The sweet sensation warming her wasn’t new though. She and Ethan had shared only a few hours together, but while she didn’t remember every word they’d exchanged, she did remember how he’d made her feel.
Taken care of. Important. Worthy of love. The most wonderful feelings.
His expression softened. “My return home has been chaotic. I trust you and David are well.”
“We are, my lord.” She fiddled with her hands, bobbing a quick curtsy. He was a marquess now.
His tone held a strained note she couldn’t ignore. He had to be surprised to find her still trapped in her loveless marriage with Jacob. She was surprised as well. But things out of her control had happened in a situation where she already had very little control. She had the urge to explain herself to him as guilt gnawed at her, to tell him she wasn’t weak.
I didn’t mean to stay with Jacob. I need money. Jacob controls every penny I spend. I have to cheat and lie to set aside a shilling with the constant fear of being caught. I walk the streets only to pick up coins.
“You know this man?” Jacob asked, adjusting his cravat and stepping in front of Ethan.
“This man is His Lordship Ethan Hertford, the Marquess of Stark,” Cora said, shocked by Jacob’s lack of respect. Ethan was a marquess.
“I know who he is, you idiot.” Jacob bared his teeth.
Emerald flames lit Ethan’s gaze in a moment. “I will not tolerate that language, Roxbury. I heartily discourage you from disparaging Lady Roxbury in front of me.” The ‘or else I’ll rip your limbs off their sockets’ was left hanging between them.
A vein in Jacob’s temple beat a quick tempo. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to confront a marquess who was also highly decorated on top of being a proclaimed war hero.
Jacob turned towards her. “In which circumstances did you meet the marquess?” The last word sounded like the hiss of a snake.
Cora feared the moment she would be in the carriage alone with him. “Lord Stark helped me during the Colchester earthquake. We were trapped in the church together.”
“You never told me,” Jacob said.
“I knew you wouldn’t care.”
She and Ethan exchanged a long stare. An entire conversation was shared between them. He remembered everything about her. The softening of his features and the way his eyelids drooped a little told her that.
“I would have cared to know you’d met Stark,” Jacob said.
Ethan tensed as if ready to punch Jacob. “Why are you here, Roxbury? I told you I’d meet you next Tuesday. I do not appreciate you coming here and disturbing the guests, and I certainly would never allow you to hit a lady in front of me.”
“I own this building?—”
“Only a share.”
“Still a share. And the lady is my wife. What I do with her is none of your business.” Jacob moved to grab her arm, but Ethan was faster and blocked him again.
“I meant what I said.” Ethan’s wrath thickened the air. “You will not hurt her. You will not touch her. You will not insult her.”
As much as Cora appreciated Ethan’s standing up for her, his involvement would only anger Jacob further. She only had to endure Jacob’s presence a little longer, for her son. If Jacob caught a hint of her plan to escape, he would take David away from her and lock her up.
“Why would I listen to you?” Jacob used his charming, deceiving voice, seemingly not angry.
“Because if you hurt her, Roxbury, I’ll personally talk with the queen. A marquess who has recently been awarded with the Victoria Cross can be very persuasive. And the queen is particularly sensitive to women’s situations.”
That got Jacob’s attention. No better argument than the queen to force him to listen. Her power could destroy him, strip him of his status, of his wealth.
Squandering money wasn’t among his many vices, and he did have a talent for business. As a man without scruples, he didn’t care about the nature of the business. He understood money and status better than he understood humans.
Jacob took a step back. “Why do you care?”
Ethan stalked him, radiating fury. “I care about men with no honour because, without honour, there’s no respect. And I care about how men with no honour treat their wives. And I mean it. If you hurt Cora, the queen will be informed.”
Jacob pointed a finger at him. “You’d better be careful, Stark, because I can bring this place down brick by brick. I own the land where this damn building stands . You need me if you want to keep this bunch of lunatics under this roof.”
