Page 76 of The Language of Love

Percy’s face twisted into a snarl at Henry’s confident—almost arrogant—tone. “You find my sister’s pain amusing?”

Henry merely stared at him.

“This is all your fault.”

“Yes, it is,” Henry admitted, flicking a piece of lint from his cuff.

Percy lunged toward him.

Rather than take him by surprise, Henry flowed up from his chair as effortlessly as smoke rising from a chimney, looming over the other man, his muscular torso twice as broad. “You should think very carefully about what you are about to do, Bowman.”

“Percy!” both his parents shouted.

Aunt Agnes abandoned her sobbing daughter and grabbed her son’s arm to stop him—easy to do since Percy had wisely backed away the instant Henry had uncoiled himself from his chair.

“Please, Percy—come away from him.”

Thomas Bowman leaned over his desk, propping himself up on his fists, his pale blue eyes positively lethal. “If you speak even one foolish word about duels or challenges, Percy, I shall thrash you myself. Now, all of you leave us—except Annis.”

“Surely you are not including me in that order?” his wife said.

Her uncle hesitated, cast a quick glance at Annis, and firmed his jaw. “Yes, you too, my dear.”

“Why is Annis staying?” Aunt Agnes’s wild eyes slid to Henry. “Good God, Thomas, surely you cannot mean to—”

“Please control yourself, Mrs. Bowman,” her husband snapped. “Now, all of you—please leave.”

It took longer than it should have for the four Bowmans to vacate the room, but finally the door shut behind them.

Uncle Thomas turned to Henry. “Please, my lord, will you sit?”

“Your son is correct, Mr. Bowman.” Henry crossed one elegant, pantaloon-clad leg over the other. “It is because of me that your daughter has become enamored of a pauper.”

“My daughters are both generously dowered, my lord. If Susanna truly wishes to marry the man, I will not withhold support to show my displeasure.”

Annis could see her uncle’s words surprised Henry, who murmured, “How very democratic of you.”

Her uncle clenched his jaws but ignored the comment. “It is you and your behavior with my niece I wish to address.” He pulled his gaze away from Henry and turned it on Annis. “I am profoundly disappointed in you, Annis.”

She swallowed but refused to look away.

“There is no need to punish her for a few carriage—”

“My footman followed you today, my lord.” Uncle Thomas forced the words through clenched teeth. “What he saw her doing is the reason I don’t want my wife or daughters in this room right now.” His eyes slid to Annis. “I’d say I was ashamed to speak of such matters in front of my niece, but as she is a wanton—”

“That’s enough,” Henry said. For the second time in as many minutes, he stood. This time, it was her uncle he loomed over. “Are you telling me you had one of your servants spy on your niece?”

“That is exactly what I am saying, sir!”

Annis covered her mouth with her hand. Good God. Somebody had seenwhat she’d done today.

Henry seemed to expand to twice his already intimidating size. “How dare you send a man to—”

Her uncle leapt to his feet, startling both Annis and Henry. “I dare because she is all but betrothed to another man! A man to whom I gave my word.”

Henry staggered back as if her uncle had struck him. “What?”

Both men turned to Annis, who felt as though somebody had lowered a building onto her chest. “Er—”