Page 438 of From Rakes to Riches

“I’m proud of what these men and I have accomplished,” David answered. “We’ll run a successful railway, which will give you more than your fair share of competition.”

“I mean it!” Norton cried, then seemed to remember where he was as he looked around.

“You don’t want your neighbors to hear the truth about you?” David said. He spoke louder. “I have no problem letting everyone know what I think of you. You don’t want to go against a viscount, who’s also a member of Parliament—especially one who has nothing to lose, where scandal is concerned, as you’ve pointed out. If I feel Miss Perry is in any danger from you, I’ll make sure you lose every last investment you’ve ever made. Now where is a patrolling officer when you need one?” he asked, his voice carrying even louder.

Victoria stared at her husband as if he were a stranger. He’d just proclaimed that he didn’t care about a new scandal, that he didn’t care what people thought. Could it be true?

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David felt free, as if a chain around his neck had come loose. He really didn’t care whom Norton told. No notoriety could be worse than what he’d already experienced.

“Be quiet!” Norton hissed.

“Is your wife inside?” David asked politely. “Perhaps we should awaken her.”

“All right, you’ve won,” Norton said between gritted teeth.

“You’ll leave the Perrys alone?”

“Yes.”

“If I hear you’ve threatened any of them?—”

“What’s the point? He’ll have already turned over his shares to your company.”

“You’re a smart man, Norton.” David tossed the henchman through the door, and he groaned as he landed on the floor. “Do something about this, won’t you?”

The directors gathered around David, talking and laughing as they escorted him the few steps to the street. They clapped his back, they offered to take him out for a drink, but in the end, Victoria was waiting for him. He could just see her head throughthe open door of the carriage. The dispersal of the caravan took a few more minutes, and then he was finally able to climb up beside her, after telling the coachman to take them home. The door closed, the carriage pulled away from the curb, and they were alone.

“That was wonderful,” she said.

“So you like to see me bullying people?” He arched a brow.

“Only for a good cause. Do you think he’ll really leave the Perrys alone?”

“What else can he do? He wants to keep doing business in this city. He tried blackmail; it didn’t work. I think he’ll go onto his next little project.”

Victoria hesitated.

“Go ahead, ask,” he said.

“Did you mean what you said, that you’d go public with your part in the railway if Norton didn’t cease his pressure?”

“Yes. I’m not going to let innocent people get hurt because of my pride.” He softened his voice. “And it really wouldn’t have mattered. It only matters whatyouthink, Victoria.”

He looked down at her with a very thorough gaze.

“You can’t stay in those wet clothes,” he said.

She stared at him. “Well of course I can. The journey home won’t take long.”

“It’s at least a half hour’s drive farther into the city. Now turn around.”

“I—”

“Victoria, when a husband wishes to remove his wife’s clothes, she usually lets him.”

She gave him her back. “Even in a carriage?”

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