Page 50 of The Scoundrel and the Lady

“Iris,” he said.

She shook her head. “Merritt, I am a sinking ship, as it were.” Anger marked each word. “You and Lucy would be better off distancing yourselves from me so that my impending scandal won’t tarnish either of you. For Lucy’s sake.”

She was bold and defiant, but he could see the fear simmering beneath all her bluster. He would not insult her and offer sympathy—she’d see it as nothing more than pity. She was a stubborn one, he’d give her that. Foolish, but oh so stubborn. This wasn’t the end of this discussion, but he’d leave it alone for now.

“You will let me know if you reconsider?” he asked.

“Good-bye, Merritt.” She turned away from him, then, facing the window, and he was forced to walk away.

Merritt had set up a meeting with the blackmailer to hand over the demanded funds. He figured one of two things would happen: either the blackmailer himself would be foolish enough to come, thus revealing his identity, or he’d send a proxy that Merritt would follow. Either way, he was determined to uncover the man’s identity.

Merritt was willing to pay to protect Iris’s reputation, but he also needed to know who this blackguard was so that he could end this now. He wouldn’t stand for continued requests for money to keep a secret that might not matter after Iris was safely his wife. Of course, she’d thus far refused to see reason and agree to marry him.

She wanted love. He wouldn’t promise that. Couldn’t promise that. He’d tried love, once upon a time. He’d given his heart away and proposed, and he’d been rejected. Cruelly so. All because he had been a merchant’s son. He hadn’t yet become earl at the time and no one knew that was even a possibility. And his heart’s desire had cried false tears, saying that she loved him, too, but that she had to marry another.

As it was, he stood on the corner of the busy street and the alley where he’d hidden the envelope. He was determined to see whoever came to pick up the money. At the approximate time, a boy with tattered clothes and dirt-smudged skin crept in and went immediately to the designated spot.

Merritt waited a couple of minutes until the boy was nearly out of sight before he moved to follow. They wound through the back streets, and then the boy stopped and gave out a loud whistle. A man stepped out of a door and into the alleyway.

Damnation!

It was Nickerson. Iris’s own brother.

Merritt waited until Jasper handed the boy some coins and sent him off before he approached.

“What the devil do you think you’re doing?” Merritt asked.

Jasper turned to face him, his eyes wide with fear. “What do you mean?”

“You would risk your own sister’s reputation? Blackmail me?” Merritt closed the distance between them and slammed Jasper up against the side of the building. “She’s your sister!”

“I knew you would pay.”

“Do you not realize everything she’s done for you? All the sacrifices she’s made?” Anger surged through Merritt, and he knew if he wasn’t careful, he’d lose control. If he hurt Jasper, Iris would never forgive him. Still, he kept his elbow up against Jasper’s throat, holding him in place.

“I wouldn’t have actually told anyone. I do love her.” He winced. “She did this to herself, though. Anyone else could have recognized her. What was she doing dressing as a man in the first place?”

“That is none of your concern.” Merritt pulled his arm back and punched Jasper right in the face.

Jasper reached up and cupped his face, howling in pain. “You broke my nose, you son of bitch,” he whined.

“Nothing less than you deserve.”

“I’ll tell Iris what you did.”

“Go ahead. And then I’ll tell her what you did.” Merritt took a breath to slow his increasing heart rate.

Jasper held up a hand in retreat.

“Why did you do this?” Merritt asked.

He wiped at the blood dripping from his nose. “I needed the money.”

“Let me guess…a gambling debt?”

“I couldn’t ask Iris for any more funds.”

“How many debts of yours has she paid?” Merritt asked.

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