Page 123 of Doxy for the Ton
“Don’t play games and don’t make promises you cannot keep,” Alexander said.
“Are you calling me a coward?”
“You’ve earned that title through your actions,” Alexander said. “Only a coward would try to take a woman unwilling.”
“No whore is unwilling.” Mayhew cast a look of contempt at Mimi. “I trust you got your money’s worth, Sawbridge. My father certainly did.”
Alexander turned to Mimi, and she lowered her gaze, unable to witness his condemnation.
“I’ll never blame Mimi for what she had to do to survive, Mayhew,” he said.
“She didn’t merely survive, Sawbridge—shethrived,” Mayhew said. “After fellating my father, she would beg for my cock if it earned her a little extra cash.”
“Why, youfilth!” Alexander raised his fist and smashed it into Mayhew’s face. The earl staggered back, his nose twisted at an unnatural angle, his face smeared red.
“Bastard! You’ve broken my nose!”
“I’ll break a damn sight more than that,” Alexander said, advancing on him again.
“Stop!” Mimi cried. “Please!”
He paused, fists raised, and turned toward her. “Surely you’re not wanting to protect this…creature?”
“No, but I would protect you. Alexander, you’re the better man. You—”
“Alexander, is it?” Mayhew sneered, his voice muffled as he held his hands to his nose. “Such an intimate address. She called meRalphearlier, you know—just before she parted her thighs.”
Alexander grasped his lapels again.
“Don’t you care that your whore is being shared about London?” Mayhew said, his voice tight with fear.
Alexander shook his head. “I care nothing for what you say, Mayhew—a sniveling creature preying on those he deems weaker than him. Men like you are ten a penny.”
“As are women likeher.”
Mimi flinched at the hatred in Mayhew’s voice.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Alexander said. “But you’re too foolish to understand.”
“And you’re—” Mayhew began, but he broke off as Alexander shook him.
“I have no wish to listen to you anymore.”
Alexander marched Mayhew out of the parlor, ignoring the other man’s protests, and their raised voices and footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Then the main doors opened and shut with a crash, followed by silence, save for Mimi’s own ragged breathing.
She struggled to her feet, her face throbbing, then limped over to the window, where she caught sight of Mayhew disappearing round a corner at the end of the street.
She heard Charles’s voice followed by a sharp command, then footsteps approached.
“Mimi?”
She turned to see Alexander standing in the doorway, staring at her.
She awaited his condemnation, but saw only compassion in his eyes. He moved toward her and enveloped her in his arms. She stiffened, but he held her tenderly until she relaxed against him. Then he lifted his hand to guide her head onto his shoulder and caressed her hair.
“My poor love,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Wh-what he said, I…”
