She nodded. “Yes. I think I would.” Meeting with Robert on neutral ground, in a place where he had no authority, would make it easier for her to face him. “Thank you, Henry.”
Rising, Viola rounded her desk. “Let’s go and inform both Steadford Hayes of the change.” She collected her bonnet and spencer from a hook on the wall and stopped to think. “Unless, of course, you have other plans. I do not want to impose since—”
“Everything else can wait,” he said. Taking her spencer out of her hands, he helped her put it on. He leaned in closer and whisper against her ear. “Helping you is the only thing that matters right now.”
A shiver dove under her skin and she sucked in a breath, startled as always by the visceral effect he had on her. He didn’t linger after he spoke but stepped toward the door, where he waited for her to gather her wits while regarding her with no small amount of mischief. She moved toward him and he, devil that he was, decided to add, “If I’m lucky, you’ll thank me later with a kiss.”
Unable to think, let alone speak after that had been said, she preceded him out of the hospital and toward his carriage. Once inside, she managed to wait until they were well under way before crossing to where he sat on the opposite bench and pressing her mouth to his. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, breathless as he slid his mouth down her neck to the crook of her shoulder. “I don’t want to wait until later.”
He chuckled against her and playfully nipped her flesh with his teeth, sending hot little shivers straight into her belly. “Don’t ever apologize for desiring me, Viola.” His mouth found hers once again, kissing her until she felt light and restless and desperate for more. “It pleases me to no end, knowing that you do.” Another kiss followed before he steered her back to the opposite bench. Eyes glowing, he regarded her while she straightened her clothes and her bonnet. “Lord help me, the things I want to do to you...” He grinned and shook his head while her entire face seemed to catch on fire.
The carriage drew to a halt, and Henry reached for the handle and opened the door. He helped her alight, and together they marched up the front steps of Mr. Steadford’s place of business. But the barrister wasn’t in, so they left a note with his secretary, informing Mr. Steadford of the proposed change in location and continued on to Mr. Hayes’s office. A sharply dressed younger gentleman opened the door when they knocked. He took Henry’s card and asked them to wait in the foyer, returning moments later to usher them through to Hayes’s office.
Entering, they found the man they sought keeping company with another gentleman Henry didn’t recognize.
“Good morning, Mr. Lowell,” Hayes said. He nodded toward Viola. “Your Grace. Are you acquainted with the Honorable Mr. Justice Atkins? He and I were just discussing available court dates.”
Henry addressed Atkins stiffly. “A pleasure to meet you, Judge.”
Atkins gave Henry and Viola an assessing look. “Likewise.”
“Turns out we might be able to settle this case quicker than I had expected,” Hayes said with an eager look of anticipation. “Another case has been rescheduled so there’s an opening ten days from today.”
“Ten days.” Viola almost choked on the words as she spoke them. “But...”
“I sympathize with you, Duchess, truly I do,” Hayes said.st
Viola very much doubted it.
“What if we’re not ready to go to court yet?” Henry asked.
“Unfortunately, once the case has been brought before a judge,hedecides when to set the date,” Atkins said. “The tenth of May suits well since we would otherwise have to wait at least a year.”
A year sounded wonderful to Viola. She looked at Hayes, hoping to grasp just one straw. “You cannot possibly be ready to go to court after spending only a month gathering evidence.”
He shrugged. “My clerks have been particularly efficient where you are concerned and... well... Tremaine has paid a steep price to expedite the matter.”
“I was under the impression that he needed funds,” Henry muttered with a jarring note of sarcasm.
Hayes chuckled. “Right you are, Mr. Lowell, but as it turns out, his stay in India wasn’t wasted. He’s still able to afford a comfortable lifestyle, though I daresay that the money he expects to make on selling your hospital, Duchess, will help him a great deal.”
Viola bristled. “It will never be his.”
Hayes smirked. “I think you’ll realize how wrong you are about that when I present you with my findings tomorrow.”
“About that,” Henry said. “Her Grace prefers not to visit Tremaine House again so I would like to propose we meet at my home instead.”
Hayes seemed to consider. He glanced at Viola and then back at Henry before saying, “As you wish. I see no reason to oppose.”
Holding herself upright while the ground seemed to slip away beneath her feet, Viola glared at Hayes before turning to Atkins. “What do you stand to gain from all of this?”
“Viola,” Henry cautioned.
“I don’t like what you are implying,” Atkins growled.
“I’m sorry,” Viola said, “But who ever heard of a case progressing this fast?” She pointed an accusatory finger at the judge. “He’s obviously been bought.”
“I must caution you against accusing the man who’ll be deciding your fate,” Henry whispered.
