Page 40 of A Lady's Wicked Revenge
A distant sound echoed in Colin’s ear, one that was familiar enough in this room that he often failed to notice it … at least, at moments when he was less eager for distraction. Footsteps, the front door swinging open, a muffled greeting, then louder footsteps in the opposite direction. Craning his head forward, he caught a glimpse of none other than Gerard Dunn striding down the hallway, his head held high.
Here’s a bit of diversion, then. Just what I needed,thought Colin, rising from his chair and stalking out into the corridor after the lanky young man.
“If you’re looking for the aviary, I’m afraid it’s closed to visitors,” Colin quipped, leaning casually against the wall. Dunn jumped in surprise at Colin’s appearance, and Colin chuckled as the man spun and glared in his direction.
“Eh? What’s that?” Dunn barked, predictably confused.
Colin shrugged, his arms held out and an apologetic smile on his lips. “You see, Sir James asked the resident birds, and it seems none of them are receiving anyone at the moment. If you’re hungry, I’m sure I could ask in the kitchen if they can scrape up a dish of seed for you, or perhaps a nice spray of m—”
“I’m sorry, Mister Mullen,” Gerard interrupted, “but I’m afraid I’m a bit confused about something. Perhaps you could clarify it for me.” There was an attempt at an intimidating scowl on the man’s face, its effect undercut by the visible shaking of his knees.
“It’s Mullens,” Colin muttered, his smile vanishing from his lips.
Raising a finger in an unclear gesture, Gerard nearly spat, “You are not Miss Hann’s guardian, are you? A–and you do not make decisions on behalf of her actual guardian? Sir James Leeson?”
“That … is correct.” Colin folded his arms, not liking where the man was going with this line of enquiry.
“In fact, you are in no way Miss Hann’s family, or have any, er, entitlement to her in any way?”
Colin saw red and opened his mouth in protest. “I don’t—” But then the weight of Dunn’s implication struck him, and he was too angry and perplexed to continue the sentence. Instead, he raised his chin and gave an imperious sneer.
Gerard evidently took this as a confirmation and dropped his shoulders, smirking in victory. “Then we have agreed that I am to marry Diana Hann, sir. And you are not. That being the case, I would ask you to please stay the hell out of my way—ourway. Diana’s and mine.” And with that, he turned on his heel and continued his birdlike march toward the grand salon of the house, leaving Colin standing there in virtual apoplexy.
Just as I had thought there was no way I could dislike this man any more than I already did …
He considered following the man and giving him the verbal thrashing Dunn was so clearly in need of, but instead found his feet carrying him towards the staircase. Though he was unsure where he was going, he knew he needed to put as much distance as possible between himself and the wretched suitor.
Something about Dunn’s choice of words had struck Colin in a vulnerable part of himself, and now it worried at him like a grain of sand. Whatever comment the man had made about Colin not being the one to marry Diana was obviously nothing more than the remark of an ignoramus; as such, he could safely disregard it completely. But there was still something about his less mad statements that grated on Colin.
No entitlement to Diana … as though the opinion of a valued friend, someone who truly knows her and appreciates her for who she is and l—He stopped himself, unsure of the thought that had passed through his mind there. Mister Dunn’s ridiculous comment must have stuck deeper in Colin’s craw than he had realised.
Who has real affection for her,Colin finished, nodding at this more correct characterisation. His spine straightened at the thought that entered his head, a plan already coming to mind.Well, we shall see whether the opinion of such a person truly carries no weight in this house. If I am indeed a friend to Diana, the least I can do is try to speak up for my friend’s desires.
Colin resolved then and there to take up the matter with his stepfather at the first opportunity … only to find himself already standing outside the door of his stepfather’s study. The sight turned the steel in his spine to jelly, and he waffled back and forth between fleeing and ending this bad business immediately.
“For God’s sake, Colin, don’t loiter in the doorway,” boomed Sir James’ voice from his writing desk. “Come in if you must, or leave me alone to tend to more important affairs.”
For whatever reason, it was the bolder option that won out, and with great alacrity, Colin shuffled onto the carpet before his stepfather’s desk. He waited until Sir James turned to face him, abandoning whatever he had been writing with an exasperated sigh.
“Sir—” Colin began to say.
“I shall infer that you have not come here to receive my tutelage in important business matters, Colin, as I have not invited you here for any such education today,” James snapped. “That means that whatever it is, it’s less pressing than affairs of real import.”
“It … yes, sir,” Colin said meekly, wondering why he had bothered to entertain this foolish meddling in the first place. The image of Gerard Dunn flashed through his mind.
Sir James gave a single nod, and with an irritable twitch of his moustache, he turned back towards his writing desk. Colin could picture Gerard Dunn jamming a ring onto Diana’s finger, see him lean forward to kiss her, ignoring her expression of helpless revulsion …
“But this is still important,” Colin protested. He could not tell who was more surprised that he was testing his stepfather’s patience, James or himself. “Sir. Even if it’s … not as important, sir, it still … it requires your attention.”
Sir James folded his arms in what struck Colin then as a depressingly familiar gesture. His mouth compressed into a thin line, he reluctantly nodded, then growled, “Let’s have it, then.”
“I only … I was thinking that … whether … that is, with regard to your charge, and her future …” Sir James regarded him impatiently, and Colin felt a tremor of fear run down his back.Get a hold of yourself, damn it!
Steeling himself with a deep breath, Colin finally managed to get it out. “Are you really sure that Gerard Dunn is the best option for Diana?”
As soon as he squeezed out this question, Colin quickly sorted through the evidence he had collected to answer the question of Dunn as a romantic prospect, ensuring he was ready to put his arguments forth in a compelling fashion. There was the questionable probability of Mister Dunn receiving a sufficient portion of his father’s fortune—as a third son of a relatively young father, he was not likely to inherit much money at all, and even that not for many years.
There was the man’s as yet uncertain position in London society, which would presumably be a liability to Diana and any of their future children. Perhaps most important of all, at least to Colin’s mind, there was Diana’s own opinion on the matter, something the household had certainly learned she would not meekly swallow but would use to give ferocious battle.
