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Then she made a fist and tensed her arm. There weren’t a great many benefits to having brothers. They were quite messy and badly behaved and often thoughtless. But Georgiana had learned how to throw a punch and had broken up more fights than she could count. She wasn’t going to simply stand there and let a man like Tobias Harrington murder her.
Just as she saw a flash of gunmetal, Georgiana kicked him hard in the knee. He let out a cry and bent forward. Then Georgiana soundly socked him in the jaw, just like Ollie had taught her, and ran.
Tobias let out a loud curse behind her, but she did not stop as she moved though the building toward the entrance as fast as she could. But just as it came in sight, someone stepped into the doorway, and her heart froze. She had forgotten about the coachman. Georgiana stopped short and ducked down a hallway, only to discover it was a dead end. She let out a frustrated cry and slapped her hand against the brick wall. Then her ears pricked up as she heard the man’s footsteps coming closer, followed by the familiar click of a cane. She whirled around as Henry came storming up to her, a scowl on his face.
“For God’s sake, Georgiana, I—”
But before he could say another word, she threw herself into his arms. “Oh, I’m so glad it’s you,” she gasped.
Henry’s body automatically relaxed against hers, and his hand came around her waist. “Are you all right?” he asked gently.
“It was Tobias,” she murmured against his chest.
“I know.”
“He’s still here, and he has a gun.”
Henry’s grip tightened. “Where is he?”
“At the other end of the building. I punched him and ran away.”
Henry looked impressed then grew serious. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Together they moved back down the hallway as quietly as possible, then looked around. The building was eerily silent, but the entrance was clear. “You go ahead of me,” Henry said and drew her in front of him, acting as her shield. She didn’t like that, but there wasn’t time to argue. Georgiana gripped his hand as she headed for the entrance.
As they reached the door, a shot rang out and Henry immediately froze. Georgiana glanced back to find him as white as a sheet, his eyes focused on the spot where the bullet struck the wall just above their heads. Thank God Tobias was a terrible shot.
“Come,” she said urgently as she tugged on his hand.
But in that brief pause, Tobias appeared with the gun trained on them. His jaw was already purpling where she had struck him.
Some of the color returned to Henry’s face as he glared at him. “It’s over, Tobias,” he said with a slight tremble in his deep voice. “Now tell me what’s going on. I want to help.”
Surprise flickered in the man’s gaze before it turned to anger. “I will not be pitied by the likes ofyou.” Then he pointed the gun at Georgiana. “All she had to do was give up the expansion. Then my debt would be paid.”
“It seems like you owe a number of people debts,” Henry said as his eyes lit with understanding. “You were the one who told the commodore about us.”
Georgiana looked between the two men. “But how did you know?”
Tobias lifted his chin. “Let’s call it a lucky guess. I saw the two of you in my mother’s back garden all those years ago. That wasn’t very noble of you, Captain,” he sneered. “She was furious when I told her.”
Georgiana’s stomach turned as the missing piece clicked into place. “My God,” she muttered. “Aunt Paloma knew the entire time.”
“She saved you from making a fool of yourself,” Tobias snapped. “Did you really think she was going to step aside and watch you marry a damnednavalofficer when you could have been a viscountess? She had made a promise to your mother to see you safely wed, so she did what was necessary.”
“And the viscount was part of it,” Georgiana choked out.
Tobias nodded. “He bought your father’s debts on Mother’s advice. You might have made a foolish choice on your own, but she knew you would never let your family suffer for it. A pity you weren’t a little more selfish.”
“And yet you still let me assume the absolute worst about Henry when you knew the truth.”
“Don’t blame me for that,” he countered. “You could have gone and talked to the man instead of skulking outside the Wrenhews’ card room.”
Henry turned to her in surprise. “You were there that night?”
“Yes,” she admitted as Henry blanched. “I overheard everything.”
He winced. “I didn’t mean any of it. When Tobias told me you were engaged, I was upset—”
