Page 112 of The Lyon Whisperer
With ruthless determination, he quashed the guilt trying to emerge thanks to her obviously crushed feelings. “As you can see, your help proved more of a hindrance. I had important work to attend, and instead, find myself tasked with escorting my wife home.”
She stared at him a long moment. A wealth of emotion swirled in her pale eyes, tempting him to regret his harsh tone with her.
Then he considered what could happen to a naive lady of theton,who thought to meddle in a criminal affair like it was some sort of game. He relived the moment he spotted her talking with Tully, and the fear he read on her face.
He did not like the fact his old nemesis had taken an interest in his wife. His warning should suffice to keep the man at bay, but on the off chance the earl chose to ignore Chase’s threat, he would deal with the man, by God.
“Your promise,” he repeated.
“I promise,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “And I apologize for any inconvenience I’ve caused you. I assure you, that was not my intent.” With that, she turned to gaze out the small window.
For some reason, her capitulation offered no comfort, and instead, made him feel like an ogre. “It’s a small inconvenience, easily overcome,” he said in a gruff tone. “As I shall have to return to London on Monday to question Hoby, I can finish my business with my Uncle Harry and Bender then.”
She looked aghast. “No, you mustn’t say anything to poor Mr. Hoby. The man was clearly operating under duress.”
His wife was too tenderhearted by half. “Don’t you think it pertinent to learn the identity of the person who pressured him not to accept your business?”
“That much is obvious.”
He arched a single brow.
“Lord Tully must have witnessed me entering the establishment last week. He probably threatened to take his business elsewhere, or worse, should Hoby take you on as a client.”
He barked out a laugh. “By God, that’s a stretch.”
“Come now. You don’t find it a bit coincidental, he and I, crossing paths on Bond Street at precisely the same time?”
He grunted, not liking the reminder of witnessing Tully looming over his wife. “What was he saying to you, by the way, when I interrupted?”
“Oh, that. He all but admitted to having lied when last we spoke when he attempted to convince me it was you, and not he, who had seduced Lady Tully, then Lady Millicent.” She wrinkled her nose. “He also said something to the effect that if he had not been forced to marry her, he might have courted me.” She waved that away as if fanning a gnat.
For some perverse reason, he found himself playing devil’s advocate. “Tully is known to have a way with the ladies, unmarried or otherwise. Perhaps if you had not seen the dark side of him firsthand—”
“No.” She sounded very sure of herself.
Still, he pressed. “No? He’s handsome, wealthy, an earl, like your father. Why would you not find him attractive?”
She did not hesitate. “If you must know, there’s something unhinged about the man. It’s there in his eyes even when he’s trying to be charming. Too, he’s arrogant in that way some men of thetonare that I find off-putting in the extreme.”
He wanted to ask if she foundhimarrogant. In light of the fact he’d revoked her right to attend her club meeting today, he decided not to put the question to her.
“May I ask what did the two of you discussed after I left? You did not reiterate your silly threat, I hope? He has no way of knowing you were merely bluffing.”
He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “No, I don’t suppose he does.”
“Well? How did you leave things?”
“I simply told him to stay away from you and all would be well.” He sent her a bland smile and left out the part about killing him, otherwise.
She gave him a long, considering look. “He agreed?”
“More or less.”
She nodded. “There is one more thing I wanted to tell you,” she said, in an offhand manner.
“What is that?”
“It may not bear repeating, and I hesitate because of the fake challenge that you issued to warn off Lord Tully.”
