“It will be hard to sneak out at all hours of the night when you have a duchess watching over you,” Leo pointed out, as if reading Winston’s mind.
And if I am caught and sent to prison, who will protect her then? Langdon did say he would have her one way or another.
Far from being afraid of Langdon, Winston did not want to make the mistake of underestimating him. It was often the most pathetic, desperate men who were the most dangerous.
“Let us see,” he said at last. “I cannot make any promises at this time as to whether our nighttime activities will be able to continue as they currently have.”
“Well, we cannot give it up entirely,” Leo said, sitting back in his chair. “It is not as if you can marryeveryyoung lady who is in need of help, and this may be the only other recourse.”
Winston nodded darkly. He would have to think about all this. It had not occurred to him when he had decided to marry Lady Vanessa that it could come at the price of helping other ladies whose husbands or fathers needed to be taught a lesson.
Winston’s mind went again to the blazing look on her face as she had confronted him in the hallway of her home. She had looked so fierce and so radiant that for a moment that he had almost believed she wasn’t in need of protection.
But over the course of their conversation, he had seen her fear begin to seep through the cracks. This was a woman who had been made to be terrified of everything—her parents, her future husband, and especially her own desires.
It is worth it,a powerful voice in the back of his head said.Even if you have to give everything else up, it will have been worth it to save her.“So, was the girl pleased?” Leo prompted. “Was she thankful for your rescuing her?”
At this, Winston couldn’t help but smile, recalling again the blazing look of defiance in her eyes.
“Not exactly,” he said. “Not at first. But I believe she sees the benefits of the marriage.”
Leo looked amused. “Well. I shall be interested to meet the woman who did not simply grovel and thank you as I am sure you were expecting.”
Winston knew his friend was teasing him, but he still frowned at him. “I am not doing this in order for her to grovel and thank me. I am not so motivated by self-serving interests or to reify my pride.”
Leo sighed. “I know, it is just…” He hesitated then sat forward again. “Whyareyou doing this, Winston?”
“I told you,” Winston growled. “I am doing this to help save her from a marriage that would have caused her great physical and spiritual harm.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “Is she very beautiful, then?”
“What?” Winston stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Is she beautiful?” Leo prompted, his lips beginning to twitch up at the corners. “Is that why you were so quick to ask for her hand? Are you just as weak as all other men in front of a beautiful woman?”
Winston glowered at his friend. “As you very well know, I had never even seen Lady Vanessa’s face when I decided to marry her. So no, this has nothing to do with her looks.”
Leo grinned. “So, she is beautiful?”
Winston rolled his eyes and looked away. When he glanced back at his friend, Leo had grown more serious.
“There is more to this, though, is there not?” His voice was softer and gentler, and there was a seriousness to his voice that Winston did not like. “This is about Clementine.”
Winston stared at his friend. He felt as if someone had just punched him in the throat. He was unable to speak, unable even to breathe. This was the last thing he had expected Leo to bring up.
Usually, they had an unspoken yet firm understanding that they were not to mention Clementine. It was enough that she hovered over everything that they did, like a ghost that would not rest.
Winston set his jaw and felt a vein in his temple throb. Anger was the best way to deal with this situation. Anger was the best way to tamp down every other emotion.
“It is not,” he snapped, taking a large sip of his scotch. “And I would ask you not to mention her to me again.”
Leo grimaced then sighed. “My apologies,” he said, leaning away again. “I spoke out of turn.”
But before Winston could respond, the door to White’s opened, and he turned, instinctually, to see the newcomer.
He wasn’t sure if he was surprised or not to see Lord Samuel Langdon standing in the doorway, staring right at him.
The two men gazed at each other for a long moment. Winston kept his face controlled and neutral. He wasn’t afraid of this man, but he was interested in what his next move would be. Langdon, for his part, looked as if he had gotten the worst of his anger under control. In fact, as he stepped into the room, a cold smile slid across his lips, and he strode over to Winston, holding out his hand.
