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“I own Fortuna,” Mrs. Dorrian-Lane reminded him icily. “I do what I wish. Your title has no bearing whatsoever on my decision. You are a cheat, and even so, you owe the house thousands of pounds, which I expect you intend to pay promptly.”

That most definitely held an unspoken threat.

Mrs. Dorrian-Lane gravitated her attention to Owen. “And you, Mr. Elligon, are a sniveling mushroom, always hanging on the coat sleeves of others. I’ve only tolerated your presence this past fortnight because you lose profusely and so regularly that I would be a fool not to take advantage of your ineptitude. And unlike Pimbleton, you’ve paid your gambling debts thus far.”

Vanessa had never met such a coldly calculating woman.

“See what you’ve done, Vanessa?” Owen sneered, hatred stamped upon his perspiring features. “A match between you and Pimbleton would’ve benefited everyone. You’ll pay for this, you selfish, ungrateful wench. Just see if you don’t. I’m not done with you yet.”

“Come near her again, Elligon, and you’ll have me to answer to.” Kingston’s lethal tone and flinty gaze would’ve intimidated a man far braver than her spineless stepbrother.

Owen blanched but remained arrogantly defiant. He’d never been one to exercise common sense. “Barclay, this is none of your affair.”

“Ah, but I’ve made it my affair.” Another smile cocked Kingston’s strong mouth upward. “I promised Gabriel I’d look after his mother and sister.”

Vanessa’s regard snapped to his face, and she knitted her forehead in puzzlement.

He had?

So why had he never called or written all these months?

Did he even know Mama had died?

“Well, since my stepmother had the grace to die shortly after Gabriel did, you shan’t have that burden foisted on you as I did.”

Pain and outrage stalled Vanessa’s breathing for a heartbeat.

How dare he, the ungrateful wretch?

He’d been a burden to them, practically since his father had been laid to rest. Always needing funds and sending his overdue bills to Mama to pay. Requiring certain foods to be prepared and harassing the servants to no end with his trivial demands.

“You were never responsible for us, you loathsome piece of human excrement,” Vanessa said with as much composure as she could marshal. “Nor did you do a single thing to make our lives easier or provide for us. Both of which, I’ll remind you, were done for you for years without a word of thanks or appreciation.”

“When my father married your mother, everything she possessed should’ve rightfully become his,” he seethed, leaning toward her. “But the bloody fool man was in love and permitted your mother to keep her monies and properties. Just as he did you.”

Ah, so envy was what had chaffed his bum all these years.

She angled her head.

“No, the women of my family are intelligent and intrepid and have used those qualities to assure their possessions remain theirs.” Slanting a glance to Mrs. Dorrian-Lane, she found the woman studying her with what might have been approval. “I’m sure Mrs. Dorrian-Lane can appreciate that sentiment.”

“Indeed, I can,” the proprietress acquiesced. “Well done, you and the females of your line.”

“We’ll see, Vanessa,” Owen jeered, a drop of spittle at the corner of his mouth. “There are ways.”

The asylum. Bedlam.

He’d have her declared insane and lock her away to suffer God only knew what horrors.

Vanessa shrank into Kingston, and he wrapped an arm around her waist in a protective gesture.

A feral sound vibrated in his throat as if he sensed her fear and would like to rip Owen limb from limb for causing it.

“Egeus, remove Mr. Elligon and Lord Pimbleton,” Mrs. Dorrian-Lane snapped. “My patience is at an end with that rabble.”

Owen pulled and twisted but was no match for the Egeus, who held his arm in a beefy fist and hauled him along. The other burly man followed close behind while the fourth guard remained near his employer.

Mrs. Dorrian-Lane turned and began moving again as if the whole thing hadn’t occurred or was of so little import, she couldn't waste another moment on it. The train of her elegant gown swished softly on the floor as she glided away.