Page 56 of Every Rogue Has His Charm

Three people rose at once. Laughton surged across the table toward his son. Maxim grabbed him by the collar to prevent it. And Caro smoothed a hand over her lovely gown and said in a perfectly calm voice, “Ladies, I believe it is time for us to withdraw.”

Lady Catherine followed her sister without hesitation. The two elder ladies naturally moved more slowly, but the look Lady Laughton cast over her shoulder at her husband was not as regretful as Maxim had expected.

“Do you really think we should—?” the countess began in what might have been intended as a whisper.

Miss Brent slipped an arm through her sister-in-law’s. “I do.”

“Absolutely not,” Laughton roared—or tried to. The words strangled in his throat when Maxim reached up his other hand and got hold of the man’s cravat. “Help me,” he squeaked, his eyes rolling in the direction of his son. Not a plea, but a demand.

Brent-Ashby stayed firmly in his seat.

“Out,” Maxim said, dragging Laughton away from the table as soon as the ladies had ascended the stairs, his voice as soft as his movements were harsh.

“Where will I go?” The reality of his predicament seemed to be beginning to dawn on the man. His feet stumbled over the carpet as he clawed fruitlessly at Maxim’s grasp.

“An inn?” Maxim suggested, moving toward the entry hall.

Desperation flared in his eyes. “B-b-but I spent my last ready coin to get us here.”

“That was Caro’s coin you spent,” Maxim corrected hotly. “You’ll certainly not get another from me.”

At that final sign of Maxim’s remorselessness, Laughton’s more usual demeanor returned to him. One final attempt to get the upper hand. “A brawling duke,” he scoffed. “Little more than a brute. Your grandfather was right about you.”

Maxim only laughed. Nodding to Geoffrey to open the front door, he pushed the older man backward, sending him stumbling down the stairs and into the chill evening air. “Go to hell, Laughton.”

When he looked back over his shoulder, the dining room was empty. Brent-Ashby must have decided to join the ladies. But when Maxim reached the drawing room on the floor above, he found it empty of all but his wife.

“Have they all left, then?” The words felt heavy in his chest. He’d failed.

Slowly, she stepped toward him, the candlelight setting her gown aglow, the shadows making her eyes unreadable.

God, but he was tempted to drop to his knees before her. His pleas for mercy would put Laughton’s to shame. “Did I do the wrong thing, Caro?”

She stopped with less than an arm’s length between them. “You certainly didn’t do the easy thing.”

And then she reached up and laid her palm against his chest. A sob of relief rose in his throat, and he made no effort to disguise it.

“They’re upstairs,” she explained. “My brother and sister were more than willing to make do with the small rooms in the attic. Christopher has just gone up to help Mrs. Horn arrange things. And Mama is…resolved.” He heard both surprise and relief in her voice. “But understandably distressed. I sent her to lie down in the back bedchamber, and my aunt offered to sit up with her tonight. She needs something to fuss over. I’ve long thought that focusing on my mother’s health might make her less concerned for her own.”

“And how are you feeling?”

Her fingers curled against his waistcoat. “Sad to think that things have come to this. Relieved to be free of him at last. Afraid he’ll find some way—”

“He won’t.” Maxim settled his palm over hers, pinning her hand against his heart. “I’ll make certain of it.”

“But my family…”

“It will not be easy,” he acknowledged. “Just as you said. But much can be learned in the struggle.”

“I fear you were too generous with them.”

“I learned that from you, my dear.”

“And not just the money,” she went on, ignoring him. “You’ll be giving up your time, your peace.…”

“I would give anything for your happiness, Caro. But tell me, can it ever be enough? Do I stand any chance of winning your heart?”

For answer, she took the tiniest step closer to him, so that her breasts brushed his arm when she drew a breath and dipped her chin in a careful nod.