He leapt from his seat and moved forward menacingly. "Damn you, Stone, I'll--"
Aunt Helen began to flutter an ostentatiously large lace hankie. "Heavens, I think I'm going to faint--"
"Then pray do it on the other side of the front door, Madame. Vanessa and I bid you good day."
He swung on his heel and got her out of there as rapidly as possible.
"Damn it, Stone, we're not finished here!" Peter bellowed.
He paused at the doorway. "Collect up all the bills owing, and send them to me. If they are genuine, I will pay them. But don't ever darken this door again, or that of any other roof Vanessa is under."
Toby's eager voice piped up behind him, "Do you give your word as a gentleman?"
"Yes," he called down the corridor, "So long as I find out that they are legitimate. I shall hand them over to my solicitor. If I find out you have played me false, it'll be Newgate for you, and transportation if you're lucky. Good day."
He led Vanessa into the doctor's study, startling the poor man at his books.
"Good God, what has happened?" he exclaimed, rushing for his medical bag when he saw Vanessa's paper white face.
"We can talk about it later," Clifford said curtly. "I just thought the Stephenses wouldn't dare continue to badger her in here."
"Damn it, I knew I should never have allowed--"
"How could they?" she whispered.
Clifford hugged her close about the waist. "Greed is a deadly sin."
"And they really would have--" She turned her stricken eyes up to him, unable to complete the sentence.
"They will never have a say in your life ever again," he promised. "Once we are married, we will be family, and Henry and I will never let you come to harm. So come on, now, love, dry your eyes and drink your cordial, there's a good girl."
He pressed a small glass into her fingers, and began to dab at her cheeks gently with his own spotless pocket handkerchief.
He sat her down in the chair nearest the fire, and watched her carefully. Her hand was shaking so badly that she spilled more than she sipped, but after a few moments her color returned.
While he waited for her to compose herself, Clifford told Dr. Gold in a few succinct phrases precisely what had just transpired.
The doctor was outraged. "It will never happen, I give you my word. You are as sane as anyone. Far more so than them, in fact, or so it would appear."
"But what am I to do? I can't let Clifford--"
"I will look into their affairs, see if the house is mortgaged. If it is, I will secure the deed and hold it over your cousins' heads. It will keep them guessing, and too worried to dare move against you again, or else be rendered homeless. I'm just so sorry your aunt--"
"She spoiled them both unmercifully. They were her only two children for years."
"Don't make excuses. It's unconscionable. Even if any loved one of mine were mad, I would never put them in an asylum."
She stared at him, shocked to see how badly he was trembling.
"Good Lord, Clifford, what is it?"
"Let's just say a friend's sister recently met just such a fate, genuine madness, and leave it at that, shall we," he said through taut lips.
"Yes, indeed," she agreed readily enough.
Once again she stared at him, wondering at all the tide pools, currents and eddies below the surface of Clifford's urbane facade. He had always seemed so cool, in control, aloof. Now she could see all of his passion: it was pure rage against injustice.
He had come to her rescue like...
Like a golden knight, she thought, her stomach lurching into her mouth at the recollection of the dream that morning, the mysterious lady in blue.
"Thank you, Clifford. For being such a staunch friend. I don't know what I would do if--"
"So long as you know, my dear," he said, kissing her hand tenderly, "that I am always at your service. But that in no circumstances do I wish for mere gratitude from you. Do you understand? I will defend you for all harm, but I don't want you to marry me just because you're frightened or feel you have no other choice. Or that it's the least terrible choice from a whole host of awful options."
"No, never," she protested sincerely. She squeezed his hand hard to reinforce her words, and leaded forward in her chair until their knees touched. "I do want to marry you, I think. As a woman wants a man," she added shyly.
Her head tilted to one side to receive his kiss, but before their lips could meet, the doctor cleared his throat loudly.
"Er, steady on, you two," the doctor interrupted, blushing. "Vanessa has had a great deal of upset. I think she needs to get back to bed. Alone."