Page 94 of A Scandalous Bargain
Dearborn flushed. “Of course, my apologies.” He gestured to the older man, who was closest to Thomas. “This is Mr. Woodward and that is Mr. Mercer.” Mercer was younger than Woodward and altogether more intimidating. He was shorter, but he was stocky, with a thick neck and a head like a block. Thomas wondered if he could be knocked down and doubted it very much.
“You want my entire household assembled? Minus my daughter and her nurse. I won’t have my daughter subjected to any of this.”
“We would like to speak with the nurse as well,” Dearborn said.
“Then you’ll have to allow me to go up and be with my daughter while that happens.”
Dearborn looked to Woodward, who gave a slight nod. “That is acceptable.”
Without a word, Thomas turned and went into the entry hall, where Baines stood stiff and straight. “My lord?”
“Assemble the household. Here. I’ll send Miss Addy down.”
Woodward had followed Thomas into the hall. “Lord Rockbourne, perhaps this doesn’t need to be said, but I would be remiss if I did not make it clear that you are not to leave the house.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Thomas said with more sarcasm than was probably smart. He was too angry to censor himself completely.
He only hoped he was able to keep his temper under control. Now was not the time for whatever parts he possessed of his father to emerge.
