“You need to tether your wife by a shorter lead. She’s a vindictive hoyden.”
This time Varley clenched his jaw, but still he didn’t rise to the bait or rise from his chair for that matter.
“Insulting Lady Varley will do you no good. If she wishes to speak to a newspaper editor about what she saw with her own eyes, then she will. And I shall offer her applause for it. I suppose you won’t need a tether for that prim mouse whom you intend to join in wedlock. She doesn’t seem to have the spunk to roam very far.”
Matthew sighed. Naturally, Varley would turn the tables and try to insult Purity, but the worst the man could come up with was how well-behaved she was. That was the type of woman Matthew wanted by his side, although he did not consider her mousy in the least.
Regardless, he might as well take this right to the gutter. For the first time, Matthew smiled back.
“I am not talking about whether your wife went toThe Timeswith her long-tongued, chaff-cutter of a mouth. I am talking about her intruding upon my personal residence. Next time Emilia comes sniffing around my door,” he said loud enough for the eavesdroppers to hear. “I will give my staff instructions not to allow her entrance. My butler only let her in because of our earlier association,” he added to twist the knife that he’d swived with Varley’s wife, “but I didn’t appreciate her lounging in my drawing room uninvited earlier this week. After all, tongues might wag that I waspolishingsome part of her.”
That did it.
Varley blanched as white as his well-tended cravat. Finally, he was horn mad.
Tossing his napkin onto the table, he rose to his feet and took a swing at Matthew, who had his arms up before his opponent landed the blow.
Attacked first, he was within his rights to plant a facer, which he did. It felt damn good, too, until Varley returned the favor and caught him on his right cheek bone before he could dodge the hit. They landed a few more punches, finally one each to the gut before the club manager came over and put a halt to it.
Sadly for Varley, Matthew managed to give him one more plump in the breadbasket, which doubled the man over and sent him back two steps into the chair at the next table.
Matthew straightened his jacket. “Mind me, Varley, keep your wife away from my house.”
Turning, he walked out, knowing he’d just made an enemy.
Chapter Twenty-One
Purity was surprised to learn Lord Varley was in his carriage outside her family’s home, having sent his footman to the door with a calling card. She couldn’t help the tremor of trepidation upon telling their butler to grant him entrance to the drawing room. After all, the last time she’d seen his lordship, he seemed to be relishing her disgrace.
With Alice hurriedly installed at one end of the room, Purity greeted Lord Varley. It was evident instantly that he had been in an altercation, yet unforgivably rude for her to make mention of his appearance.
“Good day, my lord. Are you well?”
“Good day, Lady Purity. I come to offer my apologies for what has happened.”
He could only mean one thing. She decided to be frank.
“Why would you be apologizing unless it was you who had a discussion with the editor ofThe Times?”
“Perish the thought,” he said. “I assure you I will never tell anyone what I saw. You have my word as a gentleman.” He went so far as to pat the area over his heart with his palm. “However, my wife can be flighty, and I cannot vouch for what she has done or might do.”
“Are you saying it was Lady Varley who tattled?”
“Only that it is possible.”
“And you came to apologize on her behalf?” she repeated. “Forgive me if I think a note would have sufficed.”
“I wanted to warn you in the most stringent fashion so you would take me seriously. Do you see my face?”
She nodded.
“Your so-called fiancé did this to me.”
Purity was unable to stifle a gasp.
“In public, at our club,” Lord Varley added with obvious distaste. “Brawling like a common ruffian.”
Ready to ask what was the provocation, she decided it had to be over the dastardlyTimescolumn. Thus, while she didn’t condone fighting outside of a sporting club, she could hardly find fault with Foxford for protecting her honor.
