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“Leave her alone or I’ll break your bloody nose,” a thunderous voice shouted.
Mari stopped mid-stride. “Edgar? What are you doing here?”
Chapter 24
He was rescuing her. Not that she needed rescuing, at least she didn’t think she did, but still, no one had ever rushed to her defense before.
She’d always been alone. Mari versus the world.
Tall and fierce, blocking out the sun, Edgar’s face was deadly and his fists looked like stone hammers, ready to rain down justice. “What’s happening here?” he growled, and this time his growling touched her heart in a profound way.
The man who hated public spectacles was willing to battle an earl on the street, all for her.
Haddock’s face paled. “Miss Perkins and I were having a conversation.”
“Looks to me as though you were about to get a parrot’s beak to the bollocks,” said Edgar.
Haddock eyed Mari’s umbrella.
“That’s right,” she said, waving the umbrella handle. “A very sharp beak.”
Edgar gave her a quick, approving look, then turned to glare at Haddock. “You’ll never speak to the lady again. And you’ll leave like a good, quiet little earl.”
“What lady?” asked Haddock, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t see any lady. Just a governess disguised in fine clothing, who doesn’t know her rightful place.”
It happened so quickly, Mari didn’t even have time to blink.
Edgar’s fist crashed into Haddock’s nose, sending the earl staggering back against the carriage.
“I told you I’d break your bloody nose. Now get in the carriage and leave, you craven piece of maggot dropping.”
The earl’s manservant offered his master a glove to staunch the blood flowing from his nose. Haddock’s eyes were wide and glazed. The glove came away from his nose streaked with crimson.
People on the street were staring.
“You broke my nose,” Haddock said, stunned.
“Said I would.” Edgar stepped forward menacingly. “Care to have your kneecaps broken as well?”
“And your bollocks beaked?” added Mari, brandishing her parrot’s head umbrella.
“Gentlemen settle these matters with pistols,” Haddock said, blood streaming down his face.
“Is that a challenge?” Edgar asked with a disdainful curl of his lip.
The earl’s face blanched. “I’ll see that your railway never gets built, Banksford.”
“And I’ll see you in hell, Haddock.” Edgar’s face was impassive, his eyes steely.
“Oh for Heaven’s sake,” said Mari. “It’s not worth fighting a duel over. Go home, Lord Haddock. And don’t ever try that again. I would have defended myself. I would have screamed. Don’t think females won’t fight back or make a scene. We’re not all meek and easily overpowered.”
Haddock sneered at Mari. “You’re not worth any of this. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Insult her one more time and you die.” Edgar shook with rage and the tips of his ears had gone red.
Mari could see that he meant it, and so could the earl. He scuttled into his carriage, leaving without another word.
Luckily, no constables had become involved. The curious onlookers dispersed.
