A Momentary Marriage(23)
“Archie. Stop. I’m not lending you money.”
“Course not,” Salstone said in a hurt tone. “Wouldn’t think of it. It’s Patricia’s trust I’m talking about.”
“Nor are the trustees giving it to you.”
“Trustees!” Archie snorted. “Hah! The others don’t matter. You’re the one who decides. We all know it.”
“I’m surprised you don’t also know that I won’t allow you to squander the trust’s money on some ridiculous scheme.”
“It’s not ridiculous, I tell you. I’ve looked at it and—”
“I’m not giving you the money.”
“It’s not as if it’s your money!” Salstone’s face darkened with anger. “It belongs to me.”
“It’s for Patricia, not you.”
“Her money is mine.”
“That is precisely the reason Sir Laurence left it in a trust,” James shot back.
“It’s not fair!” The other man jumped to his feet. “Why the hell do you get to control all the money? You aren’t even—” He stopped abruptly.
James raised his brows, saying in a silky tone, “I’m not even what?” His brother-in-law simply glared at him, not answering. “I’ll tell you what I am, Archie. I am the man who controls the trust Sir Laurence left for his wife and children. And I won’t permit you or anyone else to squander it.”
“It’s not fair,” Salstone repeated, turning toward Claude. “You know it’s not. Why should we have to go begging to him for money that should be ours?”
“Fair doesn’t matter. Haven’t you learned that yet?” Claude shook his head in disgust. “Really, Archie, have you no sense? You insult the man’s wife at dinner, then ask him for money?”
“Don’t act as if you weren’t all thinking the same thing! She’s a nobody. I don’t care if he wants to pick up Montclair’s leavings, but to—”
James burst up from his chair, grabbing a handful of Archie’s ascot and shirt, and shoved him back onto the dining table. Salstone landed with a thud, knocking over the decanter and sending port streaming across the damask. James leaned on the other man, holding him to the table with one hand, his entire weight behind it, and with the other hand twisting the material in a choking grip.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare even say her name.” He rapped Archie’s head against the table for good measure.
“James!” Walter grabbed one arm and Claude the other, pulling him back. “Stop. Let go. You’ll kill him.”
“That’s what I’d like to do.” James released Salstone.
Salstone, coughing, stood up. “You’re a bloody lunatic.”
“And you’re a bloody fool, Archie,” Claude said dispassionately.
James ignored their exchange. “Get out.”
“What?” Salstone stared.
“You heard me.” James bit off the words. “I want you out of this house.”
“You can’t toss me out. This is Patricia’s home.”
“Patricia may stay. You are leaving.”
“James, wait . . . think . . . the scandal,” Walter began.
“I don’t care about the bloody scandal!” James turned and strode away.
Behind him he heard Salstone begin to bluster and Claude’s scornful reply, “What the hell did you expect, Archie? He told you.”
Then he was out the door, leaving them behind. Demosthenes, waiting patiently in the hall, followed him. James took the back door onto the terrace, going across it to the steps into the garden. He sat down on the top step, gazing into the darkness. Customarily, he would make a round of the garden with his dog last thing before retiring, but tonight the spurt of rage had drained him, leaving him shaken and dizzy.
This disease was making him a stranger to himself.
Archie Salstone could drive a saint to murder, and there was no way James could have let the insult to Laura stand. But it wasn’t like him to be violent. He had always been able to take care of any enemy with a few acidic words. These days, however, anger bubbled in him, seeking release.
Demosthenes, after a single puzzled glance at his master, sat down beside James and stared into the garden with him. James looped his arm around the dog. “Ah, Dem, have I done Laura a grave disfavor?”
He was not an impulsive man normally, yet with Laura, he had jumped in without thinking. He wasn’t sure why he’d done it; it wasn’t his inclination to examine his inner motives or deep desires. If he wanted something of beauty, he acquired it. If he sought pleasure, he bought it. If something needed to be done, he made sure it was.