Peter whipped around to see who’d accosted him. “You! How dare you lay hands on me?”
Before Noah could respond, Bett got between the two men. The last thing she wanted was for Noah to plant a facer on her brother-in-law. “This is the friend I told you about who’s suffered a family tragedy. His uncle and cousin both passed away. He’s the new Viscount Harrison and my fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” Peter asked, looking between them. “How is that possible?”
“Are you daft? I asked the lady to marry me, and she said yes,” Noah said, glaring at Peter.
“Well, I don’t approve,” Peter argued.
Bett had never felt such outrage at Peter’s stubbornness. “It doesn’t matter if you approve or not. I don’t need your permission to marry.”
“You’ll not get another farthing from me unless you come home with me this instant,” Peter insisted.
Noah stepped around Bett and stood in front of Peter, towering over the shorter man. “You, sir, are no gentleman. How dare you threaten her?”
Peter took a step back and puffed up his chest. “She has no income besides her widow’s portion, and I refuse to release any more funds to her account.”
“You refuse?” Noah asked. “That’s interesting. I shall have my solicitor look into that.”
“Well, there’s no need for that,” Peter said, backing away further.
“Good,” Noah said. “That’s what I thought. Here’s what you’re going to do. When you return home, you’re going to transfer the full amount of her widow’s portion into her account.”
“But…that will bankrupt the estate,” Peter whined.
“Come now, Baron Williams, I hardly believe that, especially since Lady Williams has already confided in me the amount you transfer into her account quarterly. Perhaps you need help overseeing your accounts. My solicitor shall be happy to read her late husband’s will to make sure she receives everything she deserves.”
“You have no right to threaten me!” Peter shouted.
“Oh, it’s no threat, Williams. You will do exactly as I say or you will be the one to suffer the consequences. I’m due in Parliament in a few weeks, and I don’t believe your fellow lords will take kindly to you trying to cheat a defenseless widow. That would be quite the scandal should thetonhear of it, don’t you think?”
Peter sputtered.
Bett knew Peter was out of options. It was just a matter of waiting to see how ugly the scene got between him and Noah. She decided that Noah had made his point, and it was time to lower the temperature in the room.
“Come, you must be tired from your journey. Luncheon will be served soon. Would you care to stay? I’m sure your horse could use a rest.” She saw a myriad of emotions cross his face and hoped he would accept her invitation. Peter and Cecily were her last connection to baby Stephen, and she didn’t want to cut ties with them completely.
Before Peter had a chance to answer, Robertson and Olivia walked into the parlor. They both stopped short when they saw Peter’s red and angry face.
Peter’s eyes widened when the earl stepped into the room. “Lord Robertson, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he said with a bow.
“Williams. What brings you to Harrison Manor?” Robertson asked with a raised eyebrow.
Bett wanted to save Peter from any further embarrassment, even though he’d crossed the line with her earlier. It was important to her to try to smooth over the situation. “Lord Williams has come to wish us happy,” she said.
Would Peter take the graceful way out she’d provided? She sincerely hoped his pride wouldn’t get the better of him today.
Peter seemed to realize he’d lost the argument and turned to Noah. “Harrison, I also wanted to express my deep condolences on your loss. That was indeed a tragedy.”
Noah inclined his head. “Thank you. It certainly was a shock to all of us.”
Jerrison walked into the room and announced that luncheon was served before anyone could say anything more. The butler had impeccable timing.
Bett looked at Peter, who finally nodded. She felt enormous relief that the situation was mostly defused. Now, perhaps, she could maintain some kind of relationship with him, Cecily, and the baby.
They took their seats in the dining room with Peter taking a seat beside Olivia, who Bett knew had picked up on the tension when she walked into the parlor earlier. Without any prompting from her, Olivia asked, “Lord Williams, how is your son faring?”
That brought a smile to Peter’s face, the first one since he arrived. “He’s a healthy, robust boy.”
