“You’ve no say in the matter, Lord Dymond. I keep telling you, I’m Apple’s guardian.”
“A pretty sort of guardian to be selling the girl off to your partner only to get your hands on her trust!”
Sarcasm was rife in Alex’s tone, and Apple saw how both her cousins reddened. Her satisfaction was short-lived, for his words unleashed Marjorie’s fury.
“And what if he did? It’s his due as John’s heir. Salting away his substance into a trust for his daughter when the business is suffering? How selfish can a man be?”
“That’s right,” came in a whine from Walter that set Apple’s teeth on edge. “He’s done me out of what’s mine, and I’ll be satisfied if I die in the attempt.”
“Suggest you order a coffin then, for you won’t be satisfied by way of Apple’s trust.”
Contempt rode Alex’s tone, but it had little effect on her cousins beyond angering Walter even more.
“Because you’ve chosen to take her part? It won’t fadge, sir. You’ve no rights in the matter.”
“Neither have you.”
Walter’s cheeks suffused. “What the devil do you mean?”
“Go and see Vergette. He’ll set you right about your rights.”
Apple watched her cousin’s jaw working. He looked uncertain and no wonder. What had Mr Vergette told Alex? In all the hubbub, she’d forgotten where he’d been all this time.
Marjorie had been silent, but she rallied. Arms akimbo, she confronted Alex. “Do you think you’ve got the edge of us, Lord Dymond? You’ll learn to know me better.”
“My God, I hope not! Know as much of you as I care to already.”
Apple stifled a giggle and could not withstand a glance at Georgy, who had plonked down onto her chaise longue, watching the batting back and forth between the combatants as if she were watching them play at shuttlecock and battledore.
“Your insolence passes all bounds, sir!”
“Indeed, Mr Greenaway? More bounds than you barging into my sister’s house and badgering her? Could have you arrested for disturbing the peace or something.”
Marjorie snorted. “Rubbish! The only person here who is liable to arrest is you, Lord Dymond. It’s all very well to scoff, but I reckon it would be a task beyond even your powers to persuade a magistrate that an innocent girl forced you to do her bidding at gunpoint.”
“He has no need to persuade anyone,” seethed Apple, “for it is the exact truth and so I would tell him, if you do try to haul Alex up before a magistrate.”
“You won’t get the chance, child. Locked up for your own good and protection is what you’ll be.”
“Yes, that is just what I’d expect from you, Marjorie. Do you think I’ll tamely submit to such treatment?”
A laugh at her back made her whirl to face Alex.
He grinned at her. “You said she don’t know you.”
Her lips quivered, but she eyed him in some doubt. “Yet I’d best go with them, I think.”
“Apple, you can’t,” shrieked Georgy.
A crease appeared between his brows. “These are empty threats, Apple. No need to trouble your head about me.”
“If she comes home, Lord Dymond, there won’t be any threat to you,” said Marjorie in a voice dripping with false sweetness.
“That’s right,” said Walter, adding his mite. “We only came to fetch Apple back where she belongs.”
Apple’s heart sank. The last thing she wished to do was return her person into the hands of her cousins. But she’d rather do that than put Alex at risk. The realisation caused an odd flutter in her bosom, but she had no time to explore what it might mean.
Wholly ignoring the Greenaways, Alex’s gaze remained on hers, the frown now reflected in his eyes. “Don’t let them manipulate you, Apple. Nothing they can do to me. Or, if it comes to that, to you.”
