Percy bit the inside of his cheek, releasing a tense breath. He seemed near to bursting with anger, but he was hiding it behind a show of arrogance. “What are your terms?” His voice was barely more than a mutter.
“Leave Cornwall and never return. If you’re seen on my land, or Lanveneth’s, I won’t hesitate to turn my evidence over to the law. Blackstone will expose your reputation to society in London, so you’ll have no place there.”
Percy’s upper lip curled, but he said nothing. His nostrils flared. “What a way to repay me. I never should have introduced you to Blackstone.”
“You’re fortunate I haven’t demanded reparations of the profits you made frommyland.” Isaac shook his head in disbelief. “Keep the money and leave. Consider it your compensation for the courtesy of introducing me to Blackstone.” Isaac couldn’t hide the sardonic tone from his voice.
Without warning, Percy lunged forward, thrusting his fist into Isaac’s face. Isaac reared back, the side of his nose and cheekbone throbbing in pain. He wiped blindly at a trickle of blood beneath his nostril. He was grateful they weren’t closer to the cliffs. From the rage in Percy’s eyes in that moment, Isaac would have guessed he was capable of pushing Isaac off the edge. “That was for sabotaging my courtship,” Percy seethed.
Isaac found his bearings, but he was still in shock over the pain spreading across his face. Perhaps his terms had been too generous. A man as volatile as Percy could benefit from a few years of imprisonment or exile. He was mad.
Isaac took a swing at Percy’s face, making contact with his mouth. His aim had been for his nose, but the result was stillsufficient. While Percy reeled from the hit, Isaac reached for his walking stick, wrenching it from his hand.
And then he threw it.
It spun in the air, soaring far off the path and off the edge of the cliff.
“That was for Prudence.”
Percy cupped his face in pain, removing his hand to reveal a red and white smile. He spit blood onto the ground, backing away with an unsettling laugh. It grew in volume, until it verged on maniacal. “Touché.” He didn’t seem inclined to strike Isaac again. Instead, he sauntered past. He declined his head, a smirk lifting his blood-stained upper lip. “Farewell, cousin. Perhaps you might visit me and my mistresses in Spain.”
Isaac laughed, surprising himself with the reaction. Even in his disgrace, Percy managed to return to his arrogant ways. Isaac didn’t care what Percy did with his life, so long as he stayed far away from Isaac and his family.
Well, who hehopedwould become his family.
His shoulders remained tense as he watched Percy’s retreat. He wiped at his nose again, relieved to see that the bleeding had been minimal. The surface of his cheek was sore to the touch, as well as the bridge of his nose. But at least it wasn’t broken.
He turned his attention to the cream facade of Lanveneth, taking a moment to calm his heightened senses. He felt like he was still boiling from his interaction with Percy, his nerves on edge. He took several slow breaths as he finished the walk to the house.
When he reached the front door, his palms began to sweat.Blast it, he was still nervous. This moment felt familiar, much like the day he had rushed to Lanveneth the first time to propose to Sophia. He could easily recall the grim expression of the butler as he told Isaac that the Hales had left Cornwall. He could still see the black ink on that letter that had been passed intoIsaac’s hand. The pain was distant now, but it still poked at him as he stood on the doorstep.
It will be different this time,he reassured himself.
He waited several seconds before the staunch butler opened the door. Isaac’s gaze flickered to his gloved hand, half-expecting to see a letter clutched in his fingers. Isaac was ushered inside to the drawing room, where Prudence sat on the settee. She leaped to her feet the moment she saw Isaac. She was holding a small animal. A rabbit, perhaps? Isaac had only seen a flash of grey fur.
Flora and Thistle bounded across the room, greeting Isaac with no small measure of enthusiasm. He hadn’t expected them to be allowed inside the house at all times, but if Prudence had her way, they would be dining with her at the table for each and every meal. She offered a curtsy, her dark brows knit together.
“I just sent Percy away,” Isaac assured her. “You will never see him again.”
Prudence’s eyes were still wet with tears. She looked flustered, but not as unraveled as Isaac had expected. She eyed his face. “Did he hurt you?”
So it was worse than he thought. “It is no matter. I’m sorry that I didn’t arrive a few minutes earlier. Are you unharmed?”
“Yes.” Prudence released a tense breath. “I was more worried for Flora and Thistle. He was holding that walking stick again. Thankfully the footmen escorted him out.”
“You may rest assured that he will never wield the walking stick again. It’s currently on its way to the sea floor.”
Prudence gasped, a delighted grin taking over her face. She quickly hid it from view behind the head of the creature she held. It was clear now that she was holding a dog, a small, scrappy terrier of some sort. It was thin with matted fur, but its tongue lolled out as it seemed to smile up at Isaac.
“He brought me this little dog in an attempt to win my affections.” Prudence rolled her eyes in dismay. “Of course itdidn’t work, though I am grateful to have another pet. I suspect he found him wandering the kitchen yard or fields somewhere.”
Isaac laughed, relieved to find her in good spirits. “Is Sophia in?” His heart picked up speed.
Prudence’s gaze flickered to the open door behind him, and she gave a subtle shake of her head. “I haven’t seen her for most of the afternoon. I think she went for a walk…or to find a place to paint.”
“Hmm. Thank you. I shall have to go looking for her.”
Prudence’s eyes widened. “Perhaps you shouldn’t.”
