Blessed saints.
Would this woman never leave? She stood before him with a condescending smirk on her face. “What a happy little scene,” she tossed out with a bitter laugh.
None of Fiona’s other guests were laughing now, for they understood the seriousness of Cherish’s situation.
He spared a glance at Cherish, who was still steaming over her uncle’s behavior and probably had not heard Lady Albin’s snide remark because she was too busy threatening to ram a broomstick up his arse, though she used a more polite word to describe Northam’s rear.
And now she was threatening to turn him into a turnip and bury him in a turnip patch. “And do not think the Northam Hall servants will ever allow you to beat me or lock me away. They will leap to my defense.”
Gawain would talk to her later. He was glad she had the spine to hold her ground with her uncle, and perhaps he hadunderestimated her resolve. Or overestimated the threat behind her uncle’s bluster. That Cherish did not appear afraid of his physical threats probably meant he had not struck her before. But that did not mean she was safe from a beating. There was always a first time.
Right now, he meant to remain an impenetrable barrier between these two Northams. Why was the vile earl here? What was really going on that he had to tear home a week early and drag his niece away from Fiona’s party?
As the oaf spouted more threats against Cherish, Gawain knew what he had to do. She was no prisoner, nor would she ever be any man’s drudge. She could not remain under that man’s roof a single night longer.
Cherish must have decided this same thing, for she took a deep breath and then tried to speak over her uncle’s ranting. “Stop shouting at me. You can scream until you are blue in the face, but I am never going back with you.”
“Think again, you useless, deceitful chit!”
“Whatever I must face next, it shall be better than spending another moment under your roof. Get out of this house and never come near me again. The next time you approach me, I shall shoot you.”
“With what, you stupid girl?”
“With the weapon I shall personally hand her,” Gawain said, seriously tempted to withdraw his pistol at this very moment and aim it at Northam’s gut. But he did not wish to escalate this matter, so he made no move to reach into the boot where he kept the weapon holstered. “You heard the lady. She told you to get out. If you refuse, I will toss you out myself.”
“And he has the muscle to do it, too,” Cherish interjected with an air of satisfaction.
“Where will you go, Cherish?” her uncle said. “Into this man’s arms? Has he already had you?”
“This man?” She gasped and skittered forward once more, too irate to keep a safe distance from this oaf.
Gawain drew her back to keep her out of her uncle’s reach. Gad, these Northams did not take kindly to orders.
She cast him a look of irritation before addressing her uncle. “Do you not know who he is? This is the Duke of Bromleigh.Theduke. And you were foolish enough to insult him and then try to strike him.”
“What do I care, you insolent girl? I demand you come back with me now. How else are you to keep a respectable roof over your head? Or have you already decided to go with the duke and become his mistress? How long do you think it will take him to tire of you and leave you destitute? Will you slink back to Lady Shoreham then? And hope she will take a ruined girl like you on as her scullery maid, for that is all you will be good for?”
“Enough, Northam,” Gawain said, knowing it was long past time to take proper charge. He ought to have hauled the bounder out immediately and kicked him into the mud. But Cherish had needed to confront him, as misguided as her reasoning was.
Well, she had told him off sufficiently, and nothing more needed to be said.
He stared down the unpleasant man. “You have now insulted your niece, Lady Shoreham, and myself. It is time for you to go. Lady Cherish will not be returning with you, just so we are clear about this.”
“Then I shall be clear about my position as well. If she defies me, I shall not allow her back into my home to retrieve any of her belongings, not even a single stitch of clothing. What do you say to that?”
“Lady Shoreham will help her out with any clothes she needs. So will I, if it becomes necessary. It is pocket change for me.”
Cherish frowned at him. He ignored her. He knew she had pride and would not sponge off her best friend beyond accepting a gown or two, but that was irrelevant at the moment.
Nor would she take so much as a ha’penny from him. Also irrelevant at the moment.
He meant to marry her and make her his duchess.
She tipped her chin in the air. “I shall find myself arespectableposition as companion or governess. I am not afraid to work, nor am I so deluded as to believe His Grace will rush forward and offer something beyond a new wardrobe, which I will refuse from him because it is unseemly for a bachelor to offer such a thing to me. He is a Silver Duke. They do not marry.”
Gawain frowned. “Cherish—”
“Please, Your Grace. I know you cannot offer me anything more. I will manage on my own.”
