“Sometimes.”
Her mood seemed to have lightened, and when they reached the end of the path, there seemed to be a commotion ahead. Although David would have taken the women away from the disruption, Margaret had already gone to investigate it.
“What is going on?” Amelia asked.
“I don’t know, but your sister should stay back, whatever it is. Wait here and—”
“I amnotgoing to stand back out of the way. We will go together,” Amelia insisted. Though it wasn’t what he wanted, he supposed she was safer at his side than alone.
When they reached the small enclosure, David wanted to curse. A group of men had surrounded Lord Lisford, along with another man, who appeared as if he’d been dragged out of Thieves’ Alley. The viscount had discarded his coat and waistcoat, and his nose was bleeding. The two men were boxing, while others were wagering against the fight.
“What are theydoing?” Amelia was shocked by the sight of the men. “In such a public place? Has the viscount gone mad?”
“I imagine gambling was involved in some way.” David stepped forward and spoke to Margaret, trying to guide her away from the fighting.
“I’m not leaving,” she insisted. Her face had gone white, and her hands were tightly gripped together. It was clear that Lord Lisford was losing this fight, and the other man was taking him apart. The viscount’s head snapped backward as a sound blow caught him in the jaw.
“You shouldn’t be here, Miss Andrews,” David said.
But Amelia stepped beside her sister, recognition dawning in her eyes. “Oh, no. It’s Mr. Sinclair fighting him, isn’t it?”
David had no idea who this Mr. Sinclair was, but the man was a damned good fighter. He allowed the viscount to swing a blow and dodged it at the last second, leaving the man to go sprawling.
But Amelia appeared frozen by the sight of the men.
“Do you want me to get him out of this?” Though David personally believed the viscount deserved whatever beating he got, he knew the man was important to her.
“Someone needs to stop the fight,” she whispered.
He eyed Margaret, who looked ready to step into the ring herself, with her hands clenched at her sides.
Damn it all, he supposed it was now up to him. He removed his coat, handing it to Amelia. “Stay with your sister, and donotlet her interfere.”
“I’ll sit on her if I have to,” Amelia answered. Then she touched his shoulder. “Be careful, won’t you?”
Amelia didn’t know what had started the fight between Mr. Sinclair and the viscount, but she strongly suspected it was about her sister. The Highlander had never liked Lord Lisford, and he’d made no secret of his feelings for Margaret.
Her stomach sank, for she didn’t like fighting of any kind, much less with the man she wanted to marry. The earl had nearlyreached the pair of them, and it was then that Amelia realized Lord Lisford’s nose was broken. Dear God, how badly was he hurt? He clutched his side and staggered to his feet. Although she was supposed to stay with Margaret, Amelia ignored caution and started to run toward the viscount. Before she reached them, the earl caught her hand and pulled her back.
“Don’t. This is no place for you.”
“He’s hurt,” she started to protest. Lord Lisford could hardly stand, and he needed a doctor.
“It was his choice to engage in the match. If you go to him now, you’ll make him appear weak.”
She stilled, not wanting to accept that he was right. And yet she understood that the viscount would not want her to see him like this. Silently, she stepped behind the earl.
Lord Lisford dropped to his knees, blood streaming down to his mouth. “Sinclair should be brought up on charges of assault,” he demanded. “He attacked me.”
“The fight was your idea,” another gentleman said aloud. “You were the one who challengedhim. He won the wager, and all of us can bear witness to it.” The man who spoke seemed well pleased with the outcome, as did several others. Likely he’d won money from the fight.
Amelia’s mood grew even more despondent, for it meant that Lord Lisford hadn’t listened to her pleas. She’d hoped that she could reform him, helping him to become a better man. Now she was questioning it.
Was this the man you wanted?her conscience taunted.
Of course it was. And yet she didn’t like seeing him so defeated. A gentleman should never fight in public—it was a scandal and against the law. She didn’t like this side to him, and it was soberingto know that Lord Lisford had ignored common sense for the promise of money.
What stunned her more was the look on Margaret’s face. Her prim and proper sister appeared delighted to see the viscount bloodied and broken on the ground. When Margaret met Cain Sinclair’s gaze, the Highlander’s mouth curved in a smile as if to say,I did this for you.
