Page 31 of How to Best a Marquess

“I said you do not—”

“My wife is here, dammit.”

The liveried servant stepped in front of Ellie and tried to interfere. “The lady is correct.”

Lord Willoughby shoved the guard aside. The man stumbled and hit the back of the door. His astonished expression was like that of a bird flown into a brick wall.

Fear and anger knotted inside her. If the baron searched the place, he would undoubtedly find his wife. The retribution would be fierce, and Ellie could do nothing to stop it.

She needed to summon more men. Enough to forcibly remove the baron. She scanned the floor just as Baron Willoughby grasped her arm to growl in her ear. “Move aside, bitch. No one keeps me from my wife.”

“Remove your hands from the lady.”

Ellie turned at the dark, masculine voice. Hugh stood tall and solid, a look of fury clouding his hard features. Relief washed over her, immediate and sure.

“This is not your fight,” the baron said.

“I said remove your hand.” Hugh’s voice resounded with the force of a whip.

Around them, the casino fell eerily silent. Members turned to stare. The crack of the dice ceased, even the roulette wheel stopped spinning. All eyes followed the unfolding scene with keen interest and anticipation.

Baron Willoughby released Ellie’s arm, and she stepped back. She suppressed the urge to rub her arm where his cruel fingers had dug into her flesh.

The brute glanced at Ellie, then glared at Hugh. “I’m not interested in her. I want my wife. Now.”

“She also said to leave.”

Perhaps if the baron were sober, he’d notice the deadly gleam in Hugh’s gaze.

They stared each other down, one angry male against another. The contrast was riveting. Hugh was younger, but no less threatening, and for the first time, she could clearly see the military bearing in his stance and in the hard glint in his eyes. The baron was older and used to being a master in his own domain, especially when it came to his fragile wife.

Hugh spoke slowly, as if restraining himself. “I won’t repeat myself.”

Instead of listening, Baron Willoughby took a step forward and raised his fist. It was a mistake.

Hugh dodged the blow and struck out. A crack sounded as the baron stumbled and fell backward. He clutched his nose, and blood seeped through his fingers. “You bastard! You broke my nose!”

Hugh responded with fire. “You’re fortunate that’s all I broke. Get out. Now. Do not return and never touch the lady again.”

Baron Willoughby turned, tripped once, then fled the Raven Club into the street as if a pack of wild hounds were snapping at his heels. Ellie watched wide-eyed, mouth agape.

Hugh turned around and waved to the crowd in a reassuring manner. The club’s members returned to their tables and resumed their gambling as if nothing untoward had occurred.

Then he turned to her, all the rage gone from his expression. His gaze passed quickly over her form and returned to her eyes. “God, Ellie. Are you all right?”

“I am. Thank you.” She hated that her voice was shaking. She knew he was talented in the ring, but the way he had dispatched the baron was not something she could easily forget.

“Where is his wife?” Hugh asked, his voice gentle.

A lie sprang to her lips, but she knew it was no use. Not after he’d bloodied the baron’s nose and tossed him out. Plus, according to Hugh, she had a “tell.”

Ellie took a deep breath, then lowered her voice. “She is in the boxing room.”

“Come.” He took her hand. There was heat and urgency and relief in his touch. She’d taken off her gloves when she’d worked on the ledgers, and she was glad not to have them now. His grasp was comforting, a solid presence beside her. She’d worry about these feelings later, after the shock of the baron’s visit had passed, and after they dealt with his wife who was still in the club. He led her to the back of the casino and the boxing room, where they found Lady Willoughby in hysterics.

The woman was pacing the room, clenching her fingers together until her knuckles were pure white. “He knows! He’ll find me. I shall not survive this.”

Ellie attempted to calm her. “It’s all right. Baron Willoughby never saw you, and I denied your presence here tonight. He was deep in his cups.”