Page 57 of The Moonstone Marquess
“A reliable source.”
Cormac itched to hit this dolt again. “Obviously not reliable. You might have killed innocent people in your outburst. And do not be so stupid as to challenge me to a duel. Even with one arm, I could easily best you. All that would do is make you dead.”
“But my wife—”
“Drinks too much and has shockingly loose morals, but she is quite fond of her status and has no intention of ending your farce of a marriage. No, Lord Rothmere. You are stuck with her until you take your last breath.”
“Really, Burness,” the countess said. “Must you be so crude?”
“I am being the soul of reason. By all rights, your husband should be dead. No one walks into my house and points a pistol at my guests or staff without risking his own life. Your husband is alive now only because I am feeling magnanimous. Rest assured, if he ever thinks to draw a weapon in my home again, I shall shoot him between the eyes. Now, Lord Rothmere, answer my question. Who is your so-called reliable source?”
“I cannot tell you now. You might harm the lady.”
“Obviously, anyone malicious enough to spread such rot is no lady. You need say no more. I know who you think you are protecting. Lady Seline, of course. She and I have a combative past, although it is beyond me why she should choose to malign me now.”
“Indeed,” Lady Rothmere said. “She dumped you years ago.”
Ah, yes.
How politely she put it.
“A word of caution, Rothmere,” Cormac continued. “You are better off keeping your distance from that viper. I can assure you, she did not care which of us would be hurt because of her lies. She is a nasty, spiteful thing who is happiest when hurting others.”
“She does have it in for you,” Lord Crawford acknowledged. “Does she not, Harding? We saw her recently at Lord Forster’s ball and overheard her referring to you as a… Well, it was not a nice thing she called you.”
Cormac tried to keep his temper in check, but he knew what Seline thought of him. “A grotesque cripple.”
Crawford sighed. “Yes.”
Was it not enough she had publicly ended their liaison after Cormac had lost his arm? Not only ended it, but went out of her way to humiliate him at the time. Apparently, she was not through with him yet.
However, he could not fathom the reason to resurrect their past, since she was now married to the Earl of Whitford and had done quite well for herself.
Of course, there was no marital bliss between the lady and her husband. Cormac knew she was already having affairs.
Had she also grown bored of the trail of men entering and leaving her boudoir?
Phoebe had the right of it, insisting on nothing less than true love.
The lot standing before him were so utterly pathetic. Their wealth and titles could not stave off their misery. Lord Crawford must have been thinking the same thing, for he turned to his friends. “I believe it is time for all of you to return to London. Lord Rothmere, take your wife home. But do me the favor of seeing Viscountess Hopewell safely delivered to her home as well.”
“What about me?” Lord Harding asked.
“Lord Rothmere can drop you off at the Crawford townhouse. It is unoccupied at present, but fully staffed. You may stay there until I return. I’ll be there in about a week.” Lord Crawford turned to Cormac with a shrug. “I thought at the time my sisters would stay with me, so I kept the servants on. But they did not wish to remain beyond my brother’s funeral. They prefer the countryside to London.”
“Perhaps you ought to visit them there to make certain they are all right.” Cormac arched an eyebrow. “Your estate is not far from London. You are earl, and it is important for them to know they can rely on you whether you are near or far from them.”
Lord Crawford laughed. “Is that your polite way of kicking me out, too?”
“No, Richard. I will not make you leave. I made a promise to your brother to look after you and will hold to it.”
Lord Harding shook his head. “You are the most honorable cad I know, Burness. I’m sorry if we gave you a hard time. You do have an awful reputation, you know.”
“I know, but that is all in the past.”
Lord Rothmere looked on in alarm as Cormac’s footmen returned with ropes. “No need for that, Burness. I see now that it was an honest mistake. No hard feelings, old boy.”
“None at all, Rothmere.” Cormac turned to his footmen. “Tie him up. You will forgive me if I make certain you do not cause more harm. No hard feelings,old boy.”
