But apparently they could in manners and decorum.
And good old-fashioned common sense!
Not to mention decency and compassion!
How dare this whore-slag confront her friend or anyone else about Kalder given the way they’d all treated him while he called this place his home! Had he meant so much to her, and them, they should have stood up for him when his mother had assaulted him back in the day.
Had they?
Nay! The bloody wankers had never once been there! Rather, they’d piled on. Blamedhimand been absolute turds, one and all! Now she stood here and dared to try and claim him? Really?
That,she refused to allow!
Furious, Cameron moved to stand in front of Belle, and backed the woman up two steps. “For the record, gal, I be the one what you be having your issues with, not the proper Lady Belle here. Make no mistakes about that! And the last time I checked that man’s manifest, Mr. Dupree be having a mind of his own. A very capable and strong one, point of fact, and the last thing he be needing is some scheming little cock-snottle farthingale like you a-thinking she can come in here after all this time and put a ring on his finger because she wills it so. Well, Miss Lacy Cotton Wig, you needs be loosening up that over-cinched corset of yours so that some oxygen can get up to your poor air-starved brains and think with them. ’Cause if you knew anything about that man at all, then you’d be a-knowing that Mr. Dupree’s more than quite clear and adamant that he be dancing on to no man’s tune save his own. And no woman’s neither. Nor the devil’s himself. So he don’t be needing you, nor anyone else, putting any words in his mouth for him. I assure you, the man canspeak quite plainly for himself, and he don’t be mincing no words whenever he does it, neither!”
The woman laughed at Cameron’s hot outburst. “What? You?You would dare to lecture me? A milkmaid who fell off her stool and must have knocked her head or been kicked by her cow? Please! As if you knew the minds and whims of your betters, even if they have used you for their pleasure. Not that a man of the prince’s caliber would ever deign to touch something as plain asyou.”
Cameron flinched as if she’d been slapped. And she had. Just with words, not with a palm. Though honestly, it felt about the same. Nay, it stung twice as deep as a physical blow.
And that certainly withered up her confidence and turned it into a teensy little ball of nothing. She could actually feel herself growing smaller on the spot.
Worse, she felt tears stinging her throat. But Cameron refused to have them fall. She wouldn’t let this poor excuse of a sentient being see them. She wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.
Rather, Cameron would like to give her a swift kick to the derriere. Especially as there was now a crowd gathering around to hear every cruel syllable of it.
A crowd that made a collective gasp at their conversation.
That was disconcerting and demoralizing on a cellular level, and stung to the very inner depths of her soul, where it left a blister she was quite certain would never heal.
But as bad as that was, it was nothing compared to a moment later when the crowd parted to leave them at the full attention of everyone.
It took her a moment to realize why.
What she thought was the loud staccato droning beat of her heart in her ears wasn’t. That was the sound of Kalder’s boot heels clicking across the polished marble floor.
He’d finally joined them.
And all eyes were fastened to him as the crowd held their collective breath in expectation of his reaction to their untoward drama.
Cameron had always despised being the center of attention. She’d hated being involved in petty cattiness even more. This was her worst nightmare come to life, and she had no idea how it would end.
Even more painful, she didn’t know what this woman really meant to Kalder. They could be great lovers and he could fall into her arms or bed for all Cameron knew.
That thought chilled her. Mostly because she wouldn’t blame him for it. The lady was lovely. The kind of attractive bitchington a man like Kalder should be with.
Why did the beautiful, glorious men always go off with soulless snakes like her?
But Kalder didn’t give the posh bird a second or even a first glance.
His gaze stayed locked on Cameron. As did his smile and unfaltering gait.
“There you are, me preciousphearse.”
Ignoring the crowd, Kalder gave Cameron a courtly bow and kissed her gloved hand. “So sorry to have kept you waiting. There was something I had to see to before I joined you. I pray you can forgive me for me thoughtless ways. But hopefully this will makesome amends for it.” He straightened and stepped behind her to lay a heavy necklace against her décolleté.
His hands tickled her skin as he fastened it there then leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I knew the color would be the perfect match for your eyes. And I was right.”
The woman in front of them turned as red as a beet as she glared with murderous intent at Cameron’s throat. Aye, there was no doubt the tart wanted to tear it off, or strangle her with it.
