unaffected, but knew she must be sounding desperately sad. “How did it go in town, Throck? Did you find out anything interesting?”
He was silent for a long moment. “No.”
“What ships were in the harbor?” Gideon asked. “Did you notice any new ones since yesterday?”
“No.”
Genalynn set down the plates with a clatter, knowing when this big man was being petulant. “Throck, this is important. Your information may help save the lives of our king and queen. Do you understand?”
She smelled ale on his breath and wondered how much he’d had to drink. Gideon wasn’t looking at him, but a glance at his expression told her that he was thinking the same thing. An angry, jealous giant who was in his cups would be hard to control. “The sooner you tell Mr. Croft what he needs to know, the sooner he will be on his way. He wants to leave for London tonight. We’ll saddle Harbinger for him since he can’t take his own horse. But I promised him we’d look out for his Galahad and not let Uncle Randall sell him or hurt him.”
She handed Throck a slice of pie. “Tell us what you learned.”
“There’s a ship just sailed in from Drogheda. They’re waiting for a cargo from the viscount. The captain wasn’t happy to find him gone. He said he wasn’t going to stay here more than a day. He said the viscount would just have to wait until next week for him to come around again.”
“What is the name of the ship?” she asked.
He shoveled a hefty portion of mince pie into his mouth and slowly chewed it. He was still behaving like a petulant child, otherwise he would have simply sucked the entire slice down his windpipe in one swallow. “The Dolphin.”
“Thank you,” Gideon said, nodding to both of them. “This is why your uncle hurried off to Bath. His supplies did not arrive and he went to find out what the problem was. Good. He’s been delayed. This might give me time to get to London and return with the men I need to halt this shipment.”
Throck frowned. “You will return?”
“Yes.”
“You will take Lady Genalynn away from me?”
Genalynn gasped and rested her hand on his clenched fist. “No, Throck! I’ve told you, I will never go anywhere without you. You are my family. I will not abandon you. I will always love you and protect you.”
A lone tear ran down his cheek.
Tears formed in Genalynn’s eyes as well. “You are my family,” she repeated, hoping he understood all that it meant. “Don’t be sad. I couldn’t bear it if you were.”
He rose abruptly. “I will saddle Harbinger for Mr. Croft.”
The kitchen door slammed shut behind him as he strode out. She realized Gideon was still worried about her and sought to reassure him. “He won’t hurt me. Don’t think to ask me to come with you. I can’t. I’ll only slow you down.”
“Genalynn, the kingdom can go to rot for all I care. It all means nothing to me if I can’t keep you safe. I love you,” he said again. “I thought it would be difficult for me ever to say those words, but it’s easy with you. There is no one else for me. Only you.”
The words sounded so sweet, especially coming from him. “I love you, too. I want you to know this and keep my heart close to yours until we are together again. Hurry back, please. My uncle is the danger to me, not Throck. He will protect me with his life.” She threw her arms around his neck and struggled not to cry. Her tears would only torment him further. “I’ll save these trousers and wear them for you once you’re back. I know how much they please you.”
Chuckling, he lifted her into his arms and twirled her. “The trousers be damned. It’s the way you fill them that I find endlessly fascinating. It’s the little wiggle to your backside that sends me over the edge of reason. I wish we had tonight. I wish for even a few more hours with you.”
“But every minute lost in saving the Crown is precious. I give you leave to explore my body to your heart’s content upon your return.”
“I’ll take you up on the offer. Be careful, sweetheart. Leave here and come to London if you sense any danger, whether from your uncle or Throck.”
“I know, you’ve told me before.”
“And I shall tell you again because I want you to do this. Go