‘You treated her more like a pariah,’ Robert said, shoving him back gently.
‘Can I do whatever I want with the money?’ Frederica asked.
Bliss nodded and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened. Her mouth formed a perfect O. ‘My word,’ she uttered.
Bliss nodded. ‘Do not worry, I will advise you.’
‘As will I,’ Snively said with a warning note in his voice.
God, they were going to tear at her like dogs over a carcass. He felt sick. Well, he wouldn’t be one of those looking for scraps.
Frederica turned a shoulder to the room and murmured something to Bliss. He shook his head. She stiffened. Bliss wrung his hands, then bowed in submission. She cast a considering gaze on the company. ‘I thank you for your kind offer of marriage, Simon, but no. Nevertheless, I do owe the Bracewells a great debt. After all, you could have dropped me off at the nearest workhouse and my father might never have found me.’
Robert cursed under his breath. What foolishness was she about? She should have them tossed out on their ears. ‘Don’t let them sponge on you.’
She gave him a gentle smile. ‘They are family. And families must take care of each other, mustn’t they, R-Robert?’
‘Not always.’
The stubborn set of her jaw told him she wouldn’t listen and she continued in a clear voice. ‘I have asked Mr Bliss to set up a monthly allowance for Simon on the understanding he is not to use it for gaming.’
Lullington paled. ‘I’m done here,’ he said in Robert’s ear. ‘You win again, it seems.’
If this was winning, he’d hate to lose. Robert shrugged. Frederica had won. She’d have her freedom. To paint. To travel. To live life as she pleased. It was the best possible outcome.
She didn’t need him at all.
‘What is owed to you will be paid, Viscount Lullington,’ Frederica called out.
The viscount swung around with a dumbfounded expression. ‘You honour me, Miss Bracewell.’
She was too soft-hearted by far.
She cast Lullington a saucy smile. ‘I suggest you find a way to relieve Lady Caldwell of her other encumbrance, for I do believe the two of you would make a good match of it.’
With a soft laugh, Lullington made her a flourishing bow. ‘Do you recommend poison or a bullet?’
Frederica cast him a mischievous look. ‘Ending up on the gallows will not help your suit.’
Her face changed, lost its happy expression as her gaze fell on Robert. He started to back away.
‘R-Robert—’
‘No,’ Robert said. He wasn’t a man who could be bought. He went where he willed. He always had. ‘I want nothing.’ He would not be a jackal snapping at her heels. Or a lap dog dancing on hind legs for crumbs.
And yet still his heart pounded, drumming out evil hope. He headed for the door, feeling as though his feet were trapped in quicksand and he was slowly sinking.
‘Why not?’ she asked with a catch in her voice.
He let his expression cool, curled his lip and turned to face her. ‘It has been a pleasure knowing you, Miss Bracewell, but I value my freedom.’
Her eyes sparkled. Tears. The sight of them burned acid in his gut, but he kept his gaze steady, his smile cynical and bored.
A crystal drop rolled down her cheek, and yet she bravely smiled. ‘Then I must wish you well.’
‘This is outrageous,’ Wynchwood yelled. ‘A woman can’t be trusted—’
‘Say one more word,’ Robert growled in the old man’s ear as he passed, ‘and you will find yourself on the pavement on your arse with a bloody nose. Be glad she’s not visiting upon you the kind of misery she’s endured at your hands all these years. She’s rich enough to see you ruined.’
The old gentleman shriveled, backing away. ‘Preposterous,’ he muttered. ‘Gave her everything.’ He glanced around to see if anyone had heard.
Frederica would have to watch this family of hers, but it wasn’t his business. He headed for the door with Lullington and John hard on his heels.
Out in the street the three men stared at each other.
‘So, Mountford, once more you land on your feet,’ Lullington said, looking sour.
Feeling rather more as if he had holes blown in his chest with a shotgun, Robert glared at the dandy. ‘Why the hell are you whining? Your debts will be paid.’
‘I’d have got a whole lot more if you hadn’t robbed the Wynchwoods of their due. Perhaps I should woo the rich woman you rejected back there.’
Robert cursed vilely. ‘Go near her and I’ll—’ He lunged, fists clenched.
Lullington dodged back and released the catch on his swordstick. ‘Fisticuffs? You always were a ruffian.’
John stepped between them. ‘Enough. It won’t matter who kills who, the other one will end up at the end of a rope. Where’s the sense in that?’
‘I had hoped to see him carted off to Newgate this morning,’ Lullington said. ‘Having a duke for a father won’t protect you for ever, Mountford. I’ll be there the next time you put a foot wrong.’
‘With trumped-up evidence, no doubt.’ Robert stared down his nose. ‘You are lucky charges weren’t brought against you. If it weren’t for Maggie, I would have.’
‘Leave her out of this.’
‘And leave Miss Bracewell out of your schemes. She’s had enough people taking advantage.’ Himself included, damn it. Hopefully she’d find someone a little less jaded. A man with less to regret in his past. He took a deep breath. ‘Look, I doubt this will make any difference, but I am sorry about your cousin. She’s no less a schemer than you are, and deserved to be put in her place, but I shouldn’t have let it go so far. I’m glad she found a husband. And I’m glad Maggie has you looking out for her.’
Lullington’s eyes widened, no doubt as surprised as Robert by the apology.
‘That doesn’t mean I won’t do everything in my power to keep you away from Miss Bracewell,’ Robert continued. ‘Including using my family’s power.’ A threat if ever he’d made one.
Lullington looked down at the ground, his fingers playing with his quizzing glass, then raised his eyes to Robert’s face. ‘All right. We’ll call it a stalemate. Just stay out of my business in future, or next time I won’t fail.’ He turned to John and bowed. ‘I bid you good day.’
‘Bloody bastard,’ Robert muttered, watching Lullington twirl his gold-headed cane as he strolled away looking every inch a mincing tulip of fashion.
‘Never mind him. What about you?’ John said at his shoulder.
‘God knows. See Mother tomorrow, I suppose. Look for work.’
‘You made her cry.’ Robert knew John wasn’t referring to his mother.
‘She’ll recover. They always do.’
But would he? Somehow he felt as if he’d left a piece of himself inside the tawdry little office.
It was a good few moments before Robert could bring himself to ring the bell at Mountford House. He’d never expected to set foot in the place again. He’d never wanted to. Except for a yearning that would