“Alas, Lady Madelyn has grown weary and needs to go home. I think it best we accompany her,” Rob replied.
Eli strode to the door and stood watching, his eyes boring into Fanny. He appeared sound. Fanny saw no blood, no bruises, only grim determination. Though relieved, she pursed her lips. His expression would draw attention.
Their hostess glanced toward the door. “I see your handsome brother has come to join you. I’ll have my staff order your carriage brought round.” She left them there.
“Eli, would you kindly escort Fanny to the carriage while I see to my wife?” Rob said, giving him a pointed look.
Her smile trembled when she took Eli’s arm, but her mind was clear enough. He looked ready to murder. She had to put a stop to that. She peered back at the painting. “Really, Mr. Benson, the painting does have a grim air about it, but I think you exaggerate.”
Startled, he glanced up at Mr. Turner’s work.
Fanny whispered, “Your fierce expression is drawing stares. People will think I’ve offended you.”
Eli’s eyes, the color of warm chocolate, melted into tender appreciation when he met hers. “Never.” A sad sort of smile accompanied his words. “Never.”
They took their time walking to the entrance, glancing at each other often. “Wasn’t this a lovely evening?” Fanny asked, her gaze challenging him.
“It was indeed,” he replied. Dropping his voice, he added, “We’ll talk on the way home.”
*
“Once more, Eli.Don’t leave out a detail,” Rob demanded in the dark carriage rolling toward Chelsea and home.
The six of them huddled in the Benson carriage, Rob and Lucy side by side, with Fanny next to Lucy on the back-facing bench. Eli sat next to the Morgans, across from Fanny. They faced forward as a courtesy to Maddy’s delicate stomach. Eli endured his brother’s questioning, but his eyes—and his heart—were fixed on the woman across from him.
Eli described what he had witnessed on the street outside the Danburys’ garden in Mayfair one more time.
“Bateson threatened Grimsley, you’re absolutely certain?” Brynn Morgan asked.
“As certain as can be. At first, I couldn’t be positive it was him; I was that startled. But he stood in the light, I’m certain. The associate ordering the earl to do his bidding. It makes no sense.” Eli had gone over it in his mind several times. There could be only one conclusion.
“Grimsley wouldn’t put up with that unless Bateson has some sort of information or leverage to do great harm,” Rob murmured, voicing Eli’s conclusion. “What we thought was a bodyguard may be a shadow.”
“That Grimsley has no honor where women are concerned is not a shock. The rest of it, though…” Maddy shook her head and let her words trail off.
“It is lucky Eli followed the worm and overheard it,” Rob said. “The information matters.”
“Not luck that I followed. I intended to rearrange his filthy mouth when I caught up with him,” Eli muttered.
“Then it is our good fortune we didn’t have to help you avoid transportation for assaulting a peer of the realm,” Rob said with a sly smile. “You have to do that sort of thing more discreetly. Dark alcove. Unknown assailant. No witnesses.”
“Are you offering to teach me?” Eli asked hopefully.
“Stop it, you two. Violence won’t help!” Lucy exclaimed, the words bursting out. “Grimsley’s obsession with Fanny appears to be for the crudest of predictable reasons. Some people believe an elevated title gives them privilege to act in the lowest possible manner.”
“At least we’re free of the slimy earl and know him for what he is.” Maddy didn’t sound confident.
“I’m not such an innocent as to be stupefied by how horrid he turned out to be. Looks deceive as well,” Fanny replied. “I’ve come to the conclusion our nasty earl pushed me into that closet at the theater. He did it so he could rescue me, as a ploy to earn my trust. He underestimated me. Men often do because of my size.”
That’s my little warrior, Eli thought. Fanny’s pluck and backbone were what had attracted him to her that first day.
“Do you think Grimsley will heed the marchioness and leave London?” Fanny asked.
“People like Grimsley value their social status. She could ruin him, and he knows it. He’ll retreat for a while,” Maddy said.
“But where does that put us?” Lucy asked.
“With Bateson to deal with,” Rob murmured, peering at Eli.
