Basil whispered, “Let us hear what is being said.”
The snake’s voice wafted on the air like a vile smell. “Lady Sinclair, I wish to press my suit for your hand in marriage. I believe we can come to a satisfying arrangement that will be of benefit to both of us. I have already taken the liberty of speaking with Mrs. Dove-Lyon, and she offered no protest. She has left the matter to you to decide.”
“Mr. Hammond, do you think that accosting me in a hallway is the way to win my hand?”
“Let us not play innocent, Lady Sinclair. I have not come to you without sufficient knowledge of your position. The rumor mill is filled with innuendos that your reputation is not lily white. A marriage to me would erase the tarnish and restore your good name. We would both benefit from this union.”
Edwina’s laughter filled the air. “Do you think I give a farthing what the gossipmongers say?”
While Lex admired her strength and ability to stand up for herself, he was like a pot about to boil, the steam of anger about to explode the lid off his restraint.
“Let me be perfectly clear, Mr. Hammond,” Edwina spat, “you and I will never marry. You represent everything I abhor. I know what you’re about. You are a parasite that lives off the blood of others. Go back to the table and set your sights on another lady, God help her.Your pursuit of me is a waste of your time. Our conversation has, as the French say,suivre son cours.”
Lex could not have been more delighted. Edwina’s response succinctly put the weasel in his place. The woman was a model of fortitude and strength, a tigress who would not be brought to heel.
“I promise you, Lady Sinclair, you will regret your rejection of my generous offer. I will not stand by and bear this insult. You will see I am not a man to be trifled with.”
Lex had heard enough. “And what will you do, Mr. Hammond?” he said, surging around the corner. He spoke in a calm but threatening voice that cut through the air like a knife. “The lady could not be clearer in her wishes with regards to you and your proposal.”
“This is not over,” Hammond sneered. He nodded to Edwina and turned on his heel, walking away. No one moved as they listened until his footsteps faded into silence.
Lex wanted to follow him, but Basil, sensing his barely leashed fury, stayed his hand. Lex gave a brief nod to his friend and turned to Edwina. “Are you all right, Lady Sinclair?”
“Yes, quite all right,” she said with a smile that wobbled a little. “But I thank you for coming to my assistance. However, I would very much like to share a few words with you in private, Lord Capel.” She looked at Basil beseechingly.
He smiled and nodded. “Although I would love to be a fly on the wall, I will gladly await your return. Lex and I will safely escort you back to the festivities and silence any wagging tongues. Feel free to have your moment, m’lady.” Basil bowed, turning to stand guard.
Surprisingly, Edwina grabbed Lex’s hand and drew him through a closed door. A fire blazed in the hearth, and candles cast golden shadows on the walls. Lex assumed this was one of the storied rooms where assignations took place that Basil had mentioned. A plush cushioned sofa in front of the fireplace beckoned, and Edwina released Lex’s hand and settled herself.
“Please join me.” She patted the seat beside her. Lex’s heart drummed in his chest as he wondered what Edwina wished to say to him. He prayed that she would not dismiss him as she had Hammond, but he would abide by whatever decision she made.
Winnie’s heart waspounding like she were an animal caught in a trap. The uncomfortable encounter with Hammond had made her want to flee the Lyon’s Den and confront her grandmother for forcing her to attend Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s dinner soiree. The cur had stood so close that she could smell the wine on his breath. He’d imbibed a great deal at dinner and had almost leered at her as he pressed his suit in the dimly lit hallway. She could hardly bear to think about what might have occurred had Lord Capel and the marquess not arrived in time.
She knew it was a brazen act to be alone with the earl without supervision, but she didn’t care. She trusted him—and, dear Lord, now that he’d rescued her from a compromising situation, she was even more attracted to him. If that was at all possible.
When he sat next to her, all she wanted was to surrender to his arms and feel his lips pressed on hers. Before speaking, she tried to organize her thoughts and was grateful when the earl spoke first.
“Edwina—may I call you by your given name?”
She nodded, feeling suddenly shy after inviting him to sit down next to her.
“And to hear my name on your lips would please me immensely,” he added. “Please, call me Lex.”
“Very well, Lex,” she said softly.
He heaved a heavy sigh, and Winnie wondered what he was about to say, because his handsome face had taken a serious cast.
“Edwina, when I saw that Hammond had cornered you, it was all I could do not to grab him by the throat and toss him out. Your strength in standing up to him was commendable, but I must warn you, Hammond is not an honorable man, and you must stay as far away from him as possible.
“Hammond is a slumlord. He represents the worst of our kind. In Parliament, I am an outspoken opponent of the wretched conditions that exist in the rookeries. It is one of my goals to help improve the lives of the inhabitants of these hells on Earth and give them hope for the future by tearing down the slums that teem with crime and hopelessness and rebuilding them. And to bring men like Hammond to their knees.”
Winnie gasped at his words. She could not believe her ears. Her heart burst with joy at Lex’s revelation. How was it possible that he shared the same desire to eradicate the shameful tenements and provide nurturing for the poor souls that struggled to survive in an indifferent world, a world that turned a blind eye to their plight?
Shame and guilt filled her heart at the thought that she had robbed this benevolent man.I will make it up to him and his friend Marquess du Priest.
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you speak of this in a way that completely matches my sympathies. I know you won’t believe this, but I, too, have found my purpose as an advocate for the disenfranchised. When my father’s baronetcy legally passes to me, I have every intention of helping those who seek a better life. It is truly a miracle to learn that we are so alike in our ambitions.” Edwina took his hand in hers and felt the blush fill her cheeks.
Lex’s eyes reflected his wonder at her confession. “What you have revealed is more than I could have wished for. I never dreamed I might find a woman so perfectly suited to me. That we have found each other is truly a miracle. I am a bit confused, however, as to why you requested a private audience when we could have discussed this ina quiet corner of the dining room. Although I am glad for Basil’s standing guard, you take a great risk being alone with me here.”
