“There was nothing left to pilfer. He had some decency, so he took a foolhardy bet instead of stealing the deed to the Wilcoxes’ house. The woman you wish to insult tried to keep a son and his family’s honor and nearly destroyed her family’s company.”
“So it’s true. You’ve reconciled. She spun her magic and made you a champion. How could you and Tavis love her so much? She’s nothing. Just pay me, and I won’t bother you again. I’ll disappear, and you can keep pretending that half of you is as good as all the rest.”
I step closer to him, farther from the desk because I know the man is about to be foul. “How about you go on your way and never bother Katherine and the Wilcoxes again?”
“Why? So you can honor a whore? Are you even sure, Torrance, the child is yours? Loose women will lie about anything to get money.”
Smiling in his face, I whack him with my cane. I strike him hard and fast across his leg like a spanking. “Disrespect Katherine again, and we will meet at dawn. You know I’m a good shot. All Torrance men are.”
Rubbing his leg, he backs up.
“Now you see, you made me lose my temper. A gentleman should never do this. Go on your way, and I’ll make these debts totaling roughly ten thousand pounds go away. You’d have a new start. I’ll give you an extra hundred to move out of the city. I hear Bristol is looking for swindlers. Your prejudiced attitude would do well there.”
“You’re quick with a cane against an unarmed man, but do you think you could silence me? One word in a public event and the former Lady Hampton will never recover her reputation.”
“Be smart, Palmers. Leave here with something.” I draw out the statement Ashcroft drafted to keep Katherine safe from accusations. “There are enough debts to send you to debtors’ prison. Don’t you want to be safe? That’s all anyone wants.”
“You wager too much, Torrance.” He crumples the paper. “Might’ve left all well and done if you’d get her to give me Wilcox Coal. But this is a bigger fight. Women like her, deceivers, should not be able to use men—”
“And make them better men!”
Palmers grumbles. “Torrance, I want the company, the money, the whole twenty thousand pounds, and the house on Ground Street, too. Agree, or I will expose this jezebel tonight. She’s a bigamist and a liar. She deserves nothing.”
“Then you get nothing. And you better hope that I forgive this second outburst.” I point my cane at his chest. “Leave, now.Never think to bother her or our family. If you do, you will live to regret it.”
“I’m broke, but I have time to make her pay. I’ll ruin her. Even if it takes years, I will have my due.”
Time and years—those are my greater enemies. I’ve put Palmers in check. Now, I must end the game. “You’ve been warned. Leave now while you have a shred of dignity. I’m getting ready to give a toast to my daughter. I don’t want to see your face in the crowd.”
He sneers. “I’m going to watch this fine toast to the brat and her whorish mother.” Palmers starts to leave. “And tell the mistress, hiding under the desk, to keep quiet about what men say.”
The door slams behind him.
I rush back to the desk. I hope Lydia has not heard most of this. “Come out now, Lidochka. It’s safe.”
She does, smoothing out the wrinkles settling in her skirt. “He’s mean.”
“And he’ll not leave, not before he tries to embarrass your mother tonight.”
She fists her palm. “Just toss him out.”
“Nyet.” I loosen my grip, easing my tense fingers from the handle of my cane. “Men like Palmers won’t disappear. He thinks life owes him something. This type of evil doesn’t go away until it’s fully exposed and neutered.”
“That means you will punish him? Those big words again are confusing.”
“Yes, Lydia, I will ensure he is punished.”
She looks at her gloved hands. “He doesn’t just hate my mother because you and Tavis loved her?”
“Lydia, I don’t know why it’s so hard for some to understand that I will champion a beautiful—”
“Blackamoor woman. He yelled that to Tavis. He used other bad words. And the Palmerses never saw about Tavis when he was sick. Only ever came once.” For a moment, her head dips. “Katherine is too nice for them.”
I raise Lydia’s chin and bless her forehead. “You’re getting older. Though we shelter you, you have eyes and ears. You might know about the prejudice your mother has faced. That’s one of the reasons I forgave her for hiding you.”
“Gossips and stern men are awful. No wonder Aunt Georgie is afraid to sing in public. Or Scarlett has to wear disguises to make people better. Gossip and mean people are stupid. Make them go away. Banish them.”
“Men like Palmers will always be present. The hate is their problem. I pray we see a day when this changes.”
