“You are here.”
“What will I tell Bess?”
“The truth might be a nice change,” Belle answered, “but a lie will suffice, and you do excel at them.”
Mikhail released her hand. “You will come home.”
“I promise.”
Lifting her bag, Mikhail escorted her outside and helped her into his coach. “I will see you in a day or two.”
Belle felt her heart wrenching at his dejection, but Lavinia Smythe had caught her by surprise. If only he’d told her the real reason he’d married her. She wouldn’t have liked it, but his subsequent profession of love would have been believable.
Mikhail watched the coach disappear around the corner and wished they had stayed home that evening. Her pregnancy would have been a good excuse not to appear at functions.
Sitting behind the desk in his study, Mikhail reached for the vodka and poured the colorless liquid into a shot glass. Then he downed it in one gulp, shuddering as the vodka burned a path to his stomach.
Belle had mentioned a death-bed promise and his late wife’s jewels. Both accusations were lies, and the accusation about her scar was only partially true. He had fallen in love with her at second sight, when she rescued him that first day at the cottage.
Lavinia Smythe was behind tonight. The devil did have the power to assume a pleasing shape and mix lies with the truth.
Mikhail knew one thing for certain. He did not want to sleep without his wife. In order to convince her of his love, he needed to speak to her. Waiting until tomorrow or the day after that was unacceptable.
Mikhail marched downstairs. “I want another coach brought around.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Boomer hurried down the corridor.
Fifteen minutes later, Mikhail was en route to Inverary House. Walking would have been faster, but he needed to give his wife a chance to calm down.
“Good evening, Your Highness,” Tinker greeted him.
Mikhail brushed past the majordomo. “Please tell my wife I would speak with her.”
Tinker gave him a blank look. “Her Highness isn’t here. Would you like me—?”
Raven appeared at that moment. Puddles dashed down the stairs in front of her.
“Do you know where Belle is?” Mikhail asked.
“My sister is missing?” Raven asked, instantly concerned.
“Lavinia Smythe upset her tonight,” Mikhail said, “and Belle insisted she needed to go home and sort herself.”
“Home is Soho, not Inverary House.”
“I do not want my wife staying in that house alone,” Mikhail said, alarmed. “Will you pass the night with her?”
“I would do anything to escape this prison,” Raven said, making the majordomo chuckle.
“I will explain what happened along the way,” Mikhail said.
A short time later, the coach halted in front of the Flambeau residence in Soho Square. Mikhail climbed down and then assisted Raven.
“You will persuade Belle to return home?”
“Leave it to me.” Raven patted his arm. “I guarantee your wife will be dining with you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Mikhail watched his sister-in-law disappear into the house and then climbed into the coach. His next stop would be Audley Street where he intended to behave badly for the first time in his life.
With grim determination stamped across his features, Mikhail marched into the Winchester mansion and headed for the ballroom. Though reluctant to cause a scene, he would not allow his former sister-in-law and her cohorts to harass his wife. Speaking privately had not solved the problem, hence the need for a public rebuke.
Mikhail located Lavinia in the crowd and started forward. Friends and acquaintances greeted him. He ignored all but his quarry.
“Lavinia.”
She greeted him with her sweetest smile. “Good to see you, Mikhail.”
“Is it?” Those two tiny words silenced conversations in their immediate vicinity.
Lavinia paled at his tone, and then an embarrassed blush colored her cheeks.
“You will not insult my wife or approach her again,” Mikhail warned, his voice low but deadly serious. “If you do”—he gestured to their audience—“this discomfort will be the least of your troubles. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.”
Mikhail stared into her eyes a short moment before turning away. “God help the man who marries you.”
Chapter 19
Mikhail stretched his long legs out and sipped his dram of whisky, feigning cool patience. He planned to ride to Soho Square as soon as Inverary’s meeting ended. Unless, of course, Raven had persuaded his wife to go home. He would know all was well if his sister-in-law had returned.
“Your causing a disturbance last night surprised me,” Stepan said.