Tugging at his cufflink, Grimes spoke, every hint of his street-born accent non-existent. He spoke like any lord. “It has come to my attention that this bye-blow has rejected your more than generous proposal. Ordinarily, matters between you lot do not pique my interests, but I know there is an innocent lady in the middle, andthatstirred me to act.”
With a hand pressed to her breast, Alice shot a look at him and back to the two. Edward knew he had to take control of this before it got out of hand. “This is not the place to talk business. Please, follow me to my study.”
Grimes’ gaze landed on Alice for a long assessing moment and his lips curved knowingly before he nodded, and they stepped away. Turning to her, Edward said, “Get your sister and ask Ramsay to take you to my study.”
She tightened her lips, “I’d rather her not see this.”
“Then come by yourself,” he spoke over his shoulder. “But do not dally too long.”
Closing the door behind him, Edward looked at Grimes. “I never imagined you would come to see me. I thought prolonged exposure to the Upper Ten made you break out in rashes.”
“At times, ‘spose,” Grimes grunted. His well-tailored ball suit was as well as any Edward would have had made for himself. “I may control cutthroats and blackguards by the dozens and a criminal underworld that stretches from here to the Indies, and while I have whorehouses, not once have I ever had innocent women be pressed into the service.
“I abhor men who take advantage of women who do not know any better, and when word got back to me that this bastard had done something I have gutted men for less, I knew I had to intervene,” Grimes muttered. “I may be the king of blackguards, but there are some crimes I will not abide by.”
A discreet knock on the door drew all their attention as Alice stepped into the room, her gaze firm and wary. “My lords.”
If he knew Ramsay, there would be a maid waiting for Alice when she did leave.
Grimes pivoted; his head inclined with respect. “Ah, and you must be the fearless Alice Winslow, Miss Penelope’s sister.”
“I am,” she replied. “And may I know who you are, Sir?”
“You may not,” he said easily. “All you need to know is that I am an acquaintance of these two and even more, I have managed to get Rutledge to do right by your sister. From this point, he will offer your sister marriage and they will stay married for over a year.”
“Or?”
“I’ll have his guts for garters.”
“I see,” she murmured, then rounded to face Rutledge, unfazed by Grimes’ jarring words. He sat still when she drew her hand back and cracked him right across the face. His head snapped to the left and Grimes laughed as the slap echoed in the room. “Thatis for the heartache you have given my sister. She does not deserve you.”
Rounding his desk, Edward extended his hand to Grimes. “I underestimated you.”
“Most of your lot does,” Grimes huffed, his shake as firm as any businessman. “This particular situation upsets me for it is not too dissimilar from what my sister had to endure. I have no love for predators like these. Now, I must depart, but I hope you have things in hand.”
“I do,” Edward replied. “Thank you.”
“And Valhaven, do not go into Spitalfields with that fancy carriage of yours again,” Grimes remarked. “The mere gold leaf on your door is enough temptation for a pickpocket, much less an armed cutthroat.”
“Noted,” Edward nodded as the man walked out the door. He then turned to Rutledge, “And as for you, you will go downstairs, dance twice with Miss Penelope, share a drink, and then leave. If you do not show up at her door tomorrow afternoon for tea and your marriage proposal, I know who to send word to.”
With a muscle jumping in his jaw, Rutledge jerked his head and turned to the door.
The moment the door closed behind him, Alice’s shoulders fell. “That man is not… a good man, is he?”
“In many ways, no, but in the ways that count, I would say yes,” Edward replied as he leaned back on the edge of his desk. “But at least that is handled. I’d say our business is concluded.”
Her lips twisted and her brows lowered as if to say,I am not so sure,but instead, she said, “The business I paid you for by a single kiss.”
“The same,” he smirked wolfishly. “I would nary complain if you decided to thank me in the same manner.”
Laughing, Alice wrapped her arms around her middle. “When you asked me what it would take to let go of my control, I had never considered such a thing before. I suppose I don’t have an answer for it to be entirely truthful.”
“Come here.” Edward opened his stance. When she hesitated, he pinned her with a strict look. “I don’t bite, Alice.”
“No, you do worse,” she retorted, stubbornly staying in the same place. “Youseduce.”
“Is that a bad thing when both parties want it?” he reasoned with her. “And I know you want my touch, Alice. You cannot hide the signs even as best you try.”
