Thomas AND Miranda angry bc someone was less than polite to James at a party or salon?

complaininginthedark:

Thomas was furious.

It wasn’t often that Thomas’ temper was roused to the point of explosion, wasn’t often he cursed or raised his voice to anyone but his father or those idiotic enough to insult Miranda in front of him, and that was how Miranda knew something had happened.

It was how she knew the nature of her husband’s feelings towards the Lieutenant.

“And you think that excuses you?” Thomas’ voice seemed to echo through the suddenly quiet room as though through a cave. “Sir, it does nothing of the sort!”

“My Lord, I only meant-” the man, possibly John Percy from down the road judging by the simpering tone.

Thomas stood forward, between James and the man she noted, and laughed. “You meant nothing. You have fallen entirely out of my favour, sir. To insult a man of the navy, who has fought for the liberties you take for granted, is the last insult;” Thomas tilted his chin up, looking every mote the Lord he was by birth and by nature, a fury in his eyes Miranda could see from her place by the other ladies attending the salon. “Now, I must ask you leave. I will not stand for such flagrant disregard of the lives given to maintain our freedom and our country. Good day. Lieutenant,” he turned to James and gestured to the door that led to a small antechamber.

James, she saw, looked flushed and awed. He dipped his head, muttered “my Lord,” and went with Thomas side by side out of the room.

Later, with wine and cakes and no company but their own, Thomas was livid. When he recounted the story to Miranda she felt her cheeks heat and her stomach drop as her own anger rose.

“He had the nerve, the gall, to insult James in front of me! He called James a- a- a common piece of cannon fodder!” Thomas shouted. His hands were shaking as he reached for the wine. “I’ve never been so close to hitting someone…”

Miranda scowled, wishing Thomas had thrown the man to the ground and bloodied his face. But, she wished more that James could see this; Thomas so beautiful in his rage defending the man he was no doubt falling in love with. She wanted for her husband every happiness on this Earth, even if it was one she had hoped to keep for herself.

“Percy is a fool,” she said, voice calmer than she felt, “and he won’t dare say such things again in your presence, dearheart.”

Thomas sighed. “I just- I had hoped that our proximity tonight would protect him, not cause trouble…” Thomas fell into a chair with a huff and sniffed, tears in his eyes. As one fell to his cheek he seemed shocked and wiped it away quickly, clearly hoping Miranda wouldn’t notice.

She had. But she hid that knowledge.

“He is new to society,” she reminded her husband. “Let his reputation come to light. Respect will follow shortly.”

Thomas looked at her adoringly. “What would I do without you?” He asked, reaching out to her. She took his hand and squeezed.

“Challenge every noble to a duel?”

Thomas laughed brightly and, at last honestly cheerful. “Ah, yes… well. We swore not to being that up again, love.”

“You swore! I just insinuated I would only bring it up once or twice;” she winked at him, delighting in the return of his joy.

As for James, he would see soon enough that Thomas’ devotion was true and honest.