Time enough to take care of this, if they were quick.
“Mr. MacPherson, might I have a private word?”
MacPherson blinked several times in rapid succession, no doubt wondering at the request. “I suppose so.” He hesitated, then followed Eli in search of a more secluded location.
They walked down a hall, where several ladies clustered before the door to what must be their powder room, so Eli turned off to an adjacent space that stood empty for the moment. It was intendedas a retiring room, perhaps, for there were refreshments on a sideboard, but no servant manned the place yet. It would do. He motioned for MacPherson to follow him, while Hal stood guard outside.
Eli came straight to the point.
“You said something unkind about my sister.”
“Who?” MacPherson’s face screwed up in confusion. “I’m sure there’s been a mistake. I don’t even know your sister.”
“Miss Hannah Williams. Dark hair, seventeen, about so tall.” He raised a hand to the level of his nose. “She was wearing a pink gown with a lot of flounces on opening day of the races. You didn’t think it flattering.”
“Oh.” MacPherson had the decency to look abashed, his eyes dropping to some spot on the floor. “Listen, I’m terribly sorry if I gave offense, old boy. I didn’t expect her to hear me.”
“I’m not your old boy. We don’t even know each other, nor do I care to.”
This brought the man’s eyes sharply back up. “Pardon me?”
“You aren’t pardoned. Not yet, at least.”
MacPherson looked about the room as if he expected to find someone to stand witness to this rudeness. “Now, see here,” he said. “It was just a little joke, that’s all. It’s most unfortunate she got offended, but I didn’tintendany harm. We’ve all gotten on a lady’s bad side at some point, hmm?”
“I’m quite sure I’ve never been deliberately cruel.”
MacPherson barked out an incredulous laugh that ended as abruptly as it started. The silence that followed grew very uncomfortable. “This is absurd. I’ve already said I’m sorry for it. There’s nothing else I can do.”
“Yes, there is.” Eli leaned in a bit, waiting until MacPherson squirmed in his tailcoats.
“Will you be satisfied if I make my apologies to your sister?” His manner indicated that this would be a great imposition, and that he thought quite well of himself for suggesting it.
“No. I don’t think she’d want to see you. I will only be satisfied if you retire for the evening, so that she can enjoy the rest of the ball without being reminded of you.”
That Eli would also enjoy getting the man away from Jane was a happy accident.
“What?” MacPherson scoffed. “This is the biggest night of Ascot. The evening’s only just started.”
“Then you’ll easily be able to find some other party to attend,” Eli said smoothly. “Oh, and one more thing. Stay away from Miss Bishop, as well.”
“What has she to do with any of this?” MacPherson shook his head in disbelief. “She’s a friend. I haven’t insulted her.”
“She’s a friend of my sister’s. I’m sure she’d want nothing to do with you if I repeated your words, though I’d prefer to simply let the matter drop. Which I’m willing to do if you leave now and avoid both ladies in future. Those are my terms.”
MacPherson seemed to have lost the power of speech. His mouth worked silently, as though he still couldn’t quite believe Eli’s gall. Perhaps he should give the man a bit of time to stew.
Besides, he didn’t want to miss his dance with Jane.
“I’m going back outside,” Eli said. “I’ll expect you gone within ten minutes.”
He turned his back on his enemy, but MacPherson hadn’t finished after all. He clapped Eli on the shoulder, holding him firm. “Wait just a minute, you—”
He never got the chance to finish. Before he was even fully aware of his own actions, Eli had shoved him into the wall and braced his forearm across the man’s shoulder, pinning him in place. They stayedlike that, MacPherson’s eyes rolling wildly from side to side, while Eli’s heart hammered in his chest.
“Williams.” Hal was at his side, his tone sharp enough to cut through the pounding in Eli’s ears.
What was he doing?
