Page 122 of Doxy for the Ton
“Not so fast, my lovely Jemima,” he said, thrusting his face close. “I can take over the lease of this house. I’m prepared to be generous—you’re a friend of the family, after all. The pater always did say you were a bloody good fuck.”
“How can you say such things?” Mimi said. “Your father would never have said—”
“Oh, but hedid, my dear. He and I used to laugh about it—about how he couldn’t bear to look at your whining, cajoling face, so he’d prefer to rut you from behind, like the bitch you are.”
She recoiled with revulsion. “You’re vile!” she cried. “You never deserved to have Walter as a father. He was a good, kind man. I’m only glad that he never knew—”
“Knew what? What a filthy slut you’ve turned out to be? Spreading your legs for every man in Town? Well, it’s time I tookmyturn. I’m prepared to pay, or”—his face twisted with lust—“perhaps I should just take what I’m owed.”
“I owe you nothing!”
“I disagree, my dear.”
He moved closer. She retreated until she felt the parlor wall against her back.
“You bled my father dry when you whored yourself out,” he said. “All those pretty trinkets he gave you, bought with my inheritance. So youoweme, woman. Now’s the time to collect.”
He grasped her arms and pulled her against him. His hardness poked against her stomach, and she let out a cry and tried to break free.
“That’s it, my filly,” he rasped. “I relish a struggle—it makes the conquest all the sweeter.”
“Ralph, let me go!”
“Oh,Ralph, is it?” he said. “Such intimacy stirs my blood. Soon you’ll be screaming my name as I rut you.”
She struggled, but he tightened his grip and forced his mouth over hers. She tried to twist her head free, but he fisted a hand in her hair, then yanked her head back.
The world shifted out of focus as Mimi fought for breath against his thick, savage tongue. Then she bit down, hard, and rammed her knee into his groin.
“Bitch!” he cried, stumbling back, then he backhanded her across the face.
Pain exploded in her cheek and she staggered back with the force of the blow. With the metallic taste of blood on her lips, she crumpled to the floor, turning her ankle as she fell.
“Filthy whore!” he snarled. “You’ll pay for that.”
He stood over her and began to unbutton his breeches. She kicked out, but he dodged the blow.
“Think carefully, madam, before you deny me,” he said, brandishing his cane. She tried to stand, but her ankle gave way. She reached out to defend herself as he advanced on her, and she braced herself for the blow.
The door burst open and a primal roar, the bellow of a savage beast, filled the air. Mimi’s assailant was pulled back and propelled across the room. She winced at the sound of splintering wood, and lifted her head to see him lying on top of what was once a side table, which now lay in pieces.
“Leave her alone, Mayhew, you blackguard!”
Alexander stood over the earl, his face scarlet with fury. He picked up the cane, and Mimi flinched as he raised it. Then he brought it down on his knee, where it snapped in two, then tossed the pieces at the man he’d vanquished.
“S-Sawbridge!” Mayhew panted. “I say, old chap, there’s been a misunderstanding. I was only taking what was on offer.”
Alexander grasped Mayhew’s lapels and pulled him upright as if he weighed no more than a child.
“You werewhat?”
“Be reasonable, man!” Mayhew said, laughing, though fear glistened in his eyes. “A whore will spread her legs for any man if the price is high enough. Perhaps you’re not paying her as much as my father did.”
Mimi suppressed a cry of shame as Alexander glanced toward her, raising his eyebrows. Then he resumed his attention on Mayhew and bared his teeth.
“Lay one finger on her, Mayhew, and I’ll end you!” he snarled. Then he released the earl and pushed him back, wiping his hands on his jacket.
“I’d like to see you try, Sawbridge,” Mayhew said.
