Page 138 of Pride: The Rogue
Latimer wavered.
“Furthermore,” Wakefield said, hammering home his point. “The last thing she needs after having watched you nearly kill Forfar—setting aside the fact Forfar deserved it—is to clap eyes on your sorry, blood-covered self, Latimer.”
The earl looked pointedly his way.
Latimer followed the other man’s gaze.
Red pecks and streaks of Forfar’s blood marred Latimer’s white cravat; his black jacket contained even blacker stains left by the viscount’s blood.
I cannot see her like this…
“No, that’s right,” Wakefield agreed, confirming Latimer had spoken aloud. “Go. I’ll handle Forfar.”
Only half-hearing the other man’s assurance, Latimer made a beeline for the door.
“Oh, and Latimer?”
He glanced back.
“Take the servants’ entrance. It won’t be good if you are seen by anyone in your current state.”
No.
Livian.
She mattered more than anything.
And that was the absolute, sole reason Latimer found himself doing as the Earl of Wakefield ordered.
Chapter 22
Wordlessly, the duchess escorted Livian through a labyrinth of secret corridors that led directly to Livian’s chambers.
“This is a secret panel to your rooms,” Her Grace said, soto voice. “I must return to the parlor before guests begin to notice so many have gone missing.”
“Thank you,” Livian whispered through a tear-clogged throat.
The duchess appeared as though she wished to say more, but with a tight nod, she headed back in the direction from which they’d just come.
The moment she’d gone, Livian let herself inside the suite shared by she and Billy.
Billy, busy reading at the window seat, glanced up.
Shock filled the younger woman’s eyes. “Gor,Livvie!”
Tears pricked Livian’s eyes. The young woman gave up the pretense of lady’s maid and became the friend and sister she’d really always been. Livian had never been more grateful for her presence.
“I’m fine.” With Livvie’s throat and mouth as dry as parchment, she fumbled to get that lie out.
“Who’s the sod?” That single hissed curse in Billy’s cockney packed a whole host of emotions—shock, outrage, and a horrified understanding about the fate her mistress had found herself.
Livian squeezed her eyes shut. That horrifying fate she would have met had Lachlan failed to arrive when he did.
Billy growled. “I’ll bluidy kill him.”
“N-No. He…w-was…”“You’ll die this day, Forfar… “Taken care of,” she settled for.
“Latimer see to it?”
