“Thank you, my lord. Lieutenant Harris always did right by his men. His friends are every bit as worthy. We’re glad to be of service and not too proud to work for you on the estate neither. We’ll be of use for as long as we can.” Evans bowed.

“Come on cousin, they need to get away from here soon.” Benjamin smacked Evan’s knee.

“Cousin,” Evans laughed. “Thank you, sir. My lord. We’ll see you in a week.”

The cart rolled off into the distance and George turned to Myles. “Brilliant. You are damned brilliant.”

“I have my days. The arrangement is mutually beneficial. I have a soft spot for men in that particular situation. No wives to care for them. No children to support them. Most naval men marry at some point. They were lifers who enjoyed being at sea. So happy to be together and free. They loved belonging to a crew. The cousin setup will work, especially with their injuries. No one will question it for a second.” Myles checked George’s arm.

“With their wounds, they’re better off not living alone. It’s true. The setup is certainly more economical than hiring a nurse for each. What a wonderful excuse to give them the better cottage with some privacy. It’s a shame they were wounded but maybe it’ll make their later years happier together.” George smiled.

“Being on your land under your protection will ensure their safety. They’re not fools. Giving them a living means they won’t step a toe out of line. Anything you need from them, they’ll do happily as long as they can.” Myles held George’s arm tight just to touch him.

“The carriage will be here soon. It’ll all be behind us in a matter of minutes.” George leaned down and kissed his lover. He understood the old tars’ amusement. Cousin, brother, friend, brother-in-law, or partner...he didn’t care what people thought he and Myles were to each other. Whatever Society deemed acceptable would be how they’d play it. The love and truth they had in private was all that really mattered.

“You are bold, Lord Thistledown.” Myles eased back.

“I can see my future and it’s making me very eager. I have no guilt. Even shooting a man in the back won’t weigh on my conscience. That is the duty of a second. The fact that Philips never fired his pistol is his fault for turning early.” George looked at the field. “It never happened. Put this out of your mind forever.”

“Nothing happened here at all. We just went for an early morning walk. A little fresh air after all that time shut up in the sickroom.” Myles turned as they heard the carriage approach.

* * * * *

T
he sun kept rising, but Myles pulled the curtain in the carriage. The footman asked no questions, and the tars had done their part perfectly. They’d be in London soon.

“Was that in your battle plan? The old tars?” George kissed Myles frantically.

Myles returned the kiss. “All’s well that ends well. They’d have taken care of us if we’d fallen. I did not see the early turn coming, but Philips must’ve been a terrible shot. He had to do that or he’d lose. Fool.”

“He’s a dead fool. We’re completely free.” George nuzzled Myles’ neck.

“How’s your arm?” Myles checked it despite George’s play.

“Fine.” George’s good hand teased Myles’ cock to attention through the breeches.

Myles saw that the bleeding had stopped. “You’re lucky.” He kissed George’s cheek.

“We were in the right. Fate follows honor. Even your old pals from the navy know that.” George freed Myles’ cock.

“Stop, we need to get home swiftly. We must change quickly. We need to appear as if we’ve been asleep in our own beds all night.” Myles tried once more to push George away but soon gripped his hair as George licked to his pleasure.

“I told my valet to wake us late. We had a lot of plans regarding the estates and would be up speaking in private.” George smiled up at Myles. “We’ll be fine.”

Lifting to George’s mouth, Myles let the relief ripple through him as the passion built. His sister was free. The obstacles were all behind them. Thanks to George and a couple of old molly tars, it’d gone off well. In a few hours or maybe a day, the authorities would find the bodies. As long as nothing went wrong there, they were free.

Myles should be pleasuring the wounded man, but knew better than to argue with George when he was in this sort of mood. The power and triumph were clear in his touch. George was right and had proved it so. Things would end up just as they’d both wanted all those years ago before Myles’ father ruined everything.