Chapter 28
It was nearing five o’clock by the time Adrian returned to Marsdale house after speaking with his associates. As expected, all would stand by his side against Finn O’Leary. He just wished…
With a shake of his head, he produced the key Edward had lent him and unlocked the door to find Bertram, the butler, ready to take his hat and gloves.
“Your wife and daughter are in the parlor together with her ladyship,” Bertram said. “But the earl has asked that you see him first. He’s in his study together with—”
“Murry.” Adrian muttered the name upon seeing his valet, who’d stepped into the hallway. Relief was the first emotion he felt, though this was swiftly crushed and replaced by intense anger.
Adrian’s pulse beat in his ears. A red haze colored his vision. The distance between himself and Murry vanished, and then his fist was connecting with bone and tissue.
“Mr. Croft.” Bertram’s voice was filled with alarm.
Something cracked. Blood and saliva streaked the air. A grunt accompanied the blow and Murry stumbled back, struggling to keep his balance.
“You bloody good for nothing cur,” Adrian seethed, advancing once more, then striking again though Murry made no attempt at defending himself. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Good God, man.” Edward was now interfering. “Stop this at once.”
Adrian ignored him and sent his fist flying. Murry’s head spun to one side in response to the punch. Still, he kept his hands down, allowing Adrian to do his worst.
“Where is she, you bastard?” Another hit sent Murry into a sprawl. Other voices entered the fray, both male and female now. All Adrian knew was the bite of betrayal. He dropped to his knees and grabbed Murry by his lapels. “Tell me before I end your miserable—”
“That’s enough,” Edward bellowed while pulling Adrian back, away from the man he wanted to murder. “You will act with decorum in my house.”
Blind with rage, Adrian swung around, prepared to fight his friend off next, only to spot the woman who stood behind him with an unhappy infant in her arms.
Sympathy shone in Samantha’s eyes, even though she was probably frustrated by the effect the disturbance was having on Alexandra. The result was a sudden flood of exhaustion that sapped Adrian of energy. He dropped his hands to his sides, felt the fight leave his body.
“Forgive me,” he said to his wife, to Lady Marsdale who stood at her side, and to Edward.
None of them deserved to see him like this or to have him ruin their peaceful afternoon. So he stepped past Murry as though he didn’t exist, and entered Edward’s study where he proceeded to help himself to some brandy.
He’d already taken a couple of sips by the time he sensed the presence of the two men behind him. For some absurd reason, Edward didn’t think the altercation in the hallway had been enough. He clearly expected it to continue in here.
“I understand your fury,” Murry said to Adrian’s back. “Expected it, but—”
“—chose to face it anyway,” Adrian muttered. He turned, frustrated by this addition to his problems of the day.
“You should talk,” Edward said to the two of them, as though speaking to children who couldn’t agree. “Properly and without resorting to violence.”
Adrian ignored him, his attention on Murry whose face was already showing signs of bruising. Good. He deserved it. “You know what I do to those who betray me.”
“And I expect no less for myself,” Murry said, his voice calm albeit a bit gruff. “It was wrong of me to cross you. I can think of no reasonable excuse.”
Adrian snorted. “Then I would suggest you try harder, because if you did what you did without good reason, then I truly have no further use for you.”
Something flickered in Murry’s eyes. A hint of pain so sharp it drove its way straight through Adrian’s heart. He bolstered himself against the emotions that followed, slamming the door on sympathy, regret, and loss.
“You weren’t there when I saved Lady Edwina,” Murry said with a hint of bitterness in his tone. “You did not see her incapacitated by the opium her captors forced upon her, or watch her shove a blade through a man’s throat out of pure desperation.”
“Good God,” Edward murmured, echoing the outrage that settled in Adrian’s chest. “Is she all right?”
“How can she be after what she went through?” Murry shook his head. “She’s in shock and dealing with the effects of opium withdrawal.”
Adrian recalled all too well the illness Murry himself had suffered when he and Adrian met. A wretched business that left him bed-ridden for at least a week.
“I…was able to relate with her plight,” Murry said.
“You still had no right to defy me. After all I’ve done for you – everything we have been through together – your decision to keep me in the dark on this, to oppose my will, is not to be borne.”
“I hoped you might think differently because of our history. You and your wife both owe me your lives.”
It took great effort for Adrian to let that comment stand without lashing out and reminding Murry that this had been his sworn duty from the beginning.
Posture rigid, yet forcing himself to speak calmly, he said, “You forget yourself, Murry. You are a servant with a damn good wage. Protecting me and my family is your job, not a favor that I need repay.”
“You’re right. I just… Lady Edwina worries how Wrengate will react when he sees her,” Murry said, returning to the cause of their disagreement.
“She fears he’ll marry her off to the first available suitor.
To stop her recent experience from ruining not just her but the rest of the family’s reputation. ”
“If that is his wish,” Adrian said, his control beginning to waver, “then that is his bloody right as her brother. He is her protector, Murry. Not you. And don’t you dare tell me you fancy yourself in love with her.”
“Of course not,” Murry said, though there was something in his voice that suggested he might harbor some sort of tender feelings for the girl.
“Are you quite certain?” Adrian asked, his anger slipping past his defenses.
“Because that is frankly the only thing that makes any sense. It would explain your irrational decision, though you’d have to be out of you mind to think you could ever build a life with a duke’s sister.
She is out of your reach, Murry, and shall remain so forever. ”
“I know,” he clipped, so bluntly Adrian knew he’d touched a nerve.
So, his valet had indeed met a woman he fancied, even if he’d not yet realized as much himself. Adrian huffed a breath. Poor bastard. He almost felt sorry for him.
Except…
“Has it not occurred to you that in choosing to heed her wishes, you’ve worsened my relationship with a man who has the power to crush me?”
“I’m sorry, Croft. Truly.” Murry had the decency to look Adrian straight in the eye as he said this. “I expect Lady Edwina to make a full recovery within the next few days. Once she does, I’ll give you her location so you can pass it on to Wrengate.”
“You swear this?”
A firm nod. “I do. Upon my honor.”
It wasn’t what Adrian wanted. In fact, it was nowhere near good enough, but he’d allow it since he did not expect Wrengate to return from Deerhaven Manor for several days either. Besides which, the loyalty Murry had provided during his years of service had been beyond reproach — until now.
A point that brought something else to mind. “You returned of your own free will when you might have remained in hiding instead. Why?”
“Because I heard of the fire and felt compelled to lend whatever assistance you may require.”
An honest response yet somewhat disappointing. “So you would have stayed away otherwise. And what? Tried to make a life for yourself with Lady Edwina?”
“No. I believe the end result would have been the same, with her returning home to her brother’s care.
” He held Adrian’s gaze, the acknowledgement of his own worth like stubborn flames burning bright in his eyes.
“She would have realized the sense in this eventually since she has no means by which to get by without his support.”
True.
Adrian mulled that over for a brief second before dismissing the problem pertaining to Lady Edwina. There were other, immediate concerns for him to consider.
To Edward he said, “I believe this is where I ought to excuse myself from your company. There are matters I need to discuss with Murry. You don’t want any part of that conversation, my friend.”
“You’re going to do something foolish, aren’t you?” Annoyance showed in the creases on Edward’s brow.
“No,” Adrian told him. “I’m going to do what is necessary.”
“By hunting down Finn O’Leary yourself?” Edward scoffed. “That is what you intend to do, is it not?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll make use of your library,” Adrian said, ignoring the question and the argument it would most likely lead to.
“You have a family to consider,” Edward pressed. “Think of Samantha and Alexandra. What happens to them if this goes sideways and you get injured? Or, God forbid, worse.”
“My concern,” Adrian gritted, “is for when O’Leary strikes again.
And the risk that he will meet with greater success when he does.
My wife and daughter were asleep last night when he attacked.
It’s a blessing they’re still alive. So if you think I’ll sit around waiting for him to make another attempt on their lives or mine, you’re gravely mistaken. ”
“Adrian…”
“I realize you cannot be implicated in what happens next, which is why I intend to keep you out of it. So you can have plausible deniability, should you need it. And so your conscience remains clear.”
“Fine.” Edward crossed his arms. “But I expect you to keep my wife out of this too.”
“Absolutely,” Adrian promised. “You have my word on that. As a gentleman.”
Edward’s lips twitched with the barest hint of amusement. They both knew Adrian was anything but.