Page 41 of The Countess Caper

“That’s not what they said in the village,” he said. He reeked of cologne, and it made her nose itch. “They said you’ve got more women than is proper living up here, and too many in the family way.”

Mrs. Harris. Damn the woman.

“My cousin just had her baby, it’s true,” Tessa said. “But she’s a war widow and a vicar’s daughter. You’ve been misinformed.” She took a few steps to the left, out of the way of the chandelier, in case someone came along to release it. “There is no Lady Beville here, I assure you.”

“I am Lord Beville, and I would advise you not to cross me.”

Tessa drew herself up. “And I am Lady Dartmoor,” she said sharply. “And this is my house. Get out.”

“A countess?” he scoffed. “Living in this heap? Where’s your bloody earl, then?”

Oh, how she wished for her dagger. A fireplace poker. A knitting needle.

“See, I don’t care if you’re married to the king’s own cousin. I’m not leaving without my brother’s heir.”

He was here not just for Holly, but for her baby in particular.

Not encouraging.

The next in line for the earldom, the only one who stood between Lord Beville and a considerable inheritance. It was not hard to see that he was not here to inquire about her health.

Like hell.

There was a quiet tap behind her.

Tessa took another step to the left.

The chandelier swung down like a battering ram, knocking one of Lord Beville’s bruisers arse over tea kettle. He groaned and did not get up.

A victory.

Exceedingly short-lived.

Lord Beville was faster than she would have thought. By the time his bruiser hit the ground, he had already seized Tessa. And placed his knife to her throat.

She froze.

“I’ll gut you like a fish,” Rue bit out, the rope of the chandelier still in her hand.

“Not before I do her considerable damage,” Lord Beville snapped. “I don’t want any of you harridans. I only want Henrietta.”

“I already told you,” Tessa said, trying not to swallow. The blade was already too close. “She’s not here. You have the wrong house.”

“And I already told you, I don’t believe you. You’re clearly hiding something.” He shook his head, and Tessa tensed. She couldn’t guess how much control he had over the dagger. “I came just in time. Clearly she is not safe here. So, we’re going to search this house, you and I,” he said, pressing tighter to her neck. She felt the bite of the blade, the tiny, searing trickle of blood.

His other arm was banded so tight across Tessa’s midsection that she could only take shallow breaths. She could only hope that the bruiser had shouted loudly enough when he was hit by the chandelier to alert the others. Surely Holly had had time to hide away.

“You keep your eye on the other one here,” Lord Beville ordered his second man.

But Rue was already gone.

Tessa would have smirked if she hadn’t been afraid it might result in considerable damage to her throat.

“Goddamn it,” Lord Beville said. “Never mind. Move. Now.”

“You’re making a mistake,” Tessa said.

“Shut up.” The blade bit again, just a bit. He forced her through the lower-level parlors, sniffing at the state of the house. “You’re no countess.”