“Miss Carmichael,” she told him.“My sister and I would like to acquire a membership please.”
A second of stunned silence followed and then the oaf let out a howl of laughter that tested her every restraint.She wanted to wallop him just to show him this was no laughing matter.
“Um…” Mr.Reed looked more perplexed than amused.“I’m afraid rules are rules.Women aren’t permitted to enter this place.Not even the current members’ female relations are granted entry.”
“That’s quite a shame,” Samantha said before taking a quick right step and hurrying straight past the oaf.She nodded toward the rest of the men, all of whom had halted their practice and either gaped or frowned at her as she headed toward the side room from which Mr.Reed had appeared.
Raised voices behind her indicated some sort of arguing.She ignored it, checking only to see if Hazel had managed to follow her into the room before planting herself on a plain wooden chair that stood beside three others next to a wall.She placed her bag in her lap.Hazel sat down as well once she reached her, and together they waited for Mr.Reed to join them.
It took a moment before he did so, his expression no longer as pleasant as it had been initially.It now showed hints of extreme frustration.
“Miss Carmichael,” he began, choosing to stand rather than sit.“I do not appreciate having my hand forced in any way.”
“I understand,” she told him gently.“Please accept my sincerest apologies.I’m sure it wouldn’t have come to this had I not been confronted by that rude individual out there.”
“That man is the Duke of Wrengate,” Mr.Reed hissed while sending the door a frantic look.“He and the rest of the members come here with every assurance that they may train in peace without female interference.As such, he has every right to be alarmed by your presence.”
“I would have imagined they’d like to show off,” Hazel muttered.
Samantha tamped down her humor and gave Mr.Reed a frank look.Having a duke stand against her was problematic, but she was determined to try and work around it.“While I understand such reasoning, I hope you will at least take a moment to consider my proposition.”
“Granting you membership is out of the question.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a woman,” he told her as though there were something wrong with her head.
“And what?Women have no need to defend themselves?”She pressed her lips together and tilted her chin while pinning him with a sharp stare.“Need I remind you that there is a murderer on the loose and that not every woman is fortunate enough to have a brother at their beck and call?”
“Perhaps it would be prudent for you to remain at home until the murderer is caught,” Mr.Reed suggested.
“That’s a preposterous notion,” Samantha told him, “and well you know it.Instead, we are prepared to pay you handsomely for any lessons you may provide.”
“I’d risk losing the other members.”He shook his head.“Can’t quite see the benefit in that.So while I appreciate your interest, I really must ask you to leave.As it is, you’ve caused quite a stir, not to mention discomfort.”
He wasn’t making this easy.Then again, she’d not expected him to.The only remaining chance was appealing to his conscience.
“I would urge you to reconsider,” she said as she stood.“Imagine if I too get murdered.How will you feel then, knowing I came to you for assistance and that you refused to help?Won’t you always wonder if I might have lived had you shown me how to land an effective punch?”
Uncertainty finally flickered in his grey eyes, but anger drew his mouth into a tight line.“That’s a terrible burden to place on anyone, Miss Carmichael.For that alone, I want you gone.”
Accepting that there was nothing more left to be said or done, Samantha thanked Mr.Reed for his time and departed with Hazel in tow, past Wrengate, who sent her a glare.She answered it with a broad smile, just to annoy him, and yanked the door open.
No sooner had she stepped onto the pavement than she spotted a tall figure striding toward them.
Mr.Croft was returning here and as luck would have it, she was no longer inside.But maybe that didn’t matter.Maybe crossing paths here would be more effective.Maybe…
“Miss Carmichael?”His voice was firm, though not without an underlying hint of surprise.
Samantha cleared her throat.“Mr.Croft.A pleasure to see you again.Please allow me to present my sister, Miss Hazel Stevens.”
“The pleasure is entirely mine,” he murmured, in response to which Hazel’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
Samantha sent her gaze skyward and sighed.When she looked at Mr.Croft next, she found him studying her with a puzzled expression.
“I wouldn’t have thought to find you here.”He jutted his chin toward the building from which she’d just been expelled.
“An unusual venue for any woman, I’ll agree,” Samantha told him.“I’m ashamed to admit my reason for coming.It seems so ridiculous now, but since you asked, the truth is we’re frightened.”
