Page 84 of The Best of Friends
Somehow, they reached Lampton House without Mr. Mullins receiving a well-deserved belt in the nose. Toss and Charlie were instructed to alight first. The prisoner stepped out next, followed by the one most likely to serve in the role of executioner.
Charlie being a son of this household meant they were ushered in without hesitation. The Dangerous Duke being with them meant the ushering was undertaken in complete silence.
Three of Charlie’s six brothers—Philip, Layton, and Jason—as well as Lord Cavratt, who was considered an honorary brother, were in the drawing room. So was Mr. Layton. Their laughter quieted upon the arrival of guests, but their grins didn’t fade.
Philip, the eldest and by far the most flamboyant, waved them all inside. “We are celebrating the conclusion of Mr. Finley’s trial. Care to join in?”
The duke grabbed Mr. Mullins by the cravat once more and yanked him to the forefront of the new arrivals, depositing him in front of the Jonquil brothers.
“Tell them,” he growled at the miscreant.
“Tell them what?” Mr. Mullins’s words trembled a bit.
“Tell them what you said to the dowager countess.” Anyone hearing the demand would know in an instant that Mr. Mullins had not said something that would meet with approval.
The gentlemen in the room clearly ascertained as much. Five pairs of eyes were immediately trained on the man. Five mouths tightened into mere slashes.
“I—I misunderstood, and—”
“Your words, vermin. Repeat your wordsfor them,” the duke said, cutting off Mr. Mullins’s attempt at skirting the confession.
“You had better pray they prove milder than what I suspect we are all imagining.” Philip looked more pugilist than dandy in that moment. The second-oldest Jonquil, Layton, who was actually built like a pugilist, stepped up beside him. The others stood nearby, creating a united front.
A moment passed. Then another.
“The coward suddenly has no voice, Your Grace,” Charlie said. “Shall I relay his message for him?”
“Better you than me,” the duke said.
“Firstly”—Charlie was firm and calm, but there was no mistaking his determination—“he called his daughter stupid and pathetic while she was present and hearing everything he was saying.”
“You would dare insult a lady that way?” Mr. Layton looked at him with utter disgust. “Your own daughter, even?”
Toss stepped forward. “He has shown himself utterly indifferent to his daughter’s well-being and happiness. The only time he varies from that apathy is moments like the one Charlie has just described, where he reverts to insults and unkindness.”
“Despicable.” Jason folded his arms across his chest. “And what did he say to Mater?”
Charlie took a breath and set his shoulders once more. “He declared that she was a liar and that dishonesty was an ingrained part of her flawed character.”
Philip met the duke’s eye, and something silent passed between them.
“He didn’t end it there,” Charlie continued. “He also said that because our father is dead, Mater can be insulted with impunity.”
“If we were fortunate enough to have the late Earl of Lampton still among us,” Mr. Layton said, “he would address this matter personally. Instead, you have a room full of stand-ins who mean to do so on his behalf. And none of us is half as level-headed as he would have been.”
“Take him.” The duke flung Mr. Mullins at the brothers. “If I go with you, I’ll probably kill him, and I promised your mother I wouldn’t.”
“Which means we likely shouldn’t either.” Philip took out his quizzing glass and spun it around on its ribbon. “Pity, that.”
“What shall we do instead?” Layton surveyed Mr. Mullins through narrowed eyes.
“Brothers.” Jason dropped a hand on one of each of his nearest brothers’ shoulders and looked alternately at Charlie and Lord Cavratt. “I have a phenomenal idea.” He then looked at Mr. Layton. “Care to join us?”
“It would be my honor.”
Jason turned a gleefully foreboding gaze on Daria’s father. “Shall we go for a walk?”
Before Mr. Mullins could answer, the duke spoke. “He worded that as a request, but do not mistake it for one.”
