“Three big accomblices,” Leopold said, wiping beneath his nose with the back of his sleeve so blood smeared across his cuff. “But it was more than dat. All I did was invite her to spendtibe with be, and she refused. I ab de future Duke of Austwia. I deserve bore respect dan dat.”
Several flecks of spit mingled with blood landed on my report.
I calmly wiped them from the parchment with the edge of another sheet. “Yes, I can see how troubling that must’ve been for you.”
“It was,” Leopold said, swaying slightly. “Bery troubling.”
“And where did this attack take place?” I asked.
“In de corridor outside de ballroom.”
“Ah.” I made another note. “So she asked you to follow her into the corridor?”
Leopold hesitated and his father shot him a sharp look at him.
“Well, not exactly,” Leopold said finally.
I lifted my eyebrows. “Not exactly? How do you mean?”
“She left, and I followed her.”
“I see.” I wrote that down. “And before she attacked you with this club, did she ask you to leave her alone? Or was she waiting behind a door in the hall, waiting to jump you with her three big accomplices?”
Leopold’s mouth opened, then closed again. His swollen nose whistled faintly as he breathed. “She might have said something first.”
“Might have,” I repeated, writing again. “And did she warn you before the attack?”
The duke’s face tightened. “Sheriff, I hardly see how this is relevant. My son is the victim here.”
“Of course, my lord,” I said smoothly. “I only want the report to be thorough. A man of your son’s importance deserves nothing less than a full and complete report.”
That seemed to satisfy him, though just barely. Leopold folded his arms, then winced and lowered them again. “She threatened be. Said she would break by fingers.”
“And then what?”
“She stepped on dem.”
“Did you try to place your hand where it didn’t belong?” I asked mildly.
Leopold’s face flushed dark red beneath the bruising.
The duke turned on him. “Leo.”
“I was seducing her,” Leopold said defensively. “She knew dat. She wanted me to seduce her.”
I set down my quill before I broke it or the temptation to stab out Leopold’s eyes with it overpowered me.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the soft hiss of the candle and Leopold’s congested breathing. I looked down at the report, then I folded the parchment in half.
“I’ll tend to it,” I said. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Please know that Isabella will be dealt with swiftly and severely.”
“Good,” Leopold said. “You were lucky to have a nice girl tonight. Bine was crazy.”
“Yes,” I said, unable to stop the faintest smile from touching my mouth. “So it would seem.”
The duke gave me a curt nod, then took his son by the arm and steered him toward the door. Leopold limped after him, still muttering about servants, respect, and his ruined nose. When the door closed behind them, I remained perfectly still until their footsteps faded down the hall. Then I leaned back in my chair and looked at the folded report.
Laurel had broken his nose.
