Page 28

Footsteps—rapid, angry tread fall—echoed outside the library door, and Jack had just swiveled to look over his shoulder when Roxina Danforth and Shelby Tellinger plowed in, one after the other.

“Elli?” Miss Danforth came up short, and Tellinger bumped into her, almost sending her to the floor. He grabbed her arm to steady her, but she jerked away as if he’d scalded her.

Her glare would’ve incinerated another man on the spot, but Tellinger merely returned her scowl and stepped around her.

Those two were constantly at odds.

What set them off this evening?

“Are we interrupting?” Tellinger could see blasted well that they were.

Nevertheless, Jack rose and pocketed the dice. “No, we’ve just finished. Miss Penford wanted a private hazard lesson before she undertook a game with others.”

“But, Elli is—” Miss Danforth clamped her mouth shut, giving her friend an I-don’t-know-what-is-going-but-I’m-keeping-my-mouth-closed look.

Jack applauded her loyalty.

Tellinger planted a hand on his hip, his impatience for Jack and Aubriella to leave palpable. “Ah, well then. I wish you luck, Miss Penford.”

“I can stay.” Aubriella touched Miss Danforth’s forearm. “If you wish.”

To her credit, though white lines bracketed her mouth, Miss Danforth didn’t drag her friend into the fray. “Not a bit of it, dearest. Go along. I simply need to disabuse Mr. Tellinger of a misconception.”

Tellinger snorted, barely suppressed ire radiating from him.

“I can stay as well.” Jack wasn’t about to leave a woman alone with a man as angry as Tellinger.

“Oh, for the love of God.” Tellinger stomped across the room to stand before the waning fire and stare into the coals. “I simply want to know where her profligate brother has skulked off to.”

As up to this moment, Tellinger had been Mitchel Danforth’s closest friend, his hostility toward Danforth came as quite a surprise.

“It’s quite all right, Mr. Matherfield. Aubriella.” The epitome of sereneness, Miss Danforth folded her hands across her abdomen, though she couldn’t quite control her timorous smile. “I only need a few moments with Mr. Tellinger. I promise you. I shall join you before I’m missed.”

“I’m not going to harm her,” Tellinger muttered as he faced them. “She’ll be along in five minutes. If not, feel free to return and call me to task.”

Aubriella nibbled her lower lip in indecision. “Are you quite sure, Zina?”

Pursing her lips and casting Tellinger an annoyed glance, Miss Danforth nodded.

As Jack followed Aubriella from the library, Tellinger demanded, “Where is he, Roxina? Where is Mitchel?”