This time, I cannot fail.
“I’m coming with you,” Maggie declared.
He stared at her. Was she mad? After she’d nearly beenrapedbecause of him?
“You most definitely are not,” he said, jaw clenched.
“I’ve helped you find the clues and solve them.” The mutinous angle of her chin looked familiar; he’d seen it on Glory a number of times. “You need me.”
“I need youalive,” he bit out. “Devil take it, Maggie, I will not countenance you risking your neck to save mine. I am not worth it. You will bloody well stay here where you’re safe.” For good measure, he said in ducal tones, “That is final.”
He might as well have spoken in the tones of a chimney sweep for all that it impressed Maggie.
“What makes you think I am safe here?” She marched over to him. “Garrity’s men came tomy cottageto find you, remember? Garrity knows of our connection. Perhaps that other cutthroat you owe…”
“Sweeney,” Newton supplied.
Bloody traitor, Rhys thought darkly.
“…Sweeney does too. What’s to stop either of them from sending more men to my cottage? While you’re off gallivanting in London,”—she poked him in the chest—“I’ll be here like a sitting duck.”
The truth of her words sunk into him like a blade. He tried to staunch the bleeding.
“Your brother will keep you safe,” he said curtly.
“How’s he supposed to keep me safe from a gang of professional cutthroats?” she demanded. “Besides, you know my brothers cannot be relied upon. They’re Goodes. The only reason Jeremy showed up when he did was because Delilah kicked him out, and he needed a place to stay.”
“Those are the thanks I get?” Jeremy said through a mouthful of cake. “Should’ve let your toff get pummeled into the ground.”
“I was not getting pummeled.” Rhys narrowed his eyes at Jeremy. “You and your brothers will look after Maggie, won’t you?”
“Stay out of this, Jeremy,” Maggie said.
Her brother, probably wisely, held up his hands. “Reckon I ain’t the sharpest tool in the box, but I know better than to involve myself in another’s spat.”
“See?” Maggie said triumphantly. “He doesn’t want to get involved.”
Rhys recalibrated. “I’ll hire men to guard you in my absence. Professional,reliablemen.”
“I’ll not have strangers watching my every move. I’ll dispatch them from my property, you see if I don’t.”
His temper snapped because hecouldsee her doing it. Just to be difficult. “Bloody hell, woman, why are you being so damned stubborn?”
“Because I don’t want my lover marching into danger alone!” she shouted.
Silence blanketed the room.
Hypatia cleared her throat. “Mr. Newton, didn’t you say there was an interesting artifact out in the corridor that you wanted to show me?”
“I said that?” At the nudge of Hypatia’s elbow, Newton’s brow cleared. “Oh,right. That artifact. The one out in the, er...well, I don’t recall where exactly. But it’s out there. Not in here.”
Rhys had no idea how the man had made a living as a solicitor.
“Let’s go.” Hypatia stood, aiming a look at Maggie’s brother. “You, too.”
“And miss the fireworks?” Jeremy polished off a bun. “Oi ain’t been to Vauxhall, but methinks these might be even better.”
“Jeremy,” Maggie said in warning tones.
