Page 19 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Who are you?”
The slightest uptick in his right brow made Holly concerned. She wondered what Gavin’s reaction would be to such rudeness, but he seemed unfazed.
“As it’s my home,” he began. “I believe I should be asking that question.”
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are—”
“The Baron of Bairnsdale,” he said with the barest of nods. “And you are?”
The short man inhaled sharply and approached Gavin to bow.
“Mr. Stephen Mannion. Your neighbor, and possibly your enemy, if you’re housing that,” he pointed his finger again at Holly. “Woman’s brother.”
A pregnant pause followed. Holly saw Gavin’s eyes lock onto Mr. Mannion as a flash of warning crossed his face. He exhaled before he spoke.
“I can assure you that Mr. Jasper Smyth isn’t in residence,” Gavin said quietly, his hazel eyes on Mr. Mannion’s hand. “I canalso assure you that if you insist on pointing your finger at that woman, I will have no choice but to remove it.”
A tense silence fell around all of them. Katrina’s mouth fell open as Holly’s gaze shifted from one man to the other. Mr. Mannion’s hand dropped slowly as he cleared his throat with an insulted cough.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand that anything can be understandable, given the context,” Gavin said, the quip appeasing him more than anyone else judging by the slight pull at the corner of his mouth. Holly herself felt a small smile creep across her own lips. “What I won’t stand for is disrespect in my home.”
Mr. Mannion began to stutter and spit.
“That boy has ruined my daughter!”
“Oh no,” Holly said, stepping forward, but Gavin held his hand up to indicate that she should stay put.
Irritated but intrigued, she stilled and allowed him to continue.
“That is a serious accusation, Mr. Mannion. Are you sure?”
“She told me as much!”
“When was this supposed ruining?”
“The night before last. He came to bid farewell to my Daphne.”
Holly turned to Gavin. Jasper had left days ago. He knew it but apparently wished to learn more.
“How long was he at your home?” he asked.
“A quarter of an hour.”
Holly and Gavin shared a look.
“Alone?” Gavin asked.
“Yes. Well, not quite,” Mr. Mannion said, stomping his foot. “My wife was there in the parlor with them.”
“And she witnessed this?”
“Yes. Well, no,” he said. “I mean, she was there, but she went into the hall to give them some privacy. Daphne only told us this morning that the blackguard had behaved inappropriately—and I demand he marry her.”
