Page 81 of The Theory of Earls (The Beautiful Barringtons 1)

“Do not,” she said in a serious tone, “mock me.”

His eyes glittered in the light of the chandeliers. “I would not dare to do so, Lady Welles. At the moment, you’re rather frightening. Do you require my assistance?” He looked over her head at Winthrop, who was wheezing behind her.

“No. I’m doing quite well on my own, thank you. But Iamready to return home, my lord. Will you be staying to escort Lady Isley?”

Welles frowned. “I will be leaving withyou.” Taking her gently by the shoulders, he positioned Margaret behind him. “Stay put,” he said for her ears alone. “Good evening, Winthrop. Is there something you’d like to say tomywife? If there is, pray continue.”

Winthrop shifted back and forth, drawing attention to his choice of footwear this evening. Brown satin with gold buckles and a tiny bit of a heel.

Margaret cringed just looking at him. Now that Welles was here, her anger was rapidly being replaced by mortification at the scene she’d caused. The entire gambling floor had heard her threaten Lady Isley.

“I was not compensated nearly enough,” Winthrop sputtered.

Margaret’s hand tightened on the back of Welles’s coat.Compensated?

“Indeed? My solicitors made an error? Or are you inferring I’ve been dishonest with you?

“Of course not.” Winthrop paled, craning his neck around, suddenly aware he had become the center of attention in a most unpleasant way. “But—”

“I understand. You had a verbal agreement with Lady Dobson to marry her niece. You’ve missed out on her very substantial dowry.” The low rumble of his voice became dangerously polite with a distinct chill.

“There was acontract.” Winthrop looked down at his ridiculous shoes, then back to Welles, his face ugly.

“Which you neglected to sign because you took issue with some of the wording, I believe.” Welles gave a graceful flick of his wrist.

“I had agreed.” He pointed a finger at Margaret. “She agreed.”

“Yes, I believe Lady Welles puked out her response to your proposal.”

Laughter burst from the surrounding crowd.

Winthrop’s jaw tightened. “I want what is due to me for her loss.”

“Whatyouare due?” Margaret hissed from behind Welles before his arm snaked around to squeeze her hip, asking her to be silent.

“Iwiped your debt clean at Elysium, Lord Winthrop, and settled a sum on you for any misunderstanding that you were to wed,” he paused, “my wife.” His deep baritone went frosty, his body beneath Margaret’s fingertips taut.

Welles took a step in Winthrop’s direction. “If I didn’t know better, Winthrop, I would think you were accusing me ofcheatingyou.”

The tables around them had quieted.Allof Elysium had quieted. Peckam and several of Leo’s runners circled them.

Winthrop turned a horrific shade of purple. “No, my lord.”

For the first time, Margaret caught a glimpse of the power Welles wielded within theton. He was already every inch the duke he would one day be.

“I thought not. You’ve misunderstood. Let me make things clear to you. I’d hate for you to go running about making such outlandish claims again.” Welles crooked a finger in Winthrop’s direction, a cold smile on his lips.

Winthrop swallowed and leaned in.

“I knowexactlywhat Walter Lainscott bequeathed to his only child.Everypenny you and that conniving harpy thought to take from her. You’d already contacted several businessmen to sell her shares of the mines, a bit prematurely, I might add.”

Margaret pressed her forehead into Welles’s back, inhaling sharply. My God, was there no end to her aunt’s deviousness?

Winthrop’s cheeks puffed out alarmingly. “It was perfectly acceptable, my lord. A wife’s assets belong to her husband.”

“Walter Lainscott didn’t think so.” Welles took a step back and pulled Margaret beneath the security of his arm. “Do noteverapproach my wife again or I will take it as a sign you wish to settle the dispute in another way. One which you will like less. Do you understand?”

Winthrop was pale and sweaty, the strands of his hair sticking to his forehead. “I do.”

Welles smiled brilliantly. “I bid you a good night, Lord Winthrop.” His voice boomed across the gambling floor, as he gave an almost imperceptible nod to Peckam.

“I’ll have Mr. Peckam show you to your carriage, Winthrop. Consider your membership at Elysium to bepermanentlyrevoked.”

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