“No offence, gentlemen.” Jacob sounded genuinely apologetic, but she knew better. “We’re raising money for anoble cause, and I’m afraid your presence here might discourage some of our most sensitive guests from taking part in the fundraising, which would undermine the purpose of tonight’s event. Many ladies would find your presence disturbing.”
“Disturbing?” Ethan’s jaw clenched tightly.
Jacob waved a hand to encompass Ethan’s party. “Scars, missing limbs, lack of other body parts. Surely, you must consider the ladies’ delicate feelings. They wouldn’t appreciate being exposed to such a crude reality. You and your men might be used to seeing such disfigurements, but the ladies are not.”
Lady Kingsley gripped her sash, glancing from Jacob to Ethan. “But Lord Commander Stark is a war hero. The queen herself presented him with a Victoria Cross.”
Jacob sighed. “Alas, the commander was disfigured himself, wasn’t he?”
Really? Cora studied Ethan. She couldn’t see any scars or missing limbs.
“I…” Lady Kingsley stammered, fiddling with her sash again.
Jacob leant closer to the lady and lowered his voice. “His right ear was chopped off.”
Lady Kingsley turned to Ethan. “Good gracious.”
“I didn’t know,” Cora said, feeling guilty for not having inquired about Ethan’s health as he’d done about hers.
“Why would you?” Jacob pinned her with another burning glare for her only. “Lord Stark doesn’t mention his infirmity, and rightfully so. What sort of gentleman would let the world know he’s disfigured?”
“My lady?” Cora angled towards Lady Kingsley.
“Well…” Lady Kingsley tormented her poor sash again.
Ethan tensed, causing his cloak to stretch across his broad chest. “I think that Lord Roxbury can—” He fell silent when Mr. Purnell coughed in his fist politely. Ethan blew out a breath. “Mylady, thank you for your invitation, but we don’t want to upset any of your guests and ruin the evening. Thus, we’re leaving.”
“You can’t!” The protest rushed out of Cora’s mouth before she could think about her words.
Every head turned towards her. Great. She’d yelled and ordered a marquess to stay.
“You shouldn’t leave,” she said in a lower tone. “It’s unfair.”
“I will not stay where I’m not wanted, or worse, I won’t cause any disruption to an important charity event.” Ethan put his hat back on. “And I won’t let my friends be ridiculed for showing the marks of their bravery and duty.” His expression turned glacial when he slanted towards Jacob. “Appearances are deceiving, Roxbury. We might look like circus freaks, but we aren’t different from any other person.”
Jacob remained deadpan. Not an ounce of sympathy flickered across his face.
Lady Kingsley wrung her hands. “But… Lord Stark, if you and your friends take the last row of seats where the other guests won’t pay you any attention, perhaps…”
Cora parted her lips in horror. “My lady.”
Lady Kingsley had the decency to blush. “It was only an idea.”
“We won’t disturb you any further, madam.” With an elegant bow, Ethan dismissed himself.
The others copied him. He walked with his friends towards the set of double doors.
“Really, Roxbury,” Lady Kingsley said, flustering. “I fear your concerns are rather unfounded. My guests won’t be horrified by a group of loyal servants of the queen.”
“What would you do if the ladies walked out of the auction or worse, fainted because of those men?” Jacob asked. “We want to end up on the front page ofThe Timesfor the right reasons,madam. Our wish to help those poor women should be our main concern.”
“I guess you’re right,” Lady Kingsley said without confidence.
“That’s why I offered to buy your share of the veterans’ rest home.” Jacob blocked the lady’s view of the leaving men. “If you sell me your share, you won’t have to deal with Lord Stark and his questionable friends. You’re too precious and kind to be involved with those rowdy soldiers.”
Cora released a sharp breath as Lady Kingsley lacked the strength to tell Jacob to leave her alone. “My lady, you shouldn’t?—”
“Besides,” he said, cutting her off. “Lord Stark isn’t welcome in some circles due to his aggressive refusal to accept other people’s opinions on military matters.”
