“Well, London is rather large.”
“Not large enough.”
She grinned at him.
“And he had me,” another voice cut through the room. Two men entered, and Maxen scowled. Never mind that he’d vowed to never set foot in London again, but he’d had to stop and ask for directions, and help from Drake’s cousin, the Earl of Dare, who had also come along.
“Mr. Fitz!” Calliope exclaimed.
The man inclined his head. “Lady Calliope.”
“So that’s how you fled,” the older woman sneered. “Fitz. Such elaborate schemes.”
“I’ve always had Lady Calliope’s interest at heart,” Fitz said. “Even now. You are aware you cannot force anyone to wed without their consent?”
“This is a family matter,” a grey, old man snapped.
“Ah, Balfour, Countess Duvessa,” Dare said. “You are quite right. Since it’s a family matter, you should allow your niece and the Furys to sort outtheirfamily matter without interference.”
“So this is the ruffian you bedded?” Balfour snapped.
Calliope coughed, her face reddened. “I had to do something,” she said by way of explanation.
Maxen arched a brow, but satisfaction filled his entire being. “I’m a man who values family. I shall take full responsibility.”
“You’d wed a lady?” Doubt flickered in her eyes, and he hated it. That she might think he believed her unworthy in some way. Shemust have heard about his aversion to the upper class.
“I’d wed Calliope.”
That earned him an even bigger beam. “Then I’d happily wed a beast.”
“You harlot!” the woman, Duvessa, cried.
Maxen almost lost his damn tempter and punched a woman. “Madam, if you ever call her anything but an angel again, I will destroy every single thing you hold dear.”
“How dare you speak that way to your betters!” the old man in gold snapped with indignation.
This was why he’d had to become stronger, wealthier, more powerful. So not even a tip of their fingers could ever hope to touch you. And they couldn’t touch him. “How dareyou? A man who would bind a woman to his will with force has forfeited the right to call himself anything but coward. If you ever come near Calliope again, I will break every bone in your body.”
The stepmother stepped forward. “Do no think for one second we’re scared of you, you brigand?”
“Allow me,frère.” Reaper, with the devil’s own grin, changed the aim of his pistol.
Maxen covered Calliope’s ears just before the crack of the shot exploded against the floor at the women’s feet. The three screamed, collapsing into a heap of wails.
How bloody satisfying.
His arm tightened about Calliope, sheltering her in the cage of his body. “You bloody menace,” he muttered at his brother.
Reaper only laughed. “They’ll live, but they should be very, very afraid.”
Drake gave an exasperated sigh but did not lower his weapon. Neither Fitz nor Dare seemed all that startled.
Maxen turned back to the pale visages of Balfour and whoever the old man was. “Hear me well. Calliope belongs to no one but herself.She chose to stand with me, and I with her. You come for her, you come for me. That is all you need remember.”
Duvessa’s fan snapped shut with a crack. “You will never be able to enter society after this!” Duvessa cried from the floor.
Calliope lifted her chin. “I belong in Brighton with my beasts, anyway.”
