His ribs instantly curled their way inward, both hands balling into tight fists when he spotted Lundquist, who sat beside his sister, Lady Lavinia.Adrian had gone to their home twice more this past week, intent on confronting the marquess once and for all, only to be told he’d gone out.
He could think of only one reason why he’d not noticed his presence here yet.His attention had been on Miss Carmichael.Not on the man who’d beaten Miss Fairchild.
Muscles straining against too tight skin, he clenched his teeth until his jaw ached.The marquess sat just two seats over, a look of pleasure upon his face as he listened to the music.
Adrian heard nothing besides a relentless pounding in his own ears.This man, so well connected the bloody chief magistrate let him go, was having a wonderful evening while the woman he had abused rotted away in her grave.A grave he might have put her in.
In which case he would have done the same to Evie.
Throat dry and with each new breath coming harder than the last, Adrian stared through the haze of anger that clouded his vision.He knew he was being irrational.Hadn’t he thought the same of Miss Edwina Fairchild when she’d insisted on Lundquist being the killer?There was no proof.Not yet, at least.
Going after a marquess without it would be complete madness.
But letting him get away with murder if he were guilty would be unforgivable.
Someone touched his arm.He registered words but didn’t know who’d spoken.
And then Lundquist turned, his gaze going straight to where Adrian sat.A smile followed and the next thing Adrian knew, his hands were at the bastard’s throat.
Confusion widened the marquess’s eyes.Horror followed as Adrian pushed his thumbs harder against his windpipe.Shouts erupted and chaos descended but Adrian paid it no mind.He had the marquess in his grasp, and he’d make damn sure he paid for what he had done.
Hands grabbed his arms and attempted to pull him away, forcing him to loosen his hold.He swung his arm back, catching the person with a hard jab.A curse echoed in Adrian’s ears as he latched onto Lundquist’s lapels and hauled him out of his seat.
He was vaguely aware of Lady Lavinia’s voice beseeching him to release her brother.For one fleeting second, Adrian thought of revealing he’d seen her enjoying herself a little too much with Mr.Julian Walker a few weeks prior.Not exactly the proper behavior one might expect from a woman being courted by the Earl of Redgrave.But hurting her just to get at her brother wasn’t Adrian’s style.
Besides, Lundquist’s eyes were already wide with shock, forcing a satisfied smirk to Adrian’s lips.He wanted the man to suffer for what he’d done to Miss Fairchild.And if he’d had a hand in her murder.If he’d killed Evie, Lady Camille, and Miss Irvine, he’d bloody well put him in the ground.
“What’s wrong with you,” the marquess sputtered.“Release me this instant.”
Adrian’s hands refused to loosen their grip.He leaned in closer, disgust scraping his throat as he whispered, “I know what you did to Miss Fairchild.”
The marquess paled.He shook his head.“I barely knew her.”
“Liar.”
“That’s enough,” a man’s harsh voice insisted.
Disagreeing, Adrian pulled his fist back with every intention of rearranging Lundquist’s teeth.Even if he weren’t guilty of murder, he’d struck a woman so hard she’d had bruises.For that alone, he needed to pay.But strong hands caught him, restricting the movement and pulling him backward.
Adrian struggled to free himself from the unwelcome grasp.“Let go of me, damn you.”
“Stop,” a familiar voice spoke next to his ear.Edward.“This isn’t to your advantage.”
“Go to hell,” Adrian spat, rounding on his friend in blind fury.All he saw now was betrayal – the person who’d helped deny him his vengeance.Because it wasn’t really Lundquist he had been facing, but rather his father.
Even now, as reality rushed in around him, his hands shook as fiercely as they had done two decades prior, when he’d seen the bruises upon Mama’s face and realized what had occurred.
Papa had taken him to London after that.The next time he’d seen his mother was right after Evie’s birth, at which point she’d been dead.
“Let’s separate these men a little.”Adrian recognized Eldridge’s ducal tone.
“This is outrageous,” a woman could be heard saying.
Another agreed.“He’s ruined the evening completely.”
Adrian tried to shrug off the men who restrained him, but it was to no avail.There were too many now.All, it would seem, intent on preventing the fight he longed to engage in.
“Bloody animal,” Lundquist snarled while doing his best to straighten his jacket.He glared at Adrian with contempt.“I want him arrested.Do you hear?”
