Page 75 of The Countess Caper

“I’ve never met the man in my life,” she replied, which was not an answer at all.

“I never did like him,” Lady Kensington said.

“Then why was he in our house?” her husband asked.

“He wasn’t actually invited. My cousin’s friend brought him. She thought he might be a suitable match.” She set her jaw. “Obviously not.” She winced in Tessa’s direction. “Do you need a doctor? How frightened you must have been.”

She would have been terrified, surely. It iced his blood.

“It’s nothing,” Tessa assured the marchioness. “A scratch.”

Someone growled. Roarke only realized it was him when everyone turned to look at him.

“Goodness,” Lady Kensington said, fanning herself again.

“Stop it.” Her husband pinched her bottom. She jumped, laughing. “What do we know of this blackguard?”

“He’s only just recently come into his title.”

“Oh, I remember now. His brother was an absolute nightmare of a man. Both brutish and very high in the instep.”

“He was. And his wife was more than half his age, of course. Pretty, with brown curls, if I recall. She was cheerful but also oddly morbid. There’s talk she was carrying the heir.”

Roarke’s gaze slammed into Tessa.

There was no pretending now. A better, more accurate description of Holly could not be had. Holly, also known as Henrietta, Lady Beville.

“She had not been seen since his death. There are rumors, of course. There are always rumors. The current Lord Beville gets testy when it’s brought up.” Lady Kensington crossed her arms. “He’d lose everything then, wouldn’t he? His title, his wealth. It could not happen to a more deserving man. I believe I shall dedicate myself to that end.”

“Please don’t,” Tessa said quietly. “Men like that shouldn’t be underestimated.”

She spoke from experience. She knew that fear. He wanted to chase Beville down the lane and break more of his bones.

“I’ll take care of it,” Roarke promised.

“You… don’t have to.”

He stared at her. “You’re my wife.” More than that, she was Tessa.

“But you wanted someone more…” She hesitated, aware they had an audience. “Someone less troublesome.”

“I like your trouble just fine.” Every word was true. He had promised himself he would keep his distance. That he would never dim her light. But the world was threatening to do just that. And so much worse.

They’d go through him first.

“Never mind,” Lady Kensington said cheerfully. “Between the two of you, you’ve quite made sure this will be the most talked about event of the Season.”

“Lord Duncastle will be green with envy.” Lord Kensington stopped just short of rubbing his palms together with glee. “He was so smug after he had those doves released inside his ballroom.”

“I don’t see why.” Lady Kensington wrinkled her nose. “It was spectacularly messy.”

“Still, let’s see him top this.”

Tessa smiled at Roarke. “I like your friends.”

He snorted. “You would. Mad, the lot of you.”

Chapter Twenty-One