Page 23 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
“She is a friend, as we have established.”
“Then I should hate to see anything befall her,” Lord Rowntree purred.
The air between them suddenly grew very still. “What did you say?”
“I believe you heard me, Lord Gillett.”
“You will not harm her. She has nothing to do with any of this.” Jasper gritted his teeth. “I barely have anything to do with this. I am simply an accessory to whatever the Earl may need.”
“You are right, I will not harm her… as long as the task is carried out, as I have requested,” Lord Rowntree replied. “I put it to you, as the Earl’s accessory, to make him see how serious the matter is. If I do not hear from him by tomorrow afternoon, there shall be consequences.”
“Leave Lady Adelaide out of this.”
Lord Rowntree smirked. “Again, I shall, as long as the task is carried out as I have requested. You forget, Lord Gillett, I did not force the Earl into this. He came to me. He assured me I could rely upon him. If anything should happen to his daughter, it will be entirely his fault.”
Jasper balled his hands into fists. “Leave her out of it.”
“Do as I have asked you, and I will. Allyouneed to do is pass on a message. Surely, that is not beyond your capabilities?”
“If you harm her in any way, I will—”
“You will do nothing, Lord Gillett. Do you think other men have not threatened me before? Do you think you are the first to find himself irked by my actions?” He chuckled coldly. “It does not change the fact that I am untouchable. The King himself could not rid England of me.”
Jasper glowered at the villainous cretin. “Your arrogance will be your downfall.”
“If that is so, hope your friend is around to see such a victory.”
Before Jasper knew what was happening, Lord Rowntree whipped a blade from within his coat and sliced it across Jasper’s cheek. It did not cut too deep, but the sting of it pulsed down the side of his face. A split-second later, something slow and warm trickled across his skin. He lifted his hand to try and stem the blood, grimacing as his palm came away with a faint smear of scarlet.
Jasper opened his mouth to speak, but Lord Rowntree silenced him with a warning look. “So the Earl knows I am serious,” was all he said, as he turned and stalked away into the shadows of Chelsea embankment.
Chapter 9
Adelaide knew she couldn’t delay Leah any longer. There had been some tension when she sent Leah away the other day, amidst her turmoil over Reuben, but her mind had been too preoccupied to give it much thought. Now, feeling much calmer after her discussion with the Dowager, she felt ready to fulfil her promise to Jasper to make amends on his behalf. If only Leah would listen.
“I do not understand why you have asked me here, when you sent me away so callously,” Leah muttered. They sat opposite one another in the drawing room of the Colborne’s townhouse.
“I had much to contemplate,” Adelaide replied evenly.
“Your concerns over the Duke have been resolved, have they not?”
She nodded. “They have.”
“So, there was no need for such a gross overreaction?”
“At the time, I felt there was.” Adelaide struggled not to rise to the sudden influx of annoyance.
What right do you have to tell me how I should and should not feel? What right do you have to dictate my emotions on the matter? Would you not also have reacted as I did, if put in the same situation?Adelaide did not breathe a word of her true thoughts. Jasper needed her to remain calm.
“Well, I knew your business with the Duke would be ironed out in due course. Everyone did,” Leah said icily. “His nature is common knowledge. I do not know why you were so surprised by his errant ways. Surely, you ought to know the kind of man you are marrying?”
“I do.”
She waved a hand in Adelaide’s direction. “Still, you should not have cast your friends aside in such a cruel manner. You may find yourself quite alone if you continue to do so. I might have offered counsel, had you allowed me to stay.” She pouted. “I still have not recovered that shawl of mine, and it is dearly beloved.”
“I have asked Louise to look for it,” Adelaide assured. Louise was one of the housemaids. A sweet girl with a pleasant temperament, whose mother had worked for the Colbornes before her.
“And has she found it?”
