“Last night you gave yourself to me.” Wei’s stare sliced into her soul as he held out a hand. “Now prove that you’re mine.”
“You touched my daughter, you blackguard?” Hellfire blazed in Papa’s gaze. “By Jove, I am going to tear you limb from limb!”
He launched himself at Wei.
“Don’t do this,” Glory cried. “Stop!”
Mama was shouting for them to stop as well, but neither man listened, grappling and landing blows. Their aggression had a mind of its own, making them oblivious to anything but the desire to do bodily harm. Frantic, Glory tried to wade in—and stepped into the path of her father’s oncoming attack. Greaves yanked her back in the nick of time, Papa’s fist whooshing by.
“Stand back, my lady,” the butler shouted. “You’ll only get hurt.”
He shouted for the footmen to come help, and a pair came running in…followed by Theo and Horatio. Seeing her brothers’ stricken expressions, Glory ran to intercept them before they could try to enter the fray.
“Why is Master Chen fighting with Papa?” Horatio asked in a trembling voice.
“Stop hurting my papa!” Theo yelled, struggling against Glory’s hold.
At that instant, Wei sent Papa arcing backward through the air. Papa slammed into the spirits cabinet, his head smacking against the wood. Decanters rained around him in a symphony of glass.
“Rhys.” Mama pushed past Glory to kneel by him, her face ashen. “Greaves, send for Dr. Abernathy. Quickly!”
Glory stood paralyzed as her brothers raced to Papa. Her heart seized at her father’s closed eyes, the blood trickling from his lip. She lifted horrified eyes to Wei, who stood unmoving, his torn fists clenched at his sides.
This is my fault, she thought numbly. I thought by keeping my relationship a secret, I was protecting Papa and Wei. Instead, I hurt them both.
“Glory, I…”
Wei gave her an agonized look, then staggered over to Papa. He crouched, fumbling with Papa’s sleeve, placing his fingers on Papa’s wrist.
“His pulse is steady,” Wei said hoarsely. “He should be fine—”
“Get away from my papa!” Theo shouted.
He shoved Wei with all his might, and Wei stumbled back.
At that moment, Papa coughed. Glory crossed over to him, her breath held.
Please be all right, Papa. Please.
He opened his eyes. Looked blearily at Mama.
“What…what the bloody hell happened, Maggie mine?” he sputtered.
“You were acting foolishly, Rhys,” Mama scolded. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Then she burst into tears.
As Papa stroked Mama’s hair, Glory knelt beside him.
“I’m sorry, Papa,” she choked out. “Wei didn’t mean to hurt you. He and I were going to tell you today—”
“You lied to me.”
She swallowed, fearing her Papa’s anger far less than the hurt in his eyes. He looked betrayed…and he had every right to.
“You gave me your word to stay away from Chen,” he said ominously.
Through suffocating guilt, she pleaded, “I love him, Papa, and he loves me. If you would just listen to us…”
