“Any leads on the blighter who jumped you in the park last night?” Chaswick leaned back, chewing on a cigar.
“He wasn’t a member of any of the gangs.” Blackheart leaned casually against the wall. “Not according to my sources. Just as Mantis suspected, the man wasn’t after blunt.”
“Which gives one cause to consider… closer threats.” Greys, of whom he’d told Felicity’s suspicions earlier, tossed in his bet and met Mantis’ stare from across the table.
“You can cross my father off that list,” Mantis insisted and then grudgingly explained to the others that the woman he was going to marry suspected his own father of trying to kill him.
And how was it that he could be angry with her and miss her at the same time?
He could marry her by special license, but once married, would she and their child be in danger as well then? If this was about his father’s title… it might.
Best all-around to simply catch whoever was behind this.
“Why the rush? Why not postpone the wedding until after you resolve this situation?” Westerley asked.
Of course, that would be Westerley’s inclination. He was an expert at postponing Felicity Brightley’s needs—he had put them off for years, in fact.
For which Mantis was eternally grateful.
“We are not in the position to postpone it,” he said.
Westerley stared over his cards with narrowed eyes.
“Did you—”
“No. She considered herself betrothed to you. She fully intended to fulfill her obligations.”
Felicity’s former betrothed lay his cards face down and cracked the joints in one of his fingers. After cracking a second knuckle, he shook his head.
“I realize it’s none of my business, but do you love her?”
Hell and damnation. Lying to his and Felicity’s parents about it was one thing… to his friends, quite another.
The image of her sweet face floated through his mind, along with the memory of whispered secret passions. Of walking in the garden with her, driving in the park, and even sitting beside her in her mother’s drawing room.
Damn his eyes. He’d likely been at least a little in love with her for years but hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge it.
“I do.”
Another cracking sound. “I had hoped your countess would have put an end to such a deplorable habit.” Greys never failed to take Westerley to task for this.
“She loves me just the way I am.” Westerley winked but then grew serious again. “Lady Felicity feels the same?” Westerley seemed stunned by the possibility—the cocky jackanapes.
“Did you think she’d pine for you forever?” Westerley had made quite certain that Felicity was no business of his. Mantis leaned forward. One more word and he would—
“We need to set a trap.” Chaswick, always the peacekeeper, changed the topic of conversation. Disputes amongst them were generally limited to bets and wagers. They’d never had cause to fight over a woman before.
“Mantis is safe residing here.” It was Spencer who began outlining a plan. “But don’t go out without one of us, or one of Blackheart’s men. Your assailant will make another move, and we’ll nab him.”
Mantis nodded. He was more than capable of defending himself, and he hated that he would be depending on others.
But there wasn’t much he could do to stave off a bullet.
Mantis nodded. Yes. The plan wasn’t all that original, but it was better than to wait around like a sitting duck.
Because if he wasn’t alive, he couldn’t protect Felicity.
Red Roses and Chocolates
