Page 28 of The Trouble with Tigers
Despair swamped her. Why bother with the hows or whys? Soon she would be in her cousin’s clutches.
“Lord James, take your accusations and leave Claybourne Manor at once,” the earl commanded in a stony voice.
A tiny ray of hope ignited within her.
“Lord Claybourne, I’m afraid I can’t do that—unless you don’t mind being visited shortly by a member of the Yard.”
“You dare threaten the Earl of Claybourne?” Zeke demanded.
“Not at all, Lord Thurgood. Simply asking for a show of courtesy amongst peers. Produce the servant known as Kit, and I will apologize duly if he is, as you say, the earl’s tiger.”
“Fetch the magistrate or anyone else you damn well please, Lord James,” the earl fired back.
Kitty swallowed a sob. She knew something the earl didn’t. Garrick would make good on his threat. She couldn’t allow scandal to tarnish Lord Claybourne’s reputation, not after everything he’d done for her. She took a bracing breath, and crossed the threshold.
“No, Kit,” the earl bemoaned from his stance behind his grand desk
Not two feet from her, Garrick stood, legs braced for combat as he faced down the earl. When his gaze lit on her, a feverish gleam shown in his obsidian eyes. “Well, well.”
Zeke, to her left, wore a baffled expression as his glance ricocheted from Kitty to Garrick to the earl. “Will someone kindly tell me what the hell is going on here?”
The earl gestured for Kitty to join him.
She bit her bottom lip and took a hesitant step.
“Stay right where you are.” Garrick aimed one pointed finger at her.
She halted, uncontrollable tremors wracking her frame.
As if he could hold her captive by will, his finger remained in place, though he aimed his words at the earl. “Tut, tut, my lord. I must say I am very disappointed by your prevarication. Although I can only imagine what lies my cousin fed you.” His gaze slid over her. “What sordid tales she used to draw you into her tangled web of deceit.”
Zeke frowned at the earl. “Claybourne?Herweb?”
The earl’s ashen complexion worried Kitty. She forced a wobbly smile, trying to project an air of calm she was far from feeling. “It’s all right, my lord.”
The jig was up, so she'd spoken in her regular, feminine voice, and Zeke’s head snapped in her direction.
Without warning he stalked toward her, snatching off her wig in one swipe.
She winced in humiliation more than pain as hairpins scattered on the thick Aubusson carpet. Black coils of hair tumbled around her face and shoulders.
Her face—her entire body—burned. She must look a damned sight. The bulk of her hair, she could only assume, remained ruthlessly attached to the crown of her head.
As if compelled, she met Lord Thurgood’s smoky blue stare.
“My God,” he whispered, incredulous.
His shoulders shook in what appeared to be a humorless chuckle. Finally he looked away from her, rubbing his stubble-covered jaw as he moved to stand closer to the earl.
“Explains the lavender,” she thought she heard him mutter, as if answering his own private riddle.
“I’m ever so relieved you didn’t cut off your reigning glory, my dear.”
She jumped at the sound of Garrick’s voice in her ear. She hadn’t realized he’d closed in on her.
His dark eyes gleamed with triumph. He raised his hand as if intending to slide his fingers over her head.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for his touch.
