Page 47 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
She looked from one brother to the other and back to the banker. Or perhaps hehadshared the news. Perhaps everyone knew except her. “Surely you can discuss the matter of my money with the sons of Lord Shaldon.”
The banker glanced at her. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gibson.”
He wasn’t. She could see that. He was one more man of the Lord Kingsley ilk.
“You mean to say, we must return with Lord Shaldon?” She swallowed hard.
Her voice had risen. She took a breath, trying to regain control.
McCollum closed the file and pushed his chair back.
“Answer the lady, if you please,” Charley said coolly.
McCollum’s gaze jerked up to him. “Yes, I will speak with Lord Shaldon, or...I was given to understand that the marriage settlements had been signed. I could reasonably discuss this with your fiancé, Mr. Carvelle.”
Blood pounded through her. She shot to her feet. “He isnotmy fiancé.Not.” She pushed at the chair with the back of her legs, needing to walk, trapped by the close-set chairs and the men who’d been in them, who were now standing, and the desk in front of her. Caged.
The banker had stood also, and in his face, she read the conviction that Kingsley had been right to beat her.
The sight of it frightened her back to sanity. She must be shrewd. She must act like she was intelligent. She must exercise some of the coolness these English prized so much.
“Miss Kingsley is correct,” Charley was saying. “She will not marry Carvelle.”
To the banker, he would appear calm, yet she sensed the tension within him. The honor there.
There was honor in all the sons. It must be in the father, also, her latest guardian, who was on his way from Bath.
She did not have time to wait for his return. McCollum would tell Kingsley where to find her. She must know about her money, now, today, and must take as much of it as possible, as soon as possible.
She looked at Charley, searching his deceptively bland face. His eyes met hers and sent a shiver through her. An idea arose in her. Pleasant, unpleasant. Desirable, undesirable. Possible and yet, not.
She took in a deep breath. What she must do, she could.
