Page 436 of From Rakes to Riches

Mr. Bannaster opened the door to an inner office. “We’re worried Norton might know about the merger.”

Everyone filed into the other office and closed the door. Victoria found a chair in the corner near the main door and sat down to wait.

It wasn’t long before she heard voices out in the corridor. Bored, she leaned her head against the wall, and the words became clearer.

“How dare you follow me to the office!”

She would recognize that indignant voice anywhere—Mr. Perry, who’d sounded just like that when he’d stormed out of her dinner party.

The other man was a stranger. “Ye’re takin’ his threats too lightly, mate. He doesn’t want ye throwin’ in your shares with Southern. He’ll offer ye more.”

“I would never do business with such an underhanded scoundrel. Imagine threatening a man’s daughter!”

Did he mean Prudence? Victoria sat up straighter. She wanted to alert David, but she was afraid to miss something important.

“It’s not a threat, mate. She’s a pretty piece, your daughter. I can make sure no good man’ll have her.”

“She’s well-guarded—you won’t get near her. Now take your cowardly threats and leave!”

The door slammed open, narrowly missing Victoria in the corner. Mr. Perry marched across the room and disappeared into the office. She held her breath. Had the criminal gone?

“Well guarded, is she?” said a low voice just outside the door. “What a nice challenge.”

Victoria remained unmoving until she heard the front door slam at the end of the corridor. Then she ran across the room and threw open the door to the inner office.

“Mr. Perry!” she cried.

They all turned to look at her.

“I overheard that man after you left. He said it was a nice challenge that you’d left your daughter well-guarded.”

David said, “Victoria, what are you talking about?”

But Mr. Perry clutched the back of a chair and swayed. “I’ve got to go, my lord. I didn’t want to tell you—I thought I could handle it myself, but—Norton has threatened to compromise my daughter if I don’t sell to him.”

And then he was running past Victoria, breathing heavily.

“Wait, we’ll take my carriage!” David followed him.

Victoria and the rest of the directors trailed behind. As she came outside, by gas lamp she watched Mr. Perry mount his horse.

“Your carriage will take too long, Thurlow. I can’t wait!”

Men scattered looking for their horses and carriages. Victoria lifted her skirts and ran after David, who lifted her by the waist into the carriage.

“To Perry’s!” he shouted up at his coachman. He got in beside her and slammed the door shut. “You know I would have left you there if I thought it was safe.”

“I know, but I must come. Prudence might need me.”

By the time the caravan arrived at Mr. Perry’s town house, there was already a brawl outside the gates, and a steady rain had begun to fall. Underneath a gas lamp, two hulking guards—obviously hired by Mr. Perry—watched in bemusement, and Victoria realized it was Mr. Perry fighting the henchman himself. Why had he not allowed the guards to help him?

He was far too old for such an endeavor, and it was obvious he would soon lose by the way he staggered back from a particularly nasty blow.

David jumped down from the carriage. “That’s enough!”

Leaning even farther out the door, Victoria winced as David caught the henchman around the neck. The henchman struggled violently, until David spun him around and punched him hard in the stomach. With a groan, he collapsed to his knees.

“Let’s go find Norton,” David said, dragging the henchman back to his feet. “Who’s got a horse we can tie him to?”

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