“Did you know he beat his wife?”
He shook his head. “No, but he hates to lose. He especially hates to lose to me. He shall come here to reclaim his wife. I have no doubt.”
“What will you do when he arrives?”
“I’m not going to kill him if that’s what’s you’re wondering.” He took her hand, kissed it, then began stroking his thumb over the scar on her palm. “It’s not an easy thing to live with the death of a man on your conscience, even when you know he deserved it. You see his face when you close your eyes to sleep—and there are times you won’t sleep because you don’t want to see his face.”
“Then how shall you ensure that he’ll leave Winnie in peace?”
“By making certain he understands that she is under my protection, and if he ever touches her again, I will kill him. Without remorse. Without regret. Without mercy.”
A shiver raced up her spine, caused her scalp to prickle. She nodded.
“He’s a bully,” he said quietly. “It usually takes only standing up to him to make him back down.”
With her free hand, she skimmed his hair off his brow. “But what if he threatens you?”
He pressed a kiss to her palm. “I have my guardian angel.”
The library door opened, and the butler walked in. “My lord, the Duke of Avendale has come to call.”
“You see,” Claybourne said, grinning at Catherine. “Civilized.” He looked at his servant. “I’ll see him. And under no circumstances are we to be disturbed. I don’t care what you hear or think you hear happening inside this room. As a matter of fact, once you’ve delivered him here, dismiss the remaining servants for the evening.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Claybourne released her, walked to his desk, leaned against it, crossed his arms over his chest, and met Catherine’s gaze. “I don’t suppose you’d leave while he and I discuss—”
“I’ll not leave you to face him alone.”
“Don’t interfere.”
She opened her mouth to speak—
“I mean it, Catherine. This is going to be like a very complicated game of cards, and I intend to do a great deal of bluffing.”
She nodded, heard the click of determined footsteps. Her stomach roiled. She walked so she was off to the side, near the shelves, far enough away not to be bothersome, but close enough to offer what support she could.
Avendale strode in, and once he was clear of the door, the butler closed it behind him. Catherine could sense the fury emanating off the duke in waves. She was also very much aware that Claybourne seemed completely unaffected.
An extraordinary number of lamps had been lit as though Claybourne wanted a clear view of his adversary, or perhaps he wanted Avendale to have a clear view of him. Unfortunately, they also gave Avendale a clear view of her.
He sneered at her. “I should have known you were at the heart of this travesty.”
“You’ll address me, not Lady Catherine,” Claybourne said, his voice firm, his manner that of a man who knew no fear.
Avendale shifted his attention to Claybourne. “We’re not among my peers where I must pretend politeness, so let me speak frankly. You’re nothing. You’re not the rightful earl, and I’ll not recognize you as such. I am here for my wife and heir. You will bring them to me and you will bring them to me now.”
“I have some questions I want answered first.”
“I do not answer to you.”
“Why were you having Lady Catherine followed?”
“Where is my wife?”
“Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”
Avendale looked at Catherine, not bothering to disguise his low opinion of her. She just didn’t know if it was a recently acquired opinion. “She is a bad influence on my wife, and so I thought it worth keeping an eye on her.”
“And the reason you tried to have me killed?”
“Because I don’t like you, you insolent dog. You’re a blight on the aristocracy. Now bring me my wife and son!”
“It’s a bit difficult to do your bidding when they’re not here.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’ve not lied since I was fourteen. Search my residence, every room, every nook and cranny. You’ll not find them here because they never left London.”
“You think to keep them away from me?”
“If I must in order to protect them. You and I are going to come to an understanding—”
Avendale dropped his head back and yelled, his hands balled into fists. When he again looked at Claybourne, the fury he’d brought into the room with him was tenfold. “I’ll not allow you to take anything else that rightfully belongs to another!”