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She scoffed. “Does this generosity come without strings?”
“I have three younger sisters. I would hope should they so spectacularly defeat a dishonorable bounder and kill him in the process, someone would be kind enough to help them discard the bounder’s body and not call the proper authorities.”
“You thought it was a spectacular defeat?”
That was the last thing he expected from her. “You were brilliant.”
Her lips parted on a wordless sigh, and she stared at him. William said nothing, merely returned her regard, wondering at the insistent stirring in his gut. He did not engage with young chits like her—those who radiated sweet innocence and dreamed only of wedding alliances when they met a gentleman. He ruthlessly avoided those feverishly marriage-minded young ladies, for William owned no interest in marriage. Most of his relationships were with older ladies who were well-versed in romantic liaisons and discreet affairs. They understood what he had to offer, and he understood what they were willing to give.
She was the first to look away, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “Do you think I’ve killed him?”
How horrified she sounded. “Perhaps.”
Her entire body trembled.
“You would not be at fault.”
“I would most assuredly be hanged!” she said faintly, shaking her head as if in a daze. “My family would be ruined. Oh, Theo did warn that when one plots for revenge, one should dig more than one grave. I did not listen!”
“How perfectly ominous.”
“I…you are smiling,” she said in a choked whisper.
“Men have killed other men for far less in a duel of honor. I gather this was a similar duel.”
She stared at him as if he were a mythical creature. “I doubt anyone else would be as understanding as you, my lord. Surely most gentlemen do not believe ladies can partake in honor duels.”
“I am not most gentleman, my good lady, and this shall be our secret, hmm?”
“Oursecret?”
“Of course. Remember, mutually assured discretion.”
An astonished laugh escaped her before she slapped a gloved hand over her mouth.
“I meant to drag his body to the underbrush over there.”
Not much of a plan, especially when she could simply leave him here. William did not point that out. He merely followed where she pointed. “Allow me,” he said with a gallant bow.
She gave him a wary gaze and skirted back when he stepped forward. As William dipped, the viscount moaned and started to sit up.
“Good heavens, he is alive! We must leave at once before he comes to his full senses!”
Without overthinking the matter, William slammed his fist into the man’s jaw and dispassionately watched as he crumbled again. “I daresay he will be out for another couple of hours.”
Her horrified gasp rode the air. “My lord! Why ever did you punch him?”
“He deserved more for the abominable way he conducted himself with you,” William said softly, dragging the viscount to where she wanted with little effort.
He could feel her stare on his back, but he gave it no attention as he rolled the man’s body under the shrubbery. The viscount would rightly suffer some embarrassment when he was discovered either by a guest or a footman or even if he woke none the wiser. William had three younger sisters, and if anyone had dared harm them in the manner Shuttleworth had done to this young lady, he would have taken his blade and spilled the man’s guts to the ground. William deplored those who used force on the gentler sex or anyone for that damn matter.
“Did you hear it all, my lord?” she whispered.
He looked up, noting the paleness in her cheeks and the mortification in her lovely eyes. “I heard it all.”
She closed her eyes tightly, pressing a hand to her chest. “I am mortified.”
“You were fierce in defending your honor. I have never seen the like.”
