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“Pfft. A few minor trinkets. Hardly worth fussing over.” Caroline shrugged. “It was just a little fun. Surely you know what fun is, do you not?”
“Fun?” Demeter exclaimed. “A maid nearly lost her job and could have gone to prison for your crimes.”
Caroline waved a hand. “There are plenty of maids. The countess would have found another.”
Eleanor shared a look with Cassie, whose cheeks blossomed red. The gall of the woman had all her sisters stunned but at least they all felt the same fury as Eleanor.
“The men who attacked Demeter were quite quick to tell us who hired them.” Eleanor noticed Caroline’s expression falter. “In your haste to find a new attacker after your initial plan with Mr. Hampton failed, you were not so cautious, were you?”
“Get out!” Caroline screamed suddenly, her hands flailing in the direction of the door. “Get out, get out, get out.” She nodded toward the footman. “Get them out!”
The man hesitated, his gaze skipping between all four of them, then he stepped backwards out of the room.
“Good God!” Caroline started toward Demeter. “I’ll remove you all myself!”
Eleanor stepped between her sister and Caroline, slapped back her grasping hands and shoved her. Caroline staggered a few steps then her heel caught upon the edge of a rug, and she toppled to the floor.
For a few moments, Caroline gaped up at them. “You cannot treat me so in my own home!”
Eleanor stepped over to her. “It is no more than you deserve.” She recalled Oliver on the ground, blood staining his clothing, and she bent over Caroline. “In fact, the floor will seem a pleasant place indeed, given you shall likely be in prison before long.”
“In prison?” Caroline’s mouth opened and closed several times before she shook her head vigorously. “You would not!”
“You nearly killed a man,” Cassie said. “You might not have held the knife, but it was your actions that injured the viscount.”
“It was not my fault those silly men did such a bad job.” She snapped her mouth shut. “I’m not saying anything else.”
“You do not need to.” Eleanor shared a smug smile with her sisters. “You have said enough.”
As they left the house, a great wail echoed from the building. The bailiff and his men entered after them, ready to take Caroline away. Eleanor doubted Caroline would go to prison for long considering she had not wielded the blade and she came from a wealthy family, but even just one day in prison would be more than enough for such a spoiled, awful woman. With any luck, she would be thoroughly cast from Society, and they would most certainly never see her again.
“I never expected you to push her,” Cassie said, looping an arm around Eleanor’s waist. “You were meant to be the quiet, well-behaved one.”
“I’m still quiet,” Eleanor said with a soft smile. “Just not so well-behaved anymore.”
∞∞∞
If Oliver’s hands grew any clammier, he swore he’d flood all of London. Eleanor made it all the worse when she approached him looking charming in a deep pink that flattered her rich amber skin tone.
Not even a strand of hair was out of place, making him wish he could stand and ruffle her up a little. Delicate pearls hung from her neck and ears, and he clenched his jaw so hard, the sound rattled through his skull. If Oliver didn’t though, he might say something scandalous about removing said jewelry and everything else adorning her body. Delectable barely covered it.
But he was here to be a gentleman, he reminded himself. To do the right and proper thing.
“Should you be here?” she demanded, putting her hands to her hips and towering over him.
He’d rise but he was far from recovered and the journey in the carriage to her father’s house for the wedding breakfast had been hard enough.
“It is my closest friend’s wedding day,” he reminded her.
“But you were stabbed mere days ago!” She glanced around, her gaze landing upon Blake who stood next to his bride looking sickeningly happy. “I should have Blake take you home.”
“You’ll do no such thing, woman.”
“But—”
“I’m going to remain sitting,” Oliver told her. “Besides, the wound was superficial.”
“It looked awful.”
