The lady in question halted and pivoted to face Sutton. “Yes, Mr. Sutton?”
“I did not agree to aid you in this madcap plan of yours.”
A small smile crept over the lady’s countenance. “You will, sir.”
Sutton’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t.”
“If you will not help me, I will find another who shall,” the woman countered calmly. “But now, the hour does grow late, and I fear my sister will go fretting over me. I must go.”
“My lady,” Sutton called when she would have gone, staying her once more.
“Mr. Sutton, I have already told you that I must go,” she said, her voice firm and almost scolding.
“See that one of my guards follows you home,” Sutton said, then turned to the guard who stood to the side of his office door. “Hugh, make certain to follow my guest. I’ll not have any harm coming to her.”
Lady Octavia rolled her eyes heavenward. “Sutton, I told you, I do not need your protection. I travel about London as I wish, and no harm has ever befallen me.”
Sutton glared. “It won’t start on my watch.”
“As you wish.” The lady shrugged. “I shall see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll not be here,” Sutton growled.
She ignored him and moved down the corridor with the commanding elegance of a queen, the guard—Hugh—following in her wake.
At last, Sutton turned his attention away from the woman he had been kissing and Lord knew what else in his office. “What do you want? Caro, where is your wig, and why the hell is so much of your bosom hanging out of your bloody gown?”
Fine time for the bastard to take note of his sister.
He stepped forward, intent upon setting the matter straight. “You are forcing your sisters to dress like ladybirds and sing for your patrons whilst you are playing at tossing up petticoats. Do you know that one of those bleeding lords was intent upon forcing himself on Caro this evening? She is goddamned lucky I came upon her when I did.”
Sutton went ashen, his gaze flitting to his sister. “Caro? What the devil? Who did it? I’ll have the bastard banished from the hell.”
“It was Viscount Derby,” Caro said. “Have you had complaints about him from others?”
Sutton’s lip curled. “This will be the last complaint I receive about him. That’s a promise. But as for you, patient, what the hell were you doing in the public rooms? I’ve warned you not to cause trouble.”
“I would apologize but I’m not sorry I was there to help Caro. She won’t be singing for the entertainment of your patrons any longer, either.”
Sutton’s eyes narrowed as he regarded him, stroking his jaw. “You’re a bold one ain’t you, patient?”
The name irked him. He wanted to know who he was, damn it.
“I’m aprotectiveone,” he corrected grimly. “Someone has to look after her. You and your siblings had thrown her to the wolves.”
“Timothy was on duty tonight,” Sutton said, addressing Caro once more. “Did you not see him?”
Caro shook her head. “One of the patrons accused another of cheating, and he’d gone to investigate. He hadn’t returned.”
“Curse it.” Sutton rubbed his jaw some more. “I’ll speak with him, and I’ll add guards to the floor.”
“Damned right you will,” he said, still furious over what could have happened to Caro and what she’d had to endure.
Sutton’s look turned speculative. “And what’re you doing chasing after my sister, patient? Didn’t I warn you to keep your distance?”
He raised a brow. “You can be glad I didn’t listen.”
A sharp laugh tore from the other man. “Christ. I’m starting tolikeyou.”
