Page 71 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

Owen moved back around through the woods and returned to the path, heading along it until he came across Hurley.

“Lord Hurley, are you all right?” he asked innocently, doing his best to keep the smirk off his face.

“Quite fine, Danbury,” the viscount managed to get out. “Just taking a little breather.”

“You were out cutting flowers with Miss Goulding, I believe. For the vase which you’d won,” he said. “I passed Miss Goulding on the path a few moments ago. She seemed a bit out of sorts.”

“She is a vicious cunt,” Hurley spat out.

The man barely got the words out of his mouth when Owen’s fist slammed into Hurley’s nose. Blood spurted, staining the viscount’s shirt.

Owen looked down to the ground, where Hurley now lay cradling his bollocks in one hand and his nose in the other.

“I suggest you never utter those words again about Miss Goulding—or any other lady of theton,”he suggested. “Else I will thrash you within an inch of your life.”

“We are military men and should stand together, Danbury. How dare you take that little trollop’s side?” fumed Hurley.

He kicked the fool in the ribs, as hard as he could, and hoped a few of them broke.

Hurley gasped, tears springing to his eyes.

“You were a military man, by God,” Owen roared. “You know how to behave as an honorable gentleman. Instead, you have chosen to be a vile, despicable oaf. I suggest you pack your things at once and leave.” Owen glared at the man he had once thought would make for a good husband. “If you see me at an event during the Season, never speak to me, Hurley. And if you dare speak to Miss Goulding, I will publicly cut out your tongue.”

Owen strode away, shaking with anger. He would have preferred beating the man but refused to go to Louisa with bruised knuckles. In fact, he didn’t even want her to know that he had witnessed what had occurred between her and the viscount. Louisa had grown in confidence and he didn’t want it shaken.

Returning to his room, he stripped off his clothes and rang for Strunk and hot water for a bath. He sat in the tub until the water had grown tepid, allowing the burn of his temper to cool. His valet dressed Owen for dinner and he returned to the drawing room, hoping a stiff brandy would do him a world of good.

*

Louisa did notsay a single word as Tilly helped her dress for dinner. She was still shaken by what had happened with Lord Hurley and dreaded seeing him again this evening.

She had no idea how to avoid the man for the next week or more. It would be obvious to the others if she did not speak to him at all. Yet how could she after his atrocious behavior? She wondered if she should leave the house party and avoid any further contact with Lord Hurley. It would defeat the purpose of the gathering—that she was to have a chance to make a match. It would disappoint Adalyn terribly.

She didn’t think the connection she had formed with Lord Boxling was strong enough to survive until next spring when the Season began. If she left now, she could see him just as easily pursuing one of the other four unattached females at the party.

What should she do?

She decided to talk it over with Tessa. Adalyn was much too fiery and would probably go and punch Lord Hurley for his ungentlemanly behavior under her roof—or send Everett to do so. Tessa was more a voice of reason and calm and Louisa trusted she could obtain good advice from her cousin.

She thanked Tilly and dismissed the servant, then thought better of it.

“Tilly, would you please go to Lady Middlefield now and ask her to meet me in Her Grace’s sitting room as soon as possible?”

Tilly nodded. “Of course, Miss Goulding. I will do so at once.”

Louisa left her bedchamber and went downstairs to Adalyn’s sitting room, finding it empty as she had expected. She didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, Tessa flew into the room, concern written on her face.

She came straight to Louisa, who stood looking out the French doors, and embraced her. Louisa teared up, her emotions frayed.

Tessa pulled back, taking Louisa’s hands in hers. “Tilly said you were out of sorts. What has happened? Has Owen done something to upset you?”

“No, it isn’t Owen. It is Lord Hurley. You know we went to walk the gardens and cut flowers for my new vase.”

Tessa squeezed Louisa’s hands and said, “Yes. Did he behave in an untoward manner to you?” she asked gently.

Louisa’s eyes welled with tears and she nodded.

“Come and sit and tell me about it,” her cousin said.

---