Page 84 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“Lord Larson, you cannot keep escaping me forever.” The man’s voice was high pitched, cutting through Asher’s confusion and reminding him exactly of where he had seen the man before. Asher had sat at a gambling hall table, playing cards with him the night he had lost his money and nearly been ran over by a carriage.
“It’s him!” Lady Margaret said, practically squealing as she pointed at him.
“Who?” Penny asked.
“The man who said he’d kill Adam.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Lord Larson?” the stranger said, striding forward. Penelope flicked her eyes to Adam, watching his reaction – he was backing up a little, away from them all, but in particular this man.
“What are you doing here, Jarvis?” Adam asked, his voice as deep as it had been when he had attacked Penelope in the summer house.
“I am here for payment.” Jarvis strode forward until he had reached Adam’s side and lifted the cane, pointing it straight at Adam’s chest. “Do not even think of running,My Lord.You know enough of my skills to know you would not get far.”
The threat was evident. Penelope felt Asher tug on her hand, towing her away a little so that the distance between them and the two men was increased.
“You will get your payment when I give it to you.” Adam was insistent, but there was something in his tone that was almost desperate as he looked toward Penelope.
Is that… fear?
“You are already far overdue for your first carriage accident, not to mention payment for the second.” Jarvis pointed his cane in Asher’s direction. Penelope frowned and looked to Asher at her side to see he was slowly shaking his head in astonishment.
“Well, you weren’t very successful with the second one, were you?” Adam asked, pointing at Asher as well. “Why should I pay for a job half done?”
“I did as you asked; that’s why. If his friend was there to pull him clear, that was your misfortune, not mine.” Jarvis matched Adam’s vehement tone.
“God’s wounds…” Asher muttered, taking a step forward. “You… I know you.” He nodded his head at Jarvis. “You were at the gambling hall, playing cards.”
“I’m surprised you remember; you were so drunk.” Jarvis laughed with the words. “Perhaps it would be helpful if I refresh your memory in other regards as well.”
“Do not –” Adam was cut off mid-sentence as Jarvis darted his head back toward him.
“Pay me what I am due, and I will not utter a word of it. Or have you gambled all your money away and have none left to give me?” Jarvis said.
Penelope watched as Adam hung his head a little, his manner betraying the truth.
“Oh God, have you gambled away all of my father’s money?” she asked, her voice shaking. He’d already lost her estates to Asher; what was to say he hadn’t lost more than that to other men?
“Mymoney, Penelope, not your father’s.”
“It was my father’s first!”
“You will stay quiet, Jarvis, if you ever wish to be paid.” Adam moved forward, as if he would reach for Jarvis and take a hold of his frock coat, but Jarvis swung around with his cane, knocking Adam’s hand away with an almighty thwack before he could get anywhere near him. Adam yelped in pain and stumbled back again.
“I owe you nothing, My Lord,” Jarvis said tightly. “Your Grace,” he turned his attention to Asher, “the card table was not the only place you saw me that night.”
“You were driving the carriage, weren’t you?” Asher asked.
“What carriage?” Penelope pulled on Asher’s arm. “Asher, what is going on?”
“I was nearly run over by a carriage. Dorian pushed me out of the road,” he hurriedly explained.
“Let’s just say a particular gentleman paid me to do that job,” Jarvis said, gesturing back to Adam. “There was another accident with a carriage though where those inside were not so lucky.”
“Stop!” Adam pleaded jumping forward. “Not another word. You surely place yourself in a courtroom as well as you do me with your words.”
“You think I haven’t learned how to disappear doing what I do? Pah!” Jarvis said, walking around Adam and striking the ground with his cane. “One thing you should know about working with criminals, My Lord: the criminal is not accustomed to losing. If you will not pay me, then I’ll make sure you pay your dues somehow.”
