“All these people are here because they know I am going to be at Lady Bea’s?” Jillian asked incredulously.
“Society loves a good scandal,” Case said grimly. He squeezed Jillian’s hand reassuringly. “We mustn’t stay long. The physician was most adamant that you stay abed for at least a week, and yet here you are gallivanting about London.”
“When do we leave for Cornwall?” she asked looking over at Hawk.
“Tonight, provided you are well enough to travel.”
“I will be fine,” she said, a firm set to her lips.
She and Case climbed down from the carriage and Jillian tried to ignore the buzz of excited chatter that went up from the street as they walked up the steps to the front door. Lady Bea herself threw open the door and gasped in horror at Jillian’s appearance.
She pulled her into her embrace and then ushered them into the sitting room. “Oh my dear, I do not know where to begin. What are you doing here? I thought you and the duke were leaving London together, but now you are here and I heard the duke left forIndia.”
Jillian smiled at the older woman’s confusion. “I’ll join Justin in a few days. The Regent got involved and was sending the Royal Guard to collect Justin for questioning. I thought it best if I put to rest the charges of kidnapping.”
“That over stuffed popinjay?” Lady Bea sputtered. “Why on earth did Prinny involve himself in this? He rarely pays note to anything unless money is involved.”
“That’s just it,” Case broke in. “I am sure moneywasinvolved.”
“Where would Penroth get the blunt to involve Prinny? Everyone knows his pockets are empty.”
“I am sure there were others who felt it worth lining Prinny’s pockets to make a point. Quickest way to make a group of men uneasy is for their wives to forget their places,” Case said in derision.
“Makes me damn glad I’m a widow,” Lady Bea muttered.
Jillian stifled her laughter at her use of such indelicate language. She leaned forward, ignoring the pain in her ribs. “Lady Bea, I have to tell you. We came here so that I would be seen in public and it is likely that my hus—that he will show up here.”
“I should like nothing more!” Lady Bea exclaimed, stomping her foot against the marble floor. “Would give me a certain amount of pleasure to plant him a facer.”
Case chuckled. “It would be my honor to do that task for you, my lady.”
“Men have all the fun,” she grumbled.
Case looked over at Jillian, whose face was tight and drawn, her eyes ringed in fatigue. “It’s time we were going.”She didn’t argue. As she stood, she shook discernibly and Case stepped quickly to her side, offering his arm in support. She grasped his elbow gratefully.
“Take care, my dear,” Lady Bea said in a choked voice. “If you ever need anything, you’ve but to ask.”
“Thank you, my lady,” she said, smiling wanly at her. “I will never forget your kindness.”
As they stepped out into the cold, Jillian looked warily around then relaxed against Case as she saw nothing but the same hoard of people from before. They were almost to the carriage when Lucas’s strident voice echoed across the street.
She looked up to see him barreling towards them, and she instinctively moved closer to Case. His arm tightened protectively around her as Lucas came abreast of them.
“Unhand my wife, Devlin.” He scowled at Jillian. “You will come with me at once,” he said imperiously, reaching for her arm.
Case stepped in front of her, his eyes flashing. “No, Case,” she said in a low voice as she pushed him away. “You must be insane or very desperate,Lucas, to approach me thus. I will never go back to you.”
“Address me properly, whore,” he spat.
“Keep a civil tongue in your head, Penroth, or I will take great pleasure in removing it for you,” Case said through gritted teeth.
“The law is clearly on my side,” Lucas snarled. “Come along, Jillian, and perhaps I will be lenient in my punishment.”
“You are a repugnant, odious bastard,” she hissed. “I hope you rot in shame and poverty, because hell will freeze over before you ever see a farthing ofmymoney.”
He let out a howl of rage and raised his fist to strike her, but a hand reached out and gripped his wrist in mid-air.
“I would think twice about that if I were you,” Hawk said in a dangerously low voice. He continued to squeeze unmercifully, forcing Lucas to his knees as he exerted an enormous amount of pressure on his wrist.
