Relieved at being released, the man darted past Graham and hurried away.
Drawing in a breath, Graham advanced upon the booth.
Sir Roderick must have known that he was here, but he had not moved. He sat very still in his position at the table, fat fingers clutching at the stem of an empty wine glass.
“Lord Sinclair,” he remarked innocently. “What a pleasure to see you.”
“Let us dispense with pleasantries,” Graham responded tightly. “I imagined you to be a foolish, opportunistic rake who simply seized the opportunity to assault a woman, but now I see that something much more evil is at work here.”
Sir Roderick huffed. “Evil? Have mercy! Listen to yourself! Waxing lyrical about right and wrong. I spurn you, sir, and this conversation is at an end.”
He got up, clearly intending to push past Graham and leave the club.
He was gravely mistaken.
Graham’s fist shot out before he knew what he was doing, landing with an echoingcrackon the other man’s cheek. He seized Sir Roderick by his lapels, forcing him backwards onto the empty table. Sir Roderick gave a surprised squawk, struggling in vain. His wine glass tipped off the table, shattering on the floor.
There was a commotion behind them, and Graham knew that soon enough the footmen would come and drag him away.
I believe I am going to lose my club membership,he thought wryly.
Sir Roderick was blubbering and trying to squirm away. Graham gripped him by the collar, lifting him a few inches off the table.
“You listen to me, you nasty little rat of a man,” he hissed. “You have crossed the wrong man this time. If I can prove that you were involved in Ursula’s attempted ruination, I shall see thatyouare ruined. I will contact each one of your creditors. I will buy all of your debts, triple the interest, and force you into debtor’s prison before you can burble an apology. The reason you were not prosecuted for your attack on Ursula was because Lord and Lady Farendale wished to avoid a scandal. Are you of the opinion that Ursula, who is now Lady Sinclair, and outranks her very own parents will be quite so lenient? She will not. Do not trifle with me. You will pack your things and leave London within the next few days, and if you ever return, I shall kill you myself. Stay out of my sight, Sir Roderick, and pray that our paths do not cross again. The next time you see my face will be the last day you walk on this earth. Do I make myself understood?”
A thin trickle of blood was making its way down from one of Sir Roderick’s nostrils. Gritting his teeth, Graham conjured up an image of Ursula after the attack, wide-eyed, dishevelled, and bruised. He tightened his fists, fighting to stop himself from striking the now-helpless man again.
“I’ll do it. I’ll leave London,” Sir Roderick sniffled. “You’ll never see me again, I swear it.”
“Good,” Graham snarled, releasing him. “Now get out of my sight.”
Sir Roderick slumped to the ground, crawling away. Graham was aware of a commotion behind him, and turned to find a white-faced footman standing behind him, eyes wide.
“Yes, yes, I am leaving,” Graham responded gruffly.
“Your lordship, we really cannot…” the footman began uneasily.
“You needn’t worry, I shan’t return.”
The footman paused, glancing down at Sir Roderick with an expression of contempt.
Graham found himself wondering how many ladies Sir Roderick had boasted of compromising with such bold confidence. He had never dared before to risk the ruin of a woman of Ursula's consequence, and certainly never a Diamond .Graham knew in his heart there must have been other women for a fair price.
“I beg your Lordship’s pardon, but that what not what I intended.” The footman answered at last, turning back to Graham with a level look. “I only wished to remind you that fighting is not allowed in the club.”
Graham gave him a wry smile and turned on his heel. He strode straight out of the club.
There is no time to find Jonathan,he thought.The wretched fellow is probably paying a call on Charlotte Winter, in any case.
No, I have wasted enough time. I must find Ursula.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Where shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won.” – Macbeth,William Shakespeare.
“Lots of ladies live separately from their husbands, my dear,” Georgie consoled, patting Ursula’s arm. “Here, I brought you a little tea. Drink up. And you ought not to sit in your room all day, it isn’t healthy. Why don’t you come downstairs and sit with me in the parlour?”
Ursula tore her gaze away from the window, offering a faint smile at her cousin. “Thank you, Georgie. You’re very kind.”
