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Mrs. Smitherman retreated a step, but in a show of defiance, jutted her pointed chin upward. It rather made her look like a bird. A stork or a crane. No, a heron. The bird’s gray plumage was a perfect match for her ash-gray cloak.
He approached her, then leaned down to speak directly in her ear. She smelled of camphor, stale violets, and even staler cat. “Mrs. Smitherman, you will refund Miss Harwood’s deposit.”
Her jaw sagged in protest, but he silenced her with a sharp, furious shake of his head.
“Do not speak,” he ordered, his tone hard as granite.
She snapped her mouth shut with an audible click, outraged fury flashing in her eyes. Cesspool brown. He’d finally identified her eye color. Appropriate for such a foul creature.
“Within the hour, I shall send a wagon around to collect Miss Harwood’s possessions and the coin you owe her. You will assure that not a single item goes missing from her belongings. If you so much as breathe a hint of anything improper between us, I shall, without hesitation or recrimination,ruin you.” He curved his mouth into an unfeeling, wintery smile.
Thoroughly relishing the discussion, the rotund trio exchanged gratified, catty glances. If they’d gleefully rubbed their hands together, he’d not have been surprised.
“You…you wouldn’t dare.” Mrs. Smitherman’s unsteady voice and pallid skin belied her false bravado.
“Wouldn’t I? You do not know me at all, madam,” he said icily. “I would. Gladly, and without a jot of remorse, in your case.” He flicked a short glance at Willow.
She regarded him with something akin to trepidatious appreciation. Grateful and equally appalled. Few ever witnessed this side of him.
Raking a scornful gaze over the stick of a woman before him, he addressed her as if she were the most loathsome of riffraff.
“Defy me in this, madam, and you’ll never have another boarder. Nor will anyone respectable ever frequent your tearoom again. No merchant will commence business with you, and every shop you typically frequent will, henceforth, turn you away.” Eyebrow cocked, his gaze bored mercilessly into hers. “Have I made myself perfectly clear, Mrs. Smitherman?”
