eyes held a wary glint, as if attempting to calculate just how much the Duke of Huntley might know of his nefarious plans for Brianna.
“What father would not desire to protect his daughter? London is a dangerous place for an innocent maiden,” he grunted.
“But she is not your daughter, is she?” Edmond pointed out. “She is only your stepdaughter.”
“She is in my care.”
“And in mine. As I recall, our guardianship is jointly held.”
Wade dropped his mouth in shock. Edmond did not entirely blame him. Stefan had been inexcusably negligent in ensuring that Brianna was secure and happy in her home. If his older brother had done his duty, she would not currently be creating chaos in his carefully laid plans.
“You have never taken an interest in the chit,” Wade gasped.
“An unfortunate oversight that I intend to correct immediately,” Edmond drawled, disgusted. “It was naive of me to think you could possibly be a man entrusted with the welfare of a young lady.”
The wariness deepened. “Are you impugning my honor?”
“What honor, you sick, pathetic maggot?” It was an effort not to snap the idiot’s fat neck. “I should do the world a favor and kill you now.”
“Dammit, Huntley, what did the wench tell you?” Wade blubbered, genuine fear bringing a layer of sweat to his brow. “Whatever it was, it was a lie.”
“Then you do not intend to take her to Norfolk in two days?”
“I…I think it best that we leave town for a short while. Brianna has not entirely recovered from the death of her mother, and the country air will do her good.” He forced a hoarse laugh that grated against Edmond’s temper. “Of course, like any young girl, she is angry to be taken from her friends and beaus. It is only natural she would do whatever necessary to stay in town.”
“So this trip is entirely for Brianna’s benefit?”
“Of course.”
“You bastard.” Abruptly shifting his hold, Edmond grasped the man’s lapels and gave him a violent shake. “You are taking her from London so you can force your disgusting attentions upon her.”
“No…”
“Do not even attempt to lie to me,” he growled. “I know the truth, and all of London will soon learn of it if you do not walk from this house and forget that you even know the name of Miss Brianna Quinn.”
Something that might have been desperation twisted the heavy features as Wade realized that Brianna might truly have slipped from his grasp.
“By gads, she is my daughter,” he rasped. “You cannot simply take her from me.”
“I already have.”
“I will petition for her return,” Wade blustered, his voice shrill. “Her mother left her in my care.”
Edmond frowned at the hectic glitter in the man’s eyes and the spittle forming at the edges of his mouth. Mon dieu, Thomas Wade was clearly at the edge of sanity.
At least when it came to matters of his stepdaughter.
“Her mother was a weak-willed fool who cared for nothing beyond the gaming tables. She would have sold Brianna to Beelzebub for a few quid.” He needed to make very certain that Thomas Wade understood the price of creating a scandal. Until he had the time necessary to covertly rid the world of the nasty creature, it was vital to keep his mouth shut. “And I would caution you against bringing the smallest breath of attention to Brianna’s change in residence. Not unless you wish me to inform the entire ton of what you intended for your stepdaughter.”
Wade’s harsh breath echoed through the ante room. “It would be her word against mine.”
Edmond smiled with the ingrained arrogance of a true aristocrat. “No, it would be the Duke of Huntley’s word against a mere son of a butcher. Who do you think they would believe?”
The beefy face turned from purple to crimson as the smooth insult sliced through his pride.
“I am not without influence. Money does have a few benefits.”
“Then let me raise the stakes.” Edmond smiled with icy intent. “If you make one attempt to try and take Brianna from my care, I will castrate you.”
Wade gave a shudder of alarm, then his gaze shifted over Edmond’s shoulder and a stark hunger filled his eyes. Edmond did not need to turn to know that Brianna had entered the room.
Suddenly, he wished that he had not insisted that the chit come down.
“Brianna…” Wade attempted to step forward only to be shoved roughly back against the wall. “Damn. My dear, tell this madman to release me.”
There was a brief hesitation before Brianna moved to stand beside Edmond, appearing far too tempting in her poppy India muslin gown decorated with small sprigs of gold. Matching ribbons were threaded through the auburn curls she had pulled to a high knot atop her head. Even without ornamentation, she appeared as young and fresh as a spring breeze.
“This madman happens to be my guardian and the Duke of Huntley,” she retorted, her expression frigid.
Wade futilely struggled against Edmond’s hold, desperate to reach Brianna.
“Please, you must listen to me, my dear. This has all been some terrible misunderstanding,” he cajoled. “If you would just return home, we could settle this in private.”
Edmond sensed Brianna’s shudder of horror as she wrapped her arms around her waist. “This is my home now.”
“Brianna, do not be a fool.” The older man shot Edmond a venomous glare. “This man is practically a stranger to you. Certainly he has made no effort to claim his right as a guardian before today. He will no doubt marry you off to the first bounder he can convince to ask for your hand, just to be rid of you.”
“It would be a preferable fate than remaining with you.”
“How can you say that, after all I have done for you and your mother?”
Brianna pressed even closer to Edmond, clearly taking comfort in his presence.
“You destroyed any loyalty I might have felt toward you when you attempted to rape me,” she hissed.
“I think that is a fitting end to this unpleasant encounter.” Keeping his grim hold on the lapels of Wade’s jacket, Edmond hauled him toward the door. “It is time you return to the gutter that spit you out.”
Struggling against his inevitable fate, Thomas Wade wrenched his head around to cast Brianna a frantic gaze.
“No, damn you. Brianna. You belong with me, and I will not allow anyone to stand between us.”
With a violent shove, Edmond had the man through the vast foyer and out the door held open by his footman.
“Boris, keep an eye on the bastard,” he commanded, turning his back as Thomas Wade stumbled down the steps, followed closely by the massive Russian assassin.
Halting before the mirror, Edmond calmly adjusted his cravat and smoothed his jacket. He had rid himself of one rodent, now he had to decide what was to be done with his beautiful little mouse.
STANDING BESIDE THE TALL window, Brianna watched in a numbed sort of fascination as Thomas climbed unsteadily into his carriage and was driven away.
A part of her wanted to feel relief that she was seemingly safe from her stepfather, who had been well and truly trounced by Edmond. What man would dare to return after such a humiliation?
Her far more sensible part, however, knew that whatever had prompted Edmond to dismiss Thomas with such disdain had nothing to do with assisting her. He cared only for his mysterious reasons for being in