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‘It’s a simple question. How did you find the address of a woman going by a married name you didn’t know, to whom you hadn’t spoken in a decade?’
‘I had my secretary find it.’
‘You gave him too long to think there,’ Nicky observed. ‘When did you have your secretary do this, precisely?’
‘This morning—no, yesterday.’
‘Yes, itisSaturday,’ Nicky said with mock approval. ‘Well remembered.’
‘We can establish the truth easily enough. Aaron, Nicky?’ Jem said. ‘Could you see if he’s got my notebook?’
The two larger men moved. Hugo moved too, attempting to elbow Aaron, and suddenly it was a scuffle. Aaron put his weight into it, shoving Hugo back against the wall as Nicky came in to grab his hand. The china on the dresser rattled. Prue sucked in a breath.
‘Are you all right?’ Jem asked her, voice low.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Trying to put things right.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Was he threatening you?’
Prue nodded, a tiny movement, just as Nicky gave a triumphant hiss Jem knew from the fencing court, and held a small card-bound notebook aloft. ‘Look here.’
Hugo shouldered violently forward. Nicky threw the notebook to Jem, who fumbled the catch and managed to slap it against his chest. Aaron shoved Hugo against the wall with both hands. ‘Don’t be a fool.’
‘There are two of us, and you’ve had too many late nights with cigars,’ Nicky added. ‘Is that it, Jem?’
‘My notebook. Including Prue’s address. Do you want to explain how you had it, Hugo?’
‘He—’ Hugo began, and stopped.
‘Please don’t say Nicky put it there because we all know he didn’t,’ Aaron said. ‘He’s right. It’s embarrassing.’
‘Quite,’ Nicky said. ‘I also observe a very nasty bruise on your hand, Hugo, not unlike a bite mark. Tell me, did you intend Jem to break his neck when you poured oil on a second-floor staircase, or did you merely not care?’
‘You came down to Oxford because you had my letter and were afraid of what I’d found out,’ Jem said. ‘You burgled my room and stole my notebook and attacked me because you were afraid of what I’d found out. And then when Aaron got in your way and you couldn’t scare me into silence, you decided to come here and bully Prue instead. And do you know, Hugo, she hasn’t said one word to me or anyone. I worked it out myself. All you’ve done is prove your own guilt.’
‘What guilt?’ Hugo demanded. ‘For heaven’s sake, let me go.’ He straightened. Nicky and Aaron stepped back, not by much. ‘Very well, Jem, suppose I did try to prevent your reckless, selfish attempt to upend everyone’s lives. Have you considered why? I was attempting to protect the good name of another individual, who might have made a foolish decision and one that would meet with the world’s disapproval, but who does not deserve to be humiliated for it. I attempted to protect that individual’s name by, yes, acceding to Toby’s extraordinary demands, and I will protect it now.’
‘Shut up,’ Prue said very quietly. ‘Shut up. Shut up, shut up,shut up!’ She pushed herself to her feet, pale and shaky, still gripping Jem’s hand. ‘You filthy liar. I can see what you’re doing and I will not have it. I didn’t make afoolish decision. I said no and you would not stop, so don’t dare say you wanted to help me. I told you no!’
Her hand felt clammy. The silence in the room was absolute. Hugo looked around, at Jem, Ella and Prue together, at Nicky and Aaron flanking him. ‘That is not—I’m sorry to deny a lady, but that is not how it happened. Not at all. I understand the urge to disclaim responsibility, considering the outcome, and of course I must regret that we both behaved improperly, but I must defend my own reputation. You may have regretted it afterwards; so did I. But you were willing, Prue. I remember it well.’
‘I wasn’t,’ Prue said. ‘I wasnot.’
‘This is nonsense. You came to my digs of your own accord. There were people nearby. If what you say is true, you would have fought.’
Prue gave a harsh little gasp. Ella said, ‘Ah. Well, that does change things.’ She walked into the centre of the room, pacing to the window and turning back. Jem watched her as though she were a judge in the High Court. She slid her finger absently along the edge of a heavy pewter candlestick, as though considering. Then she picked it up, turned, and was already swinging it as she took two strides towards Hugo.
‘Jesus!’ Nicky yelped, diving to the floor under the weapon’s arc. Hugo threw his arms over his head, ducking but not far enough, and screamed as the heavy metal slammed his elbow with a meaty thud. Ella raised the candlestick again, Nemesis in a walking dress, and brought it down with skull-splitting force. Aaron grabbed her just in time, dragging her back so the candlestick missed Hugo’s head by an inch, and Hugo rose, swinging a furious fist.
Jem didn’t know if he meant it, or if he’d have pulled the blow before it hit her. It never landed. Aaron yanked Ella away with a roar of fury, and went in with a brutal right hook. Ella staggered backwards into Jem, who grabbed her wrist as she raised the candlestick again.
‘They’ll wreck my house!’ Prue shouted. ‘Stop it!’
‘Nicky!’ Jem shouted. ‘Get them outside! Ella, don’t, you’ll kill him!’
Aaron and Hugo were struggling together, two gentlemen in good suits wrestling like street fighters. Hugo’s face was patchy red, teeth bared in a snarl; Aaron’s neck muscles were corded with effort. Nicky skirted them cautiously.
‘Nicky!’ Jem roared. He couldn’t hold Ella back much longer.
