“Never seen the loike.”
She relented. “You may pick it up to study it, but if you break it, then Lord Lawrence’s debt is paid in full.”
“Don’t do it, Tuesday. By the time we get back to the boss, it’s gonna be Friday, and ye know Friday. He ain’t gonna show ye no mercy, and boss’ll let ’im at you ’cuz ’e’ll be mad ye ain’t got the blunt.” Thursday gave Lawrence a pointed look. “Yer lucky we caught up wiv ye today. Friday woulda busted yer jaw, not yer lip. Bloke’s got a powerful punch.”
“Have you considered another occupation?” Penelope asked.
“What else am I gonna do? Don’t read. Don’t write. ’Sides. I make good money collectin’ on debts owed.”
“Here you are.” Extending a packet, Kingsland strode into the room. She’d never been more relieved to see him, had worried he might attempt to secure a weapon in order to take these two on by himself.
Thursday opened the packet and quickly counted its contents. “Right-o then. Let’s go, Tuesday.”
“Lawrence, see them out, and then I want you back in here immediately,” Kingsland commanded.
With a long-suffering sigh, his brother nodded. “Of course. I suppose a reckoning is in order.”
As soon as the three men quit the room, Kingsland was in front of her, a hand coming to rest reassuringly on her shoulder as his gaze wandered with purpose over her face, as though he was mapping every curve, crease, and plane. “Are you unharmed?”
His thumb was stroking the circle of her shoulder, making it difficult to think. “Yes.”
“You were so damned brave.”
“Actually, I was angry. I’ve little tolerance for bullies.”
“Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you. I think you terrified that Tuesday fellow.”
“I don’t believe they meant us any real harm.”
“If he’d touched you, I would have killed him.” The vehemence of his words seemed to surprise him. He released his hold on her and stepped back. Or perhaps it was the echo of Lawrence’s footsteps that had him putting distance between them. It wouldn’t do for them to be touching when his brother strode in.
And he did, at that precise moment, heading straight for the sideboard of decanters. “I know you’re upset, and I can explain.”
Based on the tightening of Kingsland’s jaw, things were about to get unpleasant between the brothers.
King loved his brother. He had from the moment he came into the world four years after he did. The second son, the spare, the one who would inherit the titles if anything ever happened to King before he provided an heir. But the fury that slithered through him because Lawrence had placed them all in danger threatened to cause him to do something rash and unfortunate—like deliver a punch to the other side of his brother’s wounded mouth.
If any harm had come to Pettypeace, he would have gone berserk, like his ancestors, and destroyed those responsible. Would have shed all semblance of civilization. Would have turned barbaric. That realization was both horrifying and terrifying because he was a man who always maintained control of himself, his actions, and his thoughts. He was not accustomed to floundering, to . . . feeling.
“May I borrow your handkerchief?”
He wasn’t certain what his features reflected, but her tone echoed a reassuring calmness similar to one he used when approaching a skittish horse. She now garnered all his attention. The faint pleat between her brows. The worry in her eyes. Could she sense he was having a difficult time keeping his anger tethered? Without a word, because he wasn’t yet ready to unclench his teeth, he handed her that for which she’d asked, and then watched as she glided over to Lawrence, who was now leaning against the wall near the decanters, his gaze on the Aubusson carpet. She dabbed some whisky on King’s pristine white linen before turning to Lawrence and gently patting it against the ruined lip that was going to no doubt scar. His brother was so undeserving of her kindness and consideration, and King was considerably irritated she was bestowing such tenderness upon him. “Is there any chance more of the blighters are about?”
“No, only two accosted me. I locked the door after we entered and once I let them out.”
At least his brother hadn’t been completely irresponsible. “To whom did you owe the money?” he demanded.
Pettypeace lowered her hand. “I shall bid you both a good night.”
“You should hear this,” King assured her. “His actions placed you in danger.”
Lawrence skirted beyond her reach and poured himself more scotch, gulped it down, and added another splash. “The card tables haven’t been kind to me of late, so I went to a moneylender.”
“Not a legitimate one, I assume.”
He shook his head. “I thought it less likely you’d learn of my circumstance.”
“Your club wouldn’t give you credit?”
Another shake of his head. “I’m afraid I owe considerably there as well. And my reputation precedes me making it impossible to get it elsewhere through more reputable means.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I hoped my fortunes would soon change, and you’d never hear of it. Besides, I wasn’t in a mood to endure a lecture on my gambling habits.”
“I’m not in the mood to have my residence invaded by the likes of those two miscreants. Not to mention that your actions placed Pettypeace in jeopardy. You owe her an apology.”
“I already gave her one while you were getting the blunt.” Still, he said, “I truly am sorry, Miss Pettypeace.”
“No harm done, but I can’t fault your brother for being upset by your handling of this matter. What is a lecture when compared with what your face endured?”
With a sigh, he looked at King. “They threatened to break my arm. Otherwise I wouldn’t have disturbed your evening.”
His brother’s words were only adding to his frustration. “It’s not the disturbing of my evening, Lawrence, that troubles me, but that you would go this dangerous route. What if I’d not had the money?”
“That wasn’t even a consideration. Ever since Father’s death, since we realized the dire straits he’d left us in, the cupboard bare, so to speak, you’ve been obsessed with filling the coffers.”
Because they’d been left with almost nothing, and he never again wanted to experience the fear of wondering how they were going to survive. Merchants never hesitated to allow the aristocracy to purchase on credit, often only asking for payment at the end of the year, but what he’d discovered they’d owed when he took over the reins of the dukedom could have bankrupted a small nation. He’d put aside what remained of his youth and anything he considered frivolous in order to ensure his family never went without. “Give me your word that you will not go to moneylenders in the future.”
After nodding, Lawrence downed his scotch and poured another. “May I stay here tonight?”
“You are always welcome to a bedchamber here.” He was leasing his brother a small terrace house so he could experience some independence, but King suspected his encounter with the ruffians had left him a bit more shaken than he would willingly admit.