The Duke's Forgotten Wife

Chapter Twenty-seven

The Duke and Duchess of Warrick's house.

I still do not like the idea of you going anywhere without me," Devlyn told Amanda as he watched her finish dressing. In a few minutes she and Avery would be taking the coach, with the Warrick ducal crest the doors, to the docks to look over two properties. Josh would remain at the house but Rider and Chippen, both dresses as footman, would accompany the coach. Devlyn's best coachman, Charlie Tibet, would be driving. He was not happy to stay at home waiting. He had thought about dressing in plain clothes and following but Sir Alex and Oliver both convinced him not to do that, afraid he would be recognized and their plan ruined.

That was the same reason Sir Alex would not be there either since Reardon knew him from that day at the bank. He would, however, be sending several of his best men in his place.

Amanda came up to him, put her arms around his waist, and leaned into him. "I know, sweetheart, but your being around might scare them off. I have my gun and extra bullets in my pockets. Avery has his gun as well. You know Avery will look after me." She stood on tiptoes to kiss him. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Devlyn answered as he pulled her closer to him enjoying the feel of her in his arms. "We've just found each other again after all these years and dammit, Amanda, I don't want to lose you or see you and the baby hurt in anyway."

"I don't plan on anything happening to me or the baby, Devlyn, and I feel the same way about you but I don't want us to live the rest of our lives in fear of Bradley Reardon. I know how you feel. It would be hard for me to stay behind and wait if you were the one he was after." She stopped before she added risking his life.

Amanda knew how risky this was going to be but she didn't want her husband dwelling more on the risk than on the results once they had Reardon or the man he hired. She was hoping this would draw Reardon out into the open for them to find him and put a stop to any plans he had for Jamie or herself. Avery had been at several inns and taverns around the docks letting people know Herrington-Maddox Shipping would be opening an office in England and would soon be hiring people to work in their warehouse and offices.

Devlyn rubbed his hands up and down her arms as he wished once more that he were going along with her. "Be careful and do not take any foolish risks, Amanda, like trying to handle Reardon all on your own."

"I won't," she replied but she knew if it came to her stopping Reardon, she would do whatever she had to. She wasn't going to let Devlyn know that, though. Her husband had no idea what dangerous things she was forced to do in the twelve years they were separated. He never asked and right now she was not about to volunteer that information to him.

A knock sounded on their bedchamber door and Amanda knew it would be Avery wanting to know if she were ready to go. "Come in," Devlyn called and her uncle opened the door coming into the room enough to lean against the doorframe.

"You look nice," Avery told her. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, let me put my hat on," she told him as she walked back to the dressing room and found the hat to match her dress. Putting the hat on first, she then took the cloak Kiara, her maid, handed her. She doubled checked to make sure her gun and extra bullets were in the pockets of the cloak. She also had a knife strapped to her thigh that her husband did not know about. The only thing she would change, if she could, was wearing her trousers and gun but she was to large now to get into her trousers and it would look funny for her to be wearing a gun and holster with the dress she had on. She had tried last night before Devlyn came to bed and laughed at the sight of herself in the mirror.

Devlyn helped her with her cloak and once it was on, she turned once more and kissed her husband. She loved the feel of his lips on hers. No matter how old she became she did not think she would ever tire of that wonderful feeling.