He lifted a brow. “Dare I ask why?” He flashed her a grin. “I’ve heard that I’m quite handsome.”
This time she was the one to lean forward. “I don’t have fault with your appearance, Sir Isaacson, but rather the way you treated my cousin. Family is very important to me and I don’t like them to be disparaged.”
“Family, is it?” he noted quietly. “Tell me, what sort of games do you and your cousin play when the sun goes down? Perhaps if you give me a demonstration, I will ensure that he lives to see a new day.”
He grabbed her roughly by the back of the head and attempted to shove her face into his lap where there was a decided bulge in his trousers. Constance acted swiftly and had the point of the dagger against that area before she was even halfway down. He carefully released her.
She glared at him. “Shame on you, Sir Isaacson. You are not comporting yourself in a very gentlemanly behavior. I’m disappointed. Now, instruct your driver to take me back home.”
He knocked on the roof of the carriage, and she could feel the shift as it turned around. “Good boy.”
His eyes immediately sparked. “You’ll regret this, Madame Corressa, I promise you. I’ll ruin your precious reputation and expose it for the façade it truly is.”
“You can try,” she smiled, and dared to dig the point against his trousers even further. While he wasn’t excited anymore, his weak, flaccid cock was still there. “Tell me, do you even know how to use this properly?” she asked. No doubt she was making a mistake by goading him, but when faced with men of his ilk, she couldn’t resist questioning their lack of manhood. “I bet you can’t even make it hard when you need it to be.”
His eyes glittered. “Maybe you’ll find out someday,” he warned.
“Not likely,” she countered. “For you see—” She twisted the knife just briefly, but it was enough for him to suck in his breath. “—You aren’t the first man I’ve had to dissuade.” She smiled sweetly. “Or dispose of. So, you might be careful who you threaten in the future, because I promise that if you follow through on your threats, I will follow through on mine.” With that, she ensured that a drop of blood seeped through his buff trousers before she removed her blade and tucked it back out of sight. “Just remember that I always have a blade at the ready.”
They glared at one another across the expanse of the carriage until it rolled to a stop. “This is where I leave you, Sir Isaacson, and I would suggest that you heed my council if you wish to keep all of your…” She dropped her gaze to his trousers. “Appendages fully intact.”
She opened the door, but just as she was about to step down to the ground, he ground out behind her, “Indeed, madam, as you should heed my words. You aren’t the only one without proper resources.”
Constance shut the door and walked up the steps of the townhouse as the carriage rolled away. She was even more discomfited now than she had been the night before when she’d left the musicale, but at least she knew the storm was coming. Which meant it was time for Madame Corressa to put together her own reinforcements. First, she needed to confide in Devin and Luke, so that they were aware to be on the alert, and then she intended to visit the countess, and likely pay another call to Montfree’s to speak to Mr. Plainview, as well as engage the help of Brutus. Former pugilists were faithful to their own, and she knew she could count on him because of Bull.
However, the moment she walked inside, it was as if a spark of repetition struck her. Once again, she had to face Devin when her thoughts were scattered. The moment she saw him at the entrance to the parlor, she recalled what Luke had told her about Devin’s past with the baronet. It made her even more determined to see Sir Isaacson pay for what he’d done—and ensure that his threats didn’t come to fruition, so he couldn’t hurt anyone else again.
Before she could say anything, Devin looked at her flatly. “You were out with Sir Isaacson again.” His tone was cool and detached.
She sighed heavily, because she knew that he was drawing the wrong conclusion. “Yes, I was, but—”
“I’ve heard the baronet could be alluring.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. “But I thought you were smarter than to fall for his charms.”
She frowned. “If you would only let me explain—”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” he murmured, his dark eyes flashing fiercely. “I think I can see where things stand at this point.”
“Is that so?” This time, Constance crossed her arms. “Then how about you enlighten me.”
“You realized that a thief isn’t good enough for you, so you are determined to seek out the attentions of the first man with any sort of title, whether or not you’ve been warned of his character, just so you can seduce your way into society.” He lifted a brow. “How close am I?”
At first, Constance couldn’t speak. She had thought that no one could make her feel as cheap and worthless as Sir Isaacson just had, but Devin’s harsh accusation cut more deeply than anything she’d ever felt before. And she had absorbed her fair share of insults through the years.
With frustration, anger, and even a bit of shame spurring her on, Constance stalked over to Devin and allowed her hand to fly of its own accord. When her palm connected with his cheek, his head whipped to the side, but his stance didn’t alter.
She didn’t even wait to gauge his reaction but spun on her heel and slammed the door on her departure.
Chapter 15
Devin tested his jaw. For a slap, the recoil had been quite impressive.
“Ye bloody jealous fool.”
He glanced over to see Luke shaking his head. The older man had been in the library, but by the look of disappointment on his face, it was apparent he’d been privy to the recent exchange.
“If she wasn’t payin’ for this residence, I wouldn’t blame ‘er if she didn’t even come back after wha’ ye said t’ ’er.” He frowned darkly. “I’ve never known ye t’ be a cruel man, so I can only assume ye’re no’ thinkin’ clearly, but if ye don’t want t’ lose a woman like tha’, then ye best think o’ a way t’ earn ‘er forgiveness.”
Seeing as how his opinion had been expressed, Luke headed back the way he’d come, leaving Devin standing alone.
