Page 46 of Sweet Siren
Julian advanced on the earl. "You go home and make amends to my sister. I have no idea what you've done to her but she's become another person since she married you. Before, infact."
"She's become a witch," the man spatback.
"You have yourself toblame."
"Her blame. All of it. Her blame and that solicitor of yours that you've sent toher."
Liv had no idea who thatwas.
Carbury gloated. "She fancies him. Smiles and coos, sends for tea and whisky. And him? He looks at her with his huge frog's eyes. Did you know he came yesterday? Yes, he did. For his monthly meeting, he called it. She locks the door behind them when he comes, always has. Why, eh?Why?"
"Phillip Leland sees her at my order," Julian said. "I told you that. I will not change it. Let him in or I shall have the sheriff to enforceit."
Carbury fumed. "He is herlover."
"He is her friend," Julian said withsolemnity.
Carbury laughed loud and long. "Friend? No, never. Makes me wonder if this baby is trulymyheir?"
Julian went quitestill.
"Is he?" Carbury tried to step closer to Julian, but Killian held him in place. "We'll see, won't we? If he keeps that watery blond hair or those droopy blueeyes."
Julian was slow to speak. "The most lamentable characteristic of my sister's personality has occurred since she pledged herself to you, Carbury. Whatever has befallen her is for you to remedy. I suggest you do it for both your sakes as well as that of your son." Julian turned to one side, his arm out toward the front door. "Now you mayleave."
"I do not want that man in my house again. You tell him that, do you hearme?"
Julian advanced on him and met him nose-to-nose. "Never."
"If he darkens my door, I will killhim."
Julian did not seem to breathe. "I will warn him to goarmed."
Carbury recoiled, then resumed his bravado. "Do that. A pistol will do him no good. He'll die anyway because if I don't shoot him, she'll eat himalive."
"Leave."
The earl pulled at the points of his waistcoat and then the tails of his coat. "I've warnedyou."
"Now, Carbury! Or I throw you out," Juliansaid.
Julian and Killian moved not a hair as Carbury stalked around them and slammed shut the frontdoor.
* * *
"Marvelous weather today."Liv attempted to lighten the mood of both men in the carriage. "I would bet the sun is wonderful in Brightontoday."
Killian attempted to smile at her. "Windy,too."
Julian and Killian sat opposite her as the Seton traveling coach crossed the Thames to enter London. They'd all set out together after breakfast this morning and for the past few hours, the men had been silent, lost in thought,brooding.
"I hope you'll be able to enjoy yourself while you're there the next few weeks," Killiansaid.
She'd told him she planned to stay three weeks in the coastal town to acquaint herself with the painters and drapers with whom she'd not worked in a few years. "I'm sure Iwill."
"Do come stay with me in Piccadilly, Julian," Killian said to his son-in-law. "No use to disturb your small house staff for only one night. Mine is still in residence and up to task. Besides, I wish to hear how your discussion goes this afternoon with PhillipLeland."
"He'll be undeterred by Carbury's bluster," Julian said with assurance. "Aside from the fact that he carries out my orders to call upon Elanna each month, he welcomes the chance to seeher."
