Page 51 of The Masked Baron
“Can’t he give up his money instead?” Andalin asked. The faces of Saber and Lily came to her mind. “Yes, make him build a school for the poor in Corbridge and pay a teacher’s salary. You can do whatever you want if you hear he has gone back on his word.”
Ellis did not speak right away. “Very well. The lady’s terms will stand. Corbridge is too small of a place for you to hide, and if you go back on your word tonight and seek out Miss Durante again, then it won’t be just your arms you will be missing.”
Mr. Crow nodded again and again. He backed away slowly until he was five feet from Ellis and then turned and ran.
“Coward,” Lord Kerrigan muttered. He released Andalin. She stood there, unsure of what to do. She stared at Ellis as he came to her. She was half-surprised, half-not when he put his arms gently around her. She flung herself at him, and her whole body started shaking.
“There, there,” Ellis said, rubbing her back comfortingly. “It’s just the shock. You will be well in a moment.”
“You were going to cut off his arms!” Andalin accused, refusing to enjoy the proximity or Ellis’s gentle touch.
“No, I was not.” Ellis chuckled.
Andalin turned her head upward. “You weren’t?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t want to dirty my sword on the blood of such a waste of a man.”
Andalin felt her trembling slowly disperse. “That is a relief.”
Ellis released her but kept her tucked under his arm. “I think you’ve had enough entertainment for one night.”
Andalin turned to see Katrina clinging to the arm of her husband, and Lord Kerrigan looking extremely amused.
“You were a little slow in turning up, don’t you think?” Lord Kerrigan pointed at Ellis.
“You weren’t worried, were you?” Ellis countered.
“I do not know about the rest of you,” Katrina said, putting her hands on her hips, “but I certainly was!”
“The important thing is no one was hurt,” Mr. Trenton said.
“Oh!” Katrina suddenly turned to Andalin. “You haven’t been introduced to my husband.”
“Yes, we forgot that little detail,” Lord Kerrigan added. “This is Mr. Trenton. Trenton, meet Lord Cadogen’s ward, Miss Durante.”
Andalin curtsied politely, and Mr. Trenton bowed his head in return. There was respect in his eyes, in all of their eyes. She had passed an unspoken test, it appeared, and she felt for the first time like a gentle-bred lady.
Mr. Trenton cleared his throat. “Now that we’re friends, maybe someone would explain what this was about.”
Lord Kerrigan straightened his dress coat. “You sure picked a devil of a man for an enemy, Miss Durante.”
Andalin owed them an explanation after the trouble she’d caused. “Mr. Crow is from Corbridge. With his newest business acquisition, he came into a great deal of money. I had no idea his circle of acquaintances extended this far, but I am not surprised. He can be very intimidating when he wants to be.”
Ellis nodded like he understood her meaning. “I think we can all imagine why he was after you.”
Andalin shivered. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would be able to find me.”
“I doubt he’ll receive many more invitations in Society,” Lord Kerrigan remarked. “Such behavior won’t go unnoticed. It smears the hosts’ reputations right along with the rabble-rouser.”
“Will that happen here?” Andalin asked carefully. She couldn’t bear the thought of dragging anyone else into this mess.
Lord Kerrigan shook his head. “It takes more than a scuffle to damage the reputation of a viscount. Our host tonight is a good friend of mine, and he can be very understanding. Others, though, will be on their guard where Mr. Crow is concerned.”
“Thank you. I apologize for everything.” Andalin’s head was starting to hurt. She lifted her hand to her temple.
Ellis wrapped her hand around his arm. “If you are in agreement, I think we should return you to the Whites’.”
Andalin focused on the warmth from Ellis’s arm and his hand on hers. She was grateful for his understanding. “Yes, please. I couldn’t go back to the ball. And, really, all this excitement has worn me out.”
