“It’s my understanding,” I heard Loren drawl, “that thecountess doesn’t like to be backed somewhere she doesn’t wish to be.”
His voice was coming around our sides.
I turned my head that way.
And stopped dead.
This was because, if I felt his anger singe my skin in thestables, his fury now was burning me alive.
“What’s this?”he whispered sinisterly, his attention lockedto my cheek.
His father came up to his side, got a look at me, and hisface turned to stone.
Edgar took hold of my upper arm and started jostling metoward the door.
“I’ll return after I see my Maxine to bed,” he said, tryingagain to hide me with his frame.
“You’ll take your hand off her, or mark me, Derryman, you’llfind it difficult to use after I crush every bone in it,” Loren threatened.
Edgar’s eyes narrowed on me, and he hissed under his breath,“Punished.”
Andpoof, my daze cleared.
Shit, what had I done?
He turned to the men, holding me at his side, and in aningratiating tone, lied, “Maxine took a bit of a tumble.I didn’t want to say.It’s embarrassing to her.She can be quite awkward.”
“She didn’t take agodsdamnedtumble,” Loren gritted.
Edgar made a frustrated noise.
I belatedly started freaking out.
“I think we can all agree she needs to be resting with acompress,” Edgar rejoined.
“I think you need to step away from your daughter,Derryman,” Ansley stated flatly.
His fingers on my arm tightened.
I winced.
“If yougentleme—” Edgar began.
He didn’t finish because he, and I (he took me with himbecause he didn’t let go), reeled back.
Though it was only he who was slammed against the wall withLoren’s hand wrapped around his throat, and Loren in his face.
“Release your daughter, sir,” he clipped.
Edgar let me go.
“Father,” Loren prompted, not moving from Edgar.
I felt my elbow taken with gentle fingers and I wascarefully pulled away.
“Was it spending time with me in the stables?Or how shespoke to you before then?Or both?”Loren demanded.
Edgar made low choking noises.
