A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels

of fact, Basil never aspired to the dukedom. As the fourth—or was that fifth?—son in line, he wasn’t raised to be the duke, and was allowed to marry whomever he wished, whomever he wished being the totally unsuitable candidate for duchess, our own Vivien. They were handed a generous allowance and told to please go off and amuse themselves, which they did, for many years. They traveled far and wide, collecting exotic birds on all their travels—but that story will keep for another time—and very definitely enjoyed each other, if you take my meaning.”
    â€œI think I do,” Sadie said, the blush still burning her cheeks.
    â€œYes, well, frivolity of any sort came to a screeching halt when Basil realized that his brothers were turning up their toes just as they approached their sixtieth birthdays. One was sad. Two was coincidence. Three? Again, I’m not sure—there may have been a fourth. Suddenly, in his fifty-eighth year, word of the most recent death reached him and he found himself the duke. Oh, and clearly destined for a similar fate.”
    â€œWhat a terrible thing to contemplate. He really believes that?”
    â€œAlas, yes, he did. He retired to Cranbrook Manor, locked himself in his chambers, shutting Vivien out for the most part, and prepared to meet his Maker. Which, according to Vivien, turned him into the dullest, most depressing man in nature, and when all else failed she ordered Gabe to do something about it. My friend tried his best, but I believe it was Thea who finally convinced Basil that, if he was going to die, which she doubted, he might as well live in the interim. Basil has been, shall I say, making up for lost time these past weeks, as you may have noticed. Personally, I believe if he does end up cocking up his toes, it won’t be because of some Cranbrook curse, but more because he’s been cocking up something else with a bit too much enthusiasm. As the sister of a doctor, I do hope you take my meaning, and my apologies for my clearly inappropriate joke.”
    Sadie lowered her head, doing her best not to smile. It was senseless to pretend she didn’t understand what he’d meant. “But they are sweet, aren’t they?”
    â€œCute as a pair of rabbits in the spring,” Darby said, leaning back once more. “Now, as we may have exhausted most subjects, unless you’ve a mind to talk about our unseasonably mild weather, I have a question for you.”
    She slowly raised her head, tipping it slightly to one side as she looked at him. “I knew you were being too nice. You wanted me relaxed before you pounced. Very well, what do you want to know?”
    He smoothed down his sleeves and got to his feet. “Nothing too terrible. I’d like to know why you felt it necessary to drag my ward from her warm bed in the middle of the night and march her to a posting inn.”
    Sadie’s insides turned to jelly and she drew in a quick, painful breath. “How...? Marley. ”
    â€œShe told Camy, that first day.”
    Sadie’s mind was whirling. That first day. He’d known since the beginning. She and Marley hadn’t been separated that day, except for the time she was in her own borrowed bedchamber, submerged in lovely, warm water for at least an hour. Was an hour long enough for Marley to chatter to the housekeeper, or Peggy? Of course it was. Marley always told the truth and, worse, never hesitated to tell it.
    â€œCat got your tongue, Sadie? Or are you doing as the ladies did the other day with your name, putting two and two together? In this case, Marley’s retelling of her last night in Dibden, and your blurted insistence that the child be kept safe . Yes, there are reasons for everything I do, Sadie Grace. Other than the sad diversion, time spent searching for the nonexistent Maxwell Boxer, I have thought of little else.”
    â€œAnd your answer to it all was to marry me? Even if you had