Page 73 of The Theory of Earls
“Which you neglected to sign because you took issue with some of the wording, I believe.” Welles gave a graceful flick of his wrist.
“I had agreed.” He pointed a finger at Margaret. “She agreed.”
“Yes, I believe Lady Welles puked out her response to your proposal.”
Laughter burst from the surrounding crowd.
Winthrop’s jaw tightened. “I want what is due to me for her loss.”
“Whatyouare due?” Margaret hissed from behind Welles before his arm snaked around to squeeze her hip, asking her to be silent.
“Iwiped your debt clean at Elysium, Lord Winthrop, and settled a sum on you for any misunderstanding that you were to wed,” he paused, “my wife.” His deep baritone went frosty, his body beneath Margaret’s fingertips taut.
Welles took a step in Winthrop’s direction. “If I didn’t know better, Winthrop, I would think you were accusing me ofcheatingyou.”
The tables around them had quieted.Allof Elysium had quieted. Peckam and several of Leo’s runners circled them.
Winthrop turned a horrific shade of purple. “No, my lord.”
For the first time, Margaret caught a glimpse of the power Welles wielded within theton. He was already every inch the duke he would one day be.
“I thought not. You’ve misunderstood. Let me make things clear to you. I’d hate for you to go running about making such outlandish claims again.” Welles crooked a finger in Winthrop’s direction, a cold smile on his lips.
Winthrop swallowed and leaned in.
“I knowexactlywhat Walter Lainscott bequeathed to his only child.Everypenny you and that conniving harpy thought to take from her. You’d already contacted several businessmen to sell her shares of the mines, a bit prematurely, I might add.”
Margaret pressed her forehead into Welles’s back, inhaling sharply. My God, was there no end to her aunt’s deviousness?
Winthrop’s cheeks puffed out alarmingly. “It was perfectly acceptable, my lord. A wife’s assets belong to her husband.”
“Walter Lainscott didn’t think so.” Welles took a step back and pulled Margaret beneath the security of his arm. “Do noteverapproach my wife again or I will take it as a sign you wish to settle the dispute in another way. One which you will like less. Do you understand?”
Winthrop was pale and sweaty, the strands of his hair sticking to his forehead. “I do.”
Welles smiled brilliantly. “I bid you a good night, Lord Winthrop.” His voice boomed across the gambling floor, as he gave an almost imperceptible nod to Peckam.
“I’ll have Mr. Peckam show you to your carriage, Winthrop. Consider your membership at Elysium to bepermanentlyrevoked.”
38
“Maggie.”
Her gaze was fixed on the street outside the carriage window after having wedged herself into the corner to avoid touching him. Once he’d ushered her through the remainder of the gaming tables and out to the private garden, Maggie had shaken off his hand before climbing inside and settling herself against the leather with a puff of distress.
“Maggie,” he said softly. “Please talk to me.” Her declaration over engaging Lady Isley in fisticuffs explained why she’d left Georgina at the faro table. His wife had seen Lady Isley’s attempts at seduction and immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Annoyance flared. Why would she assume such a thing?
Why would she not?
“You will eventually need to speak to me, if only so that you can instruct me to position my tongue correctly or—”
One small, slender hand slapped sharply against the seat. “I amnotin the mood for your blatant sexual innuendo. It ceases to amuse me. I have several things to ask you about Winthrop but first, let us discuss Lady Isley.”
“Of course.” He tried to take her hand and she twisted her fingers away.
“I saw you on the landing.”
