Page 35 of A Rogue to Forget

There were knocks on the front door. The sharp raps seemed to echo in the large space.

Just as Henry wondered if anyone was to answer the door, a man appeared. This one did fit the part of whom they’d expected to greet them. With a broken nose and huge meaty hands, the man looked like a street boxer. He gave them a cursory glance before continuing to the door.

“What?” he said to whoever it was.

It sounded as if the visitor was a woman. The man turned to look past them in the direction the woman had gone. “You’ll have to wait.”

Whoever it was spoke again and the man huffed. “Very well, wait inside.” He motioned to where Henry and his father sat.

A moment later, Hannah and her housekeeper Marta walked in. Both of their eyes rounded at seeing them. Luckily, they were facing away from the man who’d let them in.

“You have to wait for Rebecca to return. Although I doubt Mr. Jones will see you today.” The man’s eyes narrowed in Henry’s direction, and he walked to a desk that he assumed was the woman’s and sat on the edge.

“What are you doing here?” Hannah whispered.

“Young lady,” his father began, and Henry held his breath. “We have business with Mister Brown. However, we will strive to be brief.”

Hannah seemed struck speechless.

Glancing toward the man, Henry was about to speak when the woman, Rebecca, reappeared. She stopped upon seeing Hannah and Marta.

“She says to have an important matter to discuss with Mister Brown,” the man said to Rebecca, who slid a look to Hannah.

Henry took advantage and pretended to brush his pants leg. “You must not meet with him alone,” he muttered under his breath.

“You have no reason to be involved in this any longer,” she snapped back.

Rebecca’s head turned toward them. “Mister Campbell, Mister Brown is occupied, but he asks that you wait a moment,” she said to his father.

Knocks interrupted whatever she was about to say next. “I’ll see to it,” the man said, but she shook her head. “Go and see if Mister Brown is available yet.” She hurried to the door in what seemed to be her efficient way of walking.

Whoever was at the door seemed to catch Rebecca by surprise. She turned to look at the four of them. “Please come in, Lord Johnstone.”

Miles walked in and hesitated at seeing the group gathered. His right brow lifting, he turned to Evan who appeared next.

It was becoming rather crowded in the sitting room. The man and woman that worked for Jules exchanged confused looks and then turned to them.

“It was hard for Henry not to look at his companions, but instead, he kept his gaze on the duo. There was no doubt in his mind that Jules Brown was dangerous, and by the size of the man standing before them, it could be a formidable threat if he became suspicious.”

Footsteps sounded and all eight people turned to watch as a man appeared. The man, who Henry presumed to be Jules Brown, had the assured gait of a man aware he was untouchable. His hair was dark and so were his eyes.

Behind him, two men who looked like prize fighters flanked him.

Jules ignored everyone except for Hannah. “You came.”

To his consternation, Hannah walked up to Jules and pressed a finger to the center of his chest. “Of course I came. You have been sending undesirables to approach my housekeeper and had us followed.”

When Henry took a step forward, prepared to defend Hannah, his father held him back.

“We should speak in private.” For the first time, Jules seemed to notice everyone else. “Leave.” He motioned to the men. “See everyone else except for the housekeeper out.”

“I would prefer if they stayed,” Hannah said. “They are my friends, who came here without my knowledge to try and keep me safe.”

Jules’s jaw flexed. “I am the one who gives orders here.”

“And I am your sister and will not be bossed about.”

At the words, Jules’s eyes went wide. “What?”