“I will quarrel with anyone who insults my soldiers. No exception.” Sod London. Sod the peerage. Sod Roxbury. Ethan almost wished the man would provoke him again. He would have the perfect excuse to challenge him. “What options are left?”
Finn sighed, drumming his fingers on the armrest. He was missing two in his right hand, courtesy of the same explosion that had claimed his leg. “We need more time. Or we can convince Roxbury to sell us his share and politely tell him to sod off and rot in hell.”
“I like the last part of the second option the most.”
“Are you coming to the evening auction?” Finn rubbed his knee.
“Would it be wise?” He rearranged his papers just to have something to do. “My last few interactions with London’s peers have been abysmal.”
“Mrs. Sterling will be there.” Finn gave Ethan a pointed look.
“That would be a further reason not to go.” Ethan signed the last cheque for the payments. “I don’t want to upset her.”
“Clarify your position, perhaps?”
“I tried, and she called me a coward, then a murderer. She needs someone to blame for her husband’s death, and I was his commander.”
“James’s death isn’t your fault.” Finn touched his wooden leg. “War is a messy affair. You can’t control everything. Besides, he disobeyed your orders.”
“Still, a commander is responsible for his men, and I have no intention of informing James’s widow that her beloved husband behaved like a spoiled child when it came to obeying reasonable orders.” He massaged his forehead, pushing that last heated conversation with his lieutenant out of his head. “Who else will be at the auction?”
“Lady Kingsley. She showed interest in selling you her share of the building, but she has concerns about the arguments between you and Roxbury, who’s pushing her to sell him her share. It would be great if you could meet her during an informal event like tonight. She invited all your men, after all. Just control your temper and lend your remaining ear to me, and everything will be all right.”
“Naturally.” He scraped his chair back, getting mentally ready for a night of forced smiles and dull chatter.
Although every support, monetary or otherwise, was essential to helping the veterans. Especially if litigation was going to start over the land.
“Ethan.” Finn stood up as well. “May I suggest caution with Roxbury?”
“He’s vile and a coward. I won’t tolerate his arrogant behaviour.”
“I agree with your assessment, but we don’t want to push him too hard. The last thing we need is Roxbury getting a closer look at the legal situation of the centre.” Finn clasped Ethan’s shoulder. “Control your temper.”
Ethan would. If Roxbury would control his.
Every time Cora hugged David,the worries and sorrows of her day lifted from her heart as if by magic.
She kissed his cheek and tucked him into bed. “Don’t stay up waiting for me. I might be late.”
“Are you going to be alone with Lord Roxbury again?” His young face was wrinkled with too many worry lines. But then again, a child whose father forbade him from calling him papa had reasons to worry.
“Don’t worry. I think he’ll behave.” For now.
Ethan’s threat had silenced Jacob during the trip back home from the veterans’ centre. She wasn’t deluded. His revenge would arrive, but at the moment, she enjoyed the truce. She pulled down the hem of her dress, making sure the fabric left her throat free.
“Good night.” She rose in a swish of silk, but David grabbed her hand.
“Will you come here when you return?” he asked. “I don’t care if it’s late.”
“Absolutely, my angel.” She took a deep breath and left the lamp on the nightstand lit as he liked it. “Don’t worry about anything.”
Anxiety coiled in her belly when she left David’s room. Her maid waited for her in the corridor, pale and tense as usual.
“Does your ladyship need anything else?” she asked.
“No, Cooper. You may retire for now.”
“My lady.” The maid scurried away like a frightened mouse.
