“That’s true—” Max began.
Emmaline interrupted. “But it isn’t the whole story.”
“Maximillian!”
Damn it, his father was in no mood to be fobbed off. “Yes, Father?”
The man’s eyes narrowed, and he abruptly pulled out his handkerchief. Then he closed the distance to his son in two long strides and firmly brushed it across Max’s jaw. The white linen came back bloodied.
The duke looked at Emma. “Sack his valet immediately.”
“Yes, Father.”
It would do no good to argue that it hadn’t been Moore’s fault. By his father’s estimation, any valet who allowed his master to appear in public in anything less than perfection was a man who didn’t deserve the position.
Fortunately, Emma saw Max give a slight shake no. She knew not to obey the command. In fact, she would likely whisper to Moore to keep out of sight for a while.
“A disgrace. An absolute disgrace,” their father muttered, referring to Max and not his poor valet.
Max responded as he always did. He grinned and gave yet another jaunty gesture that covered the wince. “Right-o,” he said, sounding more like an idiot the longer his father glowered at him. “The library.”
He spun on his heel and walked at a speed his father would not match. The man was as hale as a horse, but he believed in a decorous pace no matter what the situation. That allowed Max a moment to enter the library, scan the four Watchmen who waited for him, and address the one who appeared to be in charge.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am sorry you must deal with this ghastly business, but I’m sure it can be handled quickly if we all work together.”
“Oh, yes, milord,” the man said with a slight bow. “I’m Sergeant Berry and I’ve already seen to the bulk of it. If you could recount what happened, we’ll get this wrapped up.”
Max nodded. He took a moment to lean back against his father’s ponderous desk and feign an insouciance that he didn’t feel. He was well aware of his father’s dark glower as the duke entered the room. Max summarized his day in short, clipped sentences, skipping over his engagement, leaping to Miss Wong’s recovery upstairs, and focusing on the mandarin’s brutality.
“I’ve seen ’er feet, my lord,” the sergeant agreed with a sad shake of his head. “And there were plenty of witnesses to say that he had a knife to her throat. It’s self-defense to be sure. I’m afraid I can’t keep it out of the paper, but there’ll be no trouble from us.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve given your butler the name of someone who can help with the body, my lord—”
Right. Max fought the shudder that went through his body. “Good thinking, Sergeant.”
“And if I may, there’s a home for young ladies that might have room for her. Madame Sabate runs a private rooming house—”
“Madame Sabate?” Max interrupted, his voice growing colder as his blood heated. He knew of the infamous courtesan and guessed exactly what the true purpose of her home for young ladies was: a training ground for new courtesans. Indeed, Yihui’s exotic looks would garner a pretty penny from lustful aristocrats who wanted to try an out of the ordinary kind of girl.
“Yes, my lord. She runs—”
“I know who she is and what she runs,” Max snapped.
But the damned man would not back down. “It’s the best future for her, my lord, assuming she survives. She’ll make good money if she’s trained right.”
Max wanted to toss the man bodily from the house, so furious was he at the suggestion. But a future duke couldn’t be seen throwing the Watch out of the house. That would add fuel to the gossip flame. So instead, he focused his mind on the other thing the man had said.
“What do you mean, ‘Assuming she survives?’”
“Oh well, my lord, I was upstairs when…” The man fumbled with his notebook as if he’d written something in it. “Well, I heard the doctor and the surgeon conferring. Lady Kimberly as well.”
“Conferring about Miss Wong?”
“Yes, my lord. She’s got a fever, growing worse by the second. And those feet…” He shook his head. “Well, it seems to me that it might be best if she passes. And if she doesn’t, then what’s she to do with those feet? Madame Sabate can train—”
“You will not mention that woman again,” Max said, his voice a low growl.
