Page 31 of Never Tempt a Widow

The man she’d referred to as “Mr Reedman” drew himself up. “I seek only what is mine. But I thought to be acquainted with you first, having believed for the past nine months that the love of my life was dead.” He made a move towards her, his hands held out, but in the blink of an eye, there was a blade between the two of them, held firm in Fina’s slender fingers.

Rowland’s sinews tightened. Time to jump down and prevent bloodshed. Only—was that not the exceedingly ugly letter opener he kept tucked away in his desk? It was as blunt as a fishwife’s sense of humour. But Fina was wielding it as if it were the sharpest dagger and—more surprisingly—as if she knew exactly how to use it.

“You will leave here now, Dundas Reedman. I never want to set eyes on you again. If you disoblige me, I’ll call the law down on you.”

The affected long-suffering dissipated. “You wouldn’t dare,” he sneered. “It would bring ruin on your family, spoil your sisters’ chances of good matches. It would smear the honourable name of your husband.”

“What do you know of my husband? How dare you threaten his reputation!”

“Oh, there are those in the village with gossip to spare. I have a good idea of what is going on.”

Rowland ground his fist against the sandy brickwork. Mrs Radford was one of the gossips, no doubt. But Fina was defending him. God bless her.

“Enough. Just go.” His wife’s face was dark with fury. Half of him was impressed at her bravura. The other half bled at the knowledge that she hadn’t told him the truth about her circumstances.

The man threw his hands in the air and took two steps backwards. “Very well. I can see that you’re overset. You thought you’d lost your baby’s father, and to have him return when you’re wed to another is a situation to put any young lady in a faint. I’ll give you the time you need to calm down, and we’ll talk again.”

Dundas whirled and strode out of the garden. Rowland pondered the justice of throttling the man right now and throwing his body in a ditch. But it was not a good example for the local magistrate to set. Nonetheless, Dundas would get his just deserts. And hopefully, far sooner than that dastardly rogue expected.

Rowland slithered down the buttress, brushed the orange dust from his breeches, and hastened around to the gate to intercept Fina. But when she saw him, her face crumpled, and as he went to take her arm, she wrenched away from him.

“You were spying on me! Get away from me—I can’t trust you. I can’t trust any of you!”

Having flung these words in his face, she left him standing, wounded and astonished, as she hurtled up the main steps and slammed into the house.

He dragged his fingers through his hair. Everything he’d hoped for now hung in the balance, and he’d have to tread carefully indeed if he was to preserve his newly-fledged marriage. But first, he wanted to know how Reedman had been able to find Fina. He wanted to find out how much damage had already been done. And there was only one person who could provide the answer.

Felix. His brother-in-law needed to be seriously taken in hand.