“Hawke,” Miss Harland muttered through her smile.
“It’s all right.” He tightened his grip. Word had spread. He recognised the look of men circling their next conquest. “I won’t let you out of my sight tonight.”
He scanned the room, searching for his prey.
Langridge.
Virginia Passmore.
Templeton.
The last of them lounged on a gold brocade sofa, his mouth at a woman’s ear, one arm slung casually around her shoulders, his fingers grazing the swell of her breast. All while his wife lay in bed at home.
“Faithless cur.”
As if he’d heard his name on the breeze, Templeton glanced over and paled when he met Dominic’s hard gaze. The plan had been to draw him aside at some point in the evening and issue a quiet warning.
That plan changed the moment Templeton’s greedy eyes raked over Miss Harland’s figure.
Dominic seized her hand, pulling her through the crowd.
Templeton stood, clearly panicked. “Please, Hawke. Hear me out.” He raised his hands as if to ward off a blow. “There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Damn right.” Dominic fought to maintain his usual cool indifference, but he’d not felt a rage like this since—well, it didn’t matter when. “Touch her again and they’ll be picking your limbs off the Thames foreshore.”
Templeton swallowed hard. “From the tone of your note, I thought you were done with her.”
Dominic squared his shoulders, ready to grab the fop by the throat, but Miss Harland took offence before he had the chance.
“Done with me? How quaint, my lord. I wasn’t aware you planned to pass me around like a calling card.” She released his hand and raised her chin in cool defiance. “Let me be clear. I’ll tell Hawke when we’re done.”
Dominic might have applauded and offered a grin as smug as the devil’s. But someone laughed behind him, and he couldn’t afford to lose the upper hand.
“We both know you can’t get enough of me, love.”
She turned, her coy mask firmly in place. “And no woman will ever satisfy you as I do.”
He cursed inwardly.
Because she might be right.
“Can we forget this?” Templeton almost begged.
“Yes. But you’re no longer welcome in my house.”
“You’re banning me from Shadowmere?” Templeton stared like the bailiffs had come knocking. “But I’ve paid to attend the Autumn Masque. Hawke, be reasonable. I’m sure we can resolve this in a gentlemanly fashion.”
“Yes, with pistols or swords?”
“That’s not what his lordship meant.” Miss Harland laid a calming hand on his chest. Doubtless his heart thumped wildly against her palm, a truth he couldn’t hide.
If he couldn’t hurt Harland, he’d settle for this fool.
“Then what did he mean?”
Templeton answered quickly. “That we might agree on a way I can repay the slight. A favour owed still holds value.”
Dominic didn’t have to think too hard.
