“Because he was alone and had no one else to help in his search for you and your mother.” And Hannah had taken advantage of Eoin’s need. “He was aware that members of the Black Sheep had solved other mysteries, so he visited our establishment.”
“Did you agree to aid him for a sum of money? My brother is exceedingly wealthy now that Foxglen is dead.” Lizzie cocked her head, and Hannah fought the urge to instinctively duck. It felt like the woman could throw a facer at any time.
“My coffeehouse is successful.” Hannah resisted the urge to cross her own arms. She didn’t want to seem as if she was challenging Lizzie. Still, she couldn’t help a swell of defensiveness. “I have no need to become a man’s mistress.”
“Yet judging by the tale that Eoin told my mother and me, you inserted yourself into my brother’s household rather quickly.” Lizzie leaned forward a smidgen more.
Hannah sank her fingers into the cushion and did her best not to scoot backward. Although she couldn’t move very far, she did have a few inches before she would collide with the wall.
“Masquerading as his mistress was the most efficient way to gather information. You cannot deny that my ploy worked. We found you and your mother very rapidly all because we pursued a clue that I learned from breakfasting with your aunts and uncles.”
“They are not my relatives,” Lizzie said stiffly. “They never claimed me, and I certainly do not claim them.”
“Your brother does not have that luxury.” Hannah knew that it was not Lizzie’s fault that her brother had endured his paternal family’s hatred, but she was tired of Lizzie’s half-veiled accusations. The woman was striking at the heart of Hannah’s guilt. And if Lizzie wanted to interject herself into Eoin’s life, then she needed to deal with their horrible relatives.
“Do you care for my brother?” Lizzie asked.
Hannah had no difficulties answering that. “Very much so. He is kind and thoughtful even though his grandfather tried to teach him to be cool and distant. I never had much use for nobs until I met him.”
“As a young child, he was a sensitive sort—always making presents out of scraps of cloth and twine for my parents and me. Mother constantly worried about him being under the tutelage of Foxglen. Even though we were forced to leave him, he was and is very precious to us.”
And he was very precious to Hannah too. “You should tell Eoin those very words. He needs to hear them.”
Lizzie visibly relaxed a fraction—but only a fraction. She still loomed over Hannah, although Hannah had begun to wonder if looming was Lizzie’s natural state.
“I shall tell my brother how much I care for him. I may not like the world he inhabits, but I will not abandon him now that I have a choice to be in his life.”
Hannah nodded. It seemed as if they’d reached some sort of understanding. Yet Lizzie still stood close… too close.
“You should watch the bout again. Jane is about to defeat Anne.”
Hannah glanced toward the contest below. Even though she tried to lose herself in the action, she could feel Lizzie lurking behind her. Prickles rose over Hannah’s flesh, and she tried to ignore them. It was apparent that Lizzie was acting in the same protective manner that Hannah did when a man showed interest in Sophia. Yet even if Hannah recognized the sentiment, it was uncomfortable being on the receiving end.
“Jane seems to be flagging. Is that part of her strategy?” Hannah asked, more from uncharacteristic nervousness than from true interest.
“Aye. She’s clever, but she’s never managed to fool me.”
As Anne struck out, Jane suddenly burst back with renewed vigor. Her staff clipped the edge of Anne’s, and the clack reverberated around the room. Anne’s rod flew into the air. She pirouetted gracefully, narrowly missing a strike from Jane. Incredibly, Anne caught her weapon before it hit the ground. Bending half over, she snapped back up to block another blow. But she was on the defensive now, and Jane was clearly in control. The end was a whirlwind of motion, their quarterstaffs nothing but whistling brown blurs in the air, their feet bouncing in an intricate dance. Anne fought hard, but Jane ultimately outmaneuvered her. As Jane raised her fists in triumph, the crowd roared.
“They are both very talented, are they not?” Lizzie asked, leaning over Hannah’s shoulder.
“They are.”
“I am more skilled than both of them put together.” Lizzie’s claim was not spoken as a boast but as a simple matter of fact.
“I am aware.” Hannah very slowly swiveled in Lizzie’s direction.
The prizefighter was smiling. It was not a friendly one.
“Good. Then you know how swiftly I can mete out justice.”
“Are you… planning to… mete out justice?” Hannah’s throat went tight, and her normal bravado seemed to have woefully fled.
“That depends if it’s needed.” Lizzie’s grin had grown to ominous proportions. “Will it be?”
“Pardon?”
“Will the meting out of justice be required? It is, after all, your choice.” Lizzie’s lips tipped upward into even more chill-inducing heights.
