God, but he hated bullies.
And this from a brother? For all the conflict and fights he’d had with his own siblings, he’d never dream of attacking one of them so personally. Cutting with the razor’s edge of disdain.
He wanted to go to her, comfort her.
Pummel the brother, whichever one it was, who dared to speak to her so. Shane most likely, given what he’d heard from her before and seen with his own eyes. But she was doing just fine on her own, he heard. Delivering a set down so cool, it should have had the man at his knees. He could hear the shock in Shane’s voice, then the pleading.
Bravo, lass.
She’d come into her own.
His job was done. But he wasn’t done with her. Not by a long shot.
Banks indicated that James should follow him. On the way up the stairs, he saw Shane burst from one of the rooms and begin a sulking descent toward him. James slowed as Shane did when he neared, Shane glowering at him hatefully. James’s glare was none too friendly either.
“You take advantage of my sister and I’ll kill you,” he hissed, coming to a halt halfway down the stairs. “You hear me?”
“My intentions are entirely honorable,” James replied smoothly. “I mean to marry her.”
Shane’s laughter was harsh and mocking. “Right. Have you got her believing that as well?” He nudged James’s shoulder much as Leachman had done at the Harkness Ball.
“Do not,” James cautioned, standing firm, his voice tight with anger. “You will not like where it leads.”
The butler’s steps had lagged. He paused midpoint of the stairs, clearly wondering what to do.
“You think you can best me?”
“You are brimming with bravado, aren’t you?” James sneered, knocking his arm away. “If your sister doesn’t see a profound apology for the rudeness I overheard by morning, I can assure you, we’ll find out.”
“How about right now?”
James’s hands fisted tightly. It would be his sincere pleasure to go a round or two with Shane Aston and show him how to back up a threat.
The butler paused at the top of the stairs, wringing his hands worriedly. He feared a fight in his home. James didn’t blame him. One was brewing, but then Prim stepped out into the hall behind Banks, and some of James’s anger slipped away.
“As much as I would like to accommodate you, I must decline,” he snarled. “For some reason I cannot fathom, your sister loves you. I wouldn’t like to upset her by putting you in the hospital.”
Though if he found out Shane spoke to Prim like that again, all the sibling love in the world wouldn’t stop him.
“I’d heard you were an unbelievable bastard.”
“Nay, I’m a dangerous bastard,” James promised vehemently. “And believe me, I’d enjoy thrashing you soundly for all the misery you’ve brought Prim.”
Shane laughed again, hurrying down the stairs. “I’d enjoy thrashing you just for the hell of it.”
* * *
Prim heard the threat and saw the fury on James’s face. Feral and chilling. She feared there’d be blood spilt for sure. Then he’d looked up at her, his expression softening. She couldn’t make out the words that followed but for her brother’s parting remark.
What a hothead he’d become.
James climbed the remainder of the stairs, his eyes never leaving her face. Finally he reached her, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw gently. Then to her surprise, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight.
“Are you all right?”
She was now.
Prim nodded mutely against his chest. Yes, she was. In that moment, in his strong arms, all was right in the world.
