Chapter 34 #2
“Bold,” Ronan murmured as he looked over the penned letters. “Yes, I think that’s perfect.”
His friend pointed to the bottom of the papers. “Just sign there. It should come from you since the threat was personal,” he added. “If this comes to court, you may be needed.”
“I’ll drag you into the mess,” Ronan muttered but signed them all the same.
“I’m already in it,” came the cheerful reply. “But I can assure you I am enjoying myself. I… Hold up. Did I just see…?”
Ronan looked up. “What?”
Julian dragged him to his feet and they went to the hall, finding Lord Dunn striding down the hall.
He was headed toward the main room where other gentleman were frequently gathered for drinks, billiards, and general conversation.
There were always a few influential people there.
And it was the perfect place for gossip.
All it took was a second for them to realize what Dunn’s plan had to be: exonerate himself in the eyes of society before anything could be said.
“This can’t be good.”
“Get the papers,” Ronan snapped and then hurried after Dunn.
The rage returned in a heartbeat just seeing the gentleman.
Why hadn’t he done more with Dunn, telling him to leave the country immediately?
Or do something? He thought quickly. What was Dunn’s plan?
And how was he supposed to prove the truth?
He paused at the doorway to gather his breath before entering. It took a minute to find Dunn, who was standing in a large group of ten or so gentleman. The lord had a bottle in his hands he waved about like he was telling a humorous story.
“And so I just laughed,” he was telling them. “How could I do anything different? It’s not every day someone goes mad, calling you a fraud.”
Everyone is laughing like it’s a joke, like it doesn’t mean anything. Like he didn’t threaten the rest of my future. They can’t imagine it’s real, can they?
Julian’s hands balled into fists. He stood on the cusp of the group, considering their expressions. Though he wanted to put a speech together, there wasn’t time. He couldn’t let this go on any further.
“A fraud! What a simple insult,” he called just loud enough to be heard over the group. He stared Dunn down. “But then again, sometimes the simplest things are the truth.”
Dunn’s smile wavered.
“Is that some sort of riddle?” Someone asked.
“Perhaps it is,” Ronan said. He stared the old man down. “Here is a question I set up before you all: Who has ever gone into business with Lord Dunn and found him on the receiving end of any actual wealth?”
A buzz of whispers abounded. He vaguely recognized one of them. It was the young Winthrop, the lord who had first congratulated him on the marriage.
The gentleman met his gaze and offered a courteous nod.
“I’ll be making some money soon,” someone boasted.
“Me too! The investments just need more time.”
“Time,” Ronan said aloud as he turned back toward Dunn. “That’s the excuse. But you’ll find Dunn’s promises are empty. Empty until he can find something to blackmail you with, anyways.”
“How dare you!” Dunn cried.
Winthrop’s eyes widened. But his words were calm as he asked, “That’s quite a claim, Your Grace. I am interested; do you have any proof?”
“Yes!” Julian appeared at Ronan’s shoulder. Papers were waved about in his hand. He was breathless but beaming. “Of course we have proof. Why, Dunn here just attempted to blackmail Westvale’s family. Didn’t you hear? Which is why we’ve got our proof and are taking it to the House of Lords.”
The blood drained from Dunn’s face. “What?”
“I don’t like this riddle,” someone muttered low in the crowd. There was shuffling and whispers, but otherwise they were listening. “What proof?”
“I have accounts and witnesses of forged banking information and false accounts that don’t exist. Additionally, we’ve investigated with at least three other families who attempted investments with Lord Dunn, only to be blackmailed once they could be tied to said corruption,” Julian explained.
Ronan looked to everyone. “Which means any of you who might have signed a contract with Dunn here might be caught up as well. You simply don’t know it yet.”
“What the devil?”
“Dunn, you had better explain yourself!”
“I want out!”
As the angered voices grew louder in the party––and others outside of their circle had come in to investigate what was happening––Lord Dunn began to panic. He flung his arms out to appease the crowd. Sweating profusely, he jumbled his words to try and defend himself.
But he couldn’t. And they all knew it.
Dunn glared at Ronan one last time before attempting to make a quick exit. He only made it two steps before the crowd was upon him. It was Ronan who punched him in the chin. He wished it had been. There were too many hands however, and then Dunn fell down.
“Call the magistrate. Constable. Security. Whomever,” Ronan muttered to Julian as they moved out of the way.
His friend was trying to get into the crowd, looking about with bright eyes and a slight grin. He always loved a good bit of drama. “You don’t want to stay?”
“No.” Ronan took a deep breath.
Dealing with Dunn was over. He found the anger fading out of him. He could breathe again. His heart was pumping. The trouble and pain of the recent days was dissipating at last. It was much faster and easier to let go than he had anticipated.
The lord would have no option but to leave London now.
He was injured, now, and would face quite a scandal beyond the angry Ton and legal trouble.
No woman would consider him for marriage, and no one would do business with him.
No house would host him again. Dunn could never do anything in London again, not with high society.
“No?” Julian echoed in surprise. “What are you going to do?”
With Dunn out of the way, there was nothing stopping Ronan from seeing Isla. He had a feeling he knew where she would be. And that everything could be fixed.
He grinned. “I’m going to see my wife.”
Julian paused for a friendly smirk. “As you should. Give her my best. Genevieve and I would like to host you soon. Properly, of course.”
“We’ll see. There is much for me and Isla to sort out.” And Ronan could hardly wait to begin. He fixed his cuffs and headed out the door for one more mission of the day.
The sun was shining, and now it made him smile.