Henry was on his feet before he knew what was going on. Richard stayed seated, staring up at him in bewilderment.
Around them, the room quietened.
“Get up,” Henry snapped.
“I…”
When the man didn’t immediately move, Henry fisted his hand in Richard’s ruffled shirt front, hauling him bodily to his feet. Lord Richard gave a squeak of alarm, and grabbed at Henry’s wrist, trying to pry himself loose.
It was almost comical to see the real fear on his face when he could not do that.
“Listen to me, you nasty little man,” Henry hissed, teeth clenched. “If you think I’ll stand here and listen to you speak about Miss Fairfax that way, you are mistaken. If you don’t take that back this moment, you’ll answer for it.”
In a flash, Percy was at Henry’s side.
“I only left you for a moment!” Percy hissed. “What are you doing?”
“Managing some business, Percy. Did you get those brandies?”
“Let him go!”
“He called Miss Fairfax a trollop.”
Percy winced. “Oh. That was a mistake, I fancy. You, then… what’s your name? I can’t recall. Doesn’t matter. You, take it back. Immediately.”
Lord Richard bared his teeth, looking very much as if he wanted to stick to his guns.
At the end of it, though, Henry’s estimation of him was correct.
He was a coward.
“I take it back,” Richard snapped. “She’s not a… what I said. It was unfitting of a gentleman.”
“Yes, it was,” Henry snarled. He shoved Richard hard, making him topple over the seat he’d been settled on, arms pinwheeling in vain to catch his balance.
The footman whose attention Percy had tried so hard to catch was certainly alert now. He was at their side in a flash, smiling nervously.
“Is everything alright, gentlemen?”
“Quite, thank you,” Henry responded, never taking his eyes off Lord Richard. “Mr. Richard Grenville here was just leaving.”
“Oh, I see,” the footman said, visibly deflating with relief.
Lord Richard glowered balefully at everyone and anyone, but of course especially Henry. He tugged his waistcoat back into place and tried his best to smooth down his disarranged hair.
“You’ll pay for this, Willenshire,” he snapped.
“I’m quaking in my Hessians,” Henry responded, sitting back down again. “Go away.”
“Needless to say, our offer – our very lucrative offer, you fool – is off the table.”
Henry inspected his nails. “What a pity. And you’d better not call me a fool, in case I get angry again.”
It was gratifying to see Richard pale at that. He began to back away, angrily tugging at his waistcoat.
“Oh, I’m glad you’ll be involved with them still when it all happens,” he murmured, half under his breath. The regular noise level hadn’t yet returned to the club, however, so Henry was able to hear. “Oh, yes, I am glad. You’ll be laughing on the other side of your face. Try and find your way out ofthatone.”
Before Henry could demand an explanation, Lord Richard turned on his heels and banged his way out of the club, letting the door slam heavily behind him.
