And Matthew lost the last of his patience.
He clapped his hand around Rothwell’s wrist, spun him around and pressed him face-first into the brick wall. Pinning him, Matthew twisted Rothwell’s arm high on his back and growled, “You’re making it damned difficult to be the bigger man.”
“Unhand me!” Rothwell struggled, but Matthew lifted his arm higher until the man shrieked.
“I can do this all night,” he promised. “Doesn’t feel good to be powerless, does it?”
Jasmine helped Vivian to her feet.
Looking over his shoulder, Matthew asked, “Are you two all right?”
“I’m unharmed,” Jasmine said. “Lady Ravenshaw, are you—”
“I’mfine.” Vivian huffed, fixing her skirts. “I didn’t need your help.”
Jasmine approached slowly, but stopped at the firm shake of his head. “What are you going to do with him?”
Rothwell feebly tried to move in Matthew’s hold. As inebriated and enraged as the man was, he wouldn’t risk retaliation on Vivian that evening. Calling for a night watchman would make matters worse.
“I’ll hold him here until Lady Ravenshaw leaves, and I’ll let him go. And everyone will go about our evening.” He lowered his voice at Rothwell. “Or would that be too humiliating?”
“You’ll die for this, Lincolnshire.” Rothwell slackened and laughed. “Mark my words.”
“Yes, yes, and I’ll go straight to hell.” Matthew raised a brow at Vivian. “Well, Lady Ravenshaw, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
Vivian hesitated, eyes shifting to him. She stepped forward, opened her mouth—
“Go on, youwhore,” Rothwell snarled. “I see where your allegiance lies.”
“I don’t want any part of this.” Vivian turned to Jasmine and Matthew. “You should both go, before someone gets hurt.”
“Leave!” Rothwell roared. “Traitorous bitch—” his words ended with a wheeze as Matthew lifted him and shoved him hard.
Vivian gritted her teeth. Releasing an angry sob, she fled. Once she was out of sight, Matthew spoke to Jasmine, “Why don’t you walk ahead, love? I’ll meet you at the phaeton.”
Shoulders set, Jasmine nodded and did as he asked. When she was at a safer distance, he loosened his grip on Rothwell.
“Now, I’m going to release you,” he said slowly. “You’ll go yourway, I’ll go mine, and that’ll be the end of it.”
He backed away with his arms up as the other man set himself to rights. Freed, Rothwell sneered at him, lifted his fists, shifted his weight—and violently vomited onto his own shoes. Liquid splattered over brick. Matthew jumped back, covering his nose.
“GoodLord,get yourself together.”
Movement from the other side of the street caught his attention. A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows.
They were being watched.
No. No. Something was wrong. Every hair on his body rose. Dark eyes glinted under lamplight. A flash of metal—and dearGod,was that a gun?!
He dove to the ground.
A loudPOPsplit the air.
A sharpzziipppcut past him.
Rothwell screamed.
“You shot me!” Rothwell crumpled in a ball, clutching his shoulder. His white glove grew red. “You weren’t supposed to shootme!”
