Scandals Bride (Cynster 3)

"Ah-but you weren't married before." Strolling around the bed, Devil collected Honoria in one arm and turned toward the door. Looking back, he added, "And neither was I. I'll come back after lunch."

Richard glared at the empty doorway, flicked a glance at Catriona, then looked down at the mush on his plate. He scooped up a forkful and ate. Swallowing, he frowned at his wife. "I'm only doing this for you. you know."

"Good." Some moments later, she added: "All of it."

Richard complied. Aside from anything else, the food tasted a lot better than it looked-and he was hungry enough to eat a horse.

Both Devil and Honoria returned after lunch, after he'd cleared the tray and Catriona had taken it away.

"I have to say that seeing your eyes open is a great improvement." Devil perched on the end of the bed. "I've had quite enough o

f watching over you while you sleep."

Richard grinned. Devil was three years older; they'd shared a nursery-his comment harked back to the untold nights when, scared of the dark, he'd only fallen asleep because he'd known Devil was there to protect him from imagined monsters.

"You gave us a shock." Honoria leaned down and kissed his stubbled cheek. "At least you had the good sense to marry a lady who could save you."

Richard smiled and accepted the compliment graciously. Over the next half hour, they exchanged family news, heavily biased toward the emerging talents of one Sebastian Sylvester Cynster, Marquess of Earith, Devil's heir.

"We would have brought him," Honoria declared, "but we didn't know what the state of things here might be."

That, of course, was the cue for Richard to fill them in, which he did in glowing terms, quite unable to contain his satisfaction on that score-his happiness in his new life. "Now you're here, I'll be able to show you around."

"Once you're released from durance vile." Devil nodded at the bed.

"Tomorrow," Richard said.

Devil grimaced. "Don't get your hopes up. You didn't seem too strong while we were walking you yesterday."

"Walking me…?" Richard frowned, then shook his head. "I didn't even know you were here…" Still frowning, he glanced at Devil. "Actually, I do remember-was it you who warned me Maman was coming?"

Devil grinned. "We were testing to see if you'd respond."

Richard shuddered. "Just as long as it's not true." He caught Devil's eye. "You didn't tell her, did you?"

Devil raised his brows exaggeratedly. "What do you think?"

Rising, Honoria shook out her skirts. "Naturally, we left a note."

Devil's head snapped around. "We did?"

Honoria stared at him. "Well, of course. We couldn't simply leave and not tell Helena, not even leave a message-she is his mother, after all."

Richard groaned and fell back against his pillows.

Honoria turned her gaze on him. "She was away with the Ashfordleighs-she'd think it very strange to return to Somersham and find Sebastian alone with the staff. So I simply explained and told her not to worry."

Devil raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Honoria-"

Sudden shouts from outside cut across his words; a second later, the rattle of carriage wheels and the sharp clack of hooves rose from the courtyard.

Richard groaned again; Devil grimaced.

Honoria stared at them. "It can't be."

"It can," Devil assured her.

"It is," Richard gloomily prophesied.