“Or what?”
Greywood’s words were a sneer, as he stepped closer to Marco, clearly spoiling for a fight.
“Now, now, gentlemen. Let’s try to keep things civil, shall we? Otherwise this house party might become quite tiresome long before its end.”
Lord Bellingham’s voice quavered a bit, as if he was pleading with the men to keep cool heads, rather than demanding that they behave as guests should in his home.
Marco was willing to cede to the host’s request, turning his back on Lord Greywood and preparing to go and light a cigar, hoping that it would calm his nerves.
“Coward.”
Greywood spat the challenge at Marco’s retreating back. The Count whirled around, surging back to where Greywood stood.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me, Lord D’Asti, but I’ll say it again. You’re a coward, and that’s the most complimentary name I can think to call you. You’re a self-centred, penniless, gold-digging, spineless cad. Not only did you attempt to use the rumours and gossip you sneer at now to force an advantageous marriage with Lady Seabury, but I think that you’re also doing the same thing with Lady Eugenia and Lady Catherine now, courting both in a desperate bid to save your own skin, and caring nothing for the consequences of toying with both their affections. They are both far too good for the likes of you. Why, for all we know, you might have suppliedThe Society Reporterwith the gossip about Lady Eugenia in the hope that you might be able to leverage those rumours, too.”
“That’s a lie!”
Marco raised his fists, ready to beat Lord Greywood to a pulp, despite the fact that he could see Lord Seabury standing behind Greywood, shaking his head. Seabury’s expression was a silent plea to Marco.Don’t lose your temper, my friend.
As Lord Greywood raised his fists, as well, Lord Seabury forcibly inserted himself between them, putting a hand on each of their chests and pushing them apart. He held them at arms’ length, and glanced back and forth between them. First, he glared at Marco and spoke.
“You need to get a grip on your temper, my friend. This gentleman is obviously trying to goad you. Why rise to the occasion? You’re better than this, D’Asti.” Then, Seabury turned his admonishing gaze on Lord Greywood and spoke to him. “Lord D’Asti apologised to my wife, and she accepted his apology. D’Asti clearly made a mistake, yes, but that mistake has been forgiven. All that mess is behind us now, and we are all good friends despite our rocky start. I do not appreciate you dredging up matters which are better left alone and forgotten.”
Lord Greywood jerked out of Seabury’s grasp and took a half-step away from him, sneering at Seabury’s attempt to defuse the situation.
“How lovely that must be for the lot of you, but not everyone forgives so easily, Seabury.”
With that, Lord Greywood turned on his heel and stormed out of the billiards room.
“Well… that was certainly the most interesting start to a house party that I’ve ever been privy to.” Lord Seabury murmured, giving Marco an awkward pat on the back in a valiant butultimately unsuccessful attempt to soothe him. “But let us hope that the worst is over now.”
Marco shivered and shook his head. If tonight was anything to judge by, Lord Greywood’s troublemaking was far from over. Even worse, Lord Rosebury had watched the entire exchange with keen interest, and his expression was one of barely contained glee. Despite Lord Seabury’s attempts to be positive and reassuring, every instinct Marco possessed screamed that their troubles were only just beginning.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dinner had been tolerable,if bland, and now, in the main parlour, Eugenia pressed her cards against her chest and looked across the table at Susan. They were paired with each other against Lady Henrietta and Lady Catherine for a game of Whist. Where they would normally have chattered incessantly, both Eugenia and Susan remained quiet, outside of talk directly related to the game at hand. For Eugenia’s part, she was afraid that she might say the wrong thing and offend the ladies they were playing against, but she suspected that Susan’s quietude stemmed from a feeling of awkwardness at being grouped with Lady Henrietta after the drama at Lady Mowbray’s St. Valentine’s Day Ball. Neither one treated the other with open enmity, but the atmosphere at the table held a certain chill, nonetheless.
Eugenia darted a glance to her left, studying Lady Catherine’s thoughtful expression. She and Lady Henrietta had taken several tricks already, and were well on their way to beating Susan and Eugenia quite soundly when Lady Henrietta cleared her throat.
“Lady Eugenia?”
The redhead’s voice was soft and tentative, and Eugenia thought that she might have detected a bit of a tremble in it.
Eugenia lifted her eyes from the cards in her hand to meet Lady Henrietta’s gaze.
“Yes?”
“I… well, I just wanted to say thank you for being so kind when Percy and I arrived this afternoon. After my hideous behaviour this past February, I was not expecting a warm welcome from anyone, especially not—”
Whatever she had been about to say, Lady Henrietta cut herself off and blushed. Eugenia knew what she meant, though.
Especially not a friend of Lady Seabury’s.
Eugenia reached over and patted Lady Henrietta’s hand.
“Everyone makes mistakes, as I know all too well. Personally, I don’t believe it’s fair to punish anyone for the way they behaved during what may have been a distressing time for them.”
