Chapter 24
Thaddeus was beginning to despair of finding Isolde. He had been wandering the garden for a good fifteen minutes, with no sign of her. A few moments ago, he’d thought he heard a shout and had run in that direction, but now things had gone quiet, and he couldn’t be sure which way to go.
Suddenly, he heard raised voices up ahead again. He hurried toward them and came upon his brother Henry escorting Lord Crowley none too gently out of the hedges. He was relieved to see that Isolde was not with them. He hoped Crowley had not been able to catch up with her.
“Lord Hartington, thank goodness. I’ve suffered the most abominable treatment at the hand of your brother just now, and he is threatening to throw me out very rudely. What do you intend to do about it?”
Throw Crowley out? Thaddeus’s eye flickered to Henry and clocked the anger there. Whatever had happened, Henry apparently felt comfortable rescinding Crowley’s invitation. Thaddeus found himself smiling.
“What shall I do about it?” he said, relaxing a little for the first time since he’d watched Isolde run outside. “Nothing, I suppose. I’m sure whatever treatment my brother has given you is deserved.”
Crowley’s face turned red, and he started spluttering, but Henry gave him a shake.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Henry said darkly. Thaddeus tensed again.
“Why? What happened?” he asked. “Is Miss Fairchild –”
“She’s all right, thank goodness. Miss White took her inside to calm down.
This cad had cornered her in the garden and was basically trying to extort her into marrying him, by threatening to marry her younger sister if he didn’t.
She said he grabbed her wrist so tightly it was likely to bruise.
” Henry gave Crowley a push toward the front of the house, a little rougher than needed.
Thaddeus felt anger swirling inside him. He stepped toward Crowley.
“I believe I once threatened to make you regret your existence,” he growled. “Perhaps now is a good time to make good on that threat.”
Crowley sneered at him, but he saw fear in the man’s eyes.
“As a respectable gentleman –” he started.
“Surely you’re not referring to yourself?
” Thaddeus interrupted. “I think we’ve more than established you are neither respectable nor worthy of the title of gentleman.
Or perhaps you were referring to me, meaning to appeal to my better angels?
” He leaned down, close to Crowley’s face.
“Miss Fairchild is the only angel I know of, and you have wronged her grievously and repeatedly, so I wouldn’t count on her benevolence to save you. ”
Crowley’s eyes widened, and Thaddeus could see the moment he registered that he might be in true danger. Perhaps fortunately, Thomas Fairchild happened upon them at that exact moment.
“Ah, Lord Hartington, Lord Henry,” he said pleasantly, and then, throwing a glance Crowley’s way, he said much less pleasantly, “Lord Crowley.” Turning back to the other two, he asked, “Did either of you see my sister? I saw her come out into the garden and wished to be sure she was all right.”
“She’s inside with Miss White,” Henry answered. Thomas looked from his face to Thaddeus’s and then glanced at Crowley again. He seemed to register the tension in the air.
“Is all good with you gentlemen?” he asked cautiously.
“All is perfectly fine,” Thaddeus answered. “And will be better once Lord Crowley has taken his leave.”
“Ah,” Thomas said, and he seemed to be hiding a smile.
“Perhaps I should help escort Lord Crowley to his carriage then. To see him safely away.” There was a glint in his eye, and Thaddeus thought Thomas might get nearly as much pleasure from watching Crowley leave as himself.
“I can certainly understand why you would want to lay hands on the man,” Thomas continued, evidently having guessed at what Thaddeus had been threatening moments ago, “but I rather think he’s not worth sullying your good reputations. ”
“How dare you!” Crowley hissed. “I demand you all treat me with the respect I am owed! And especially you, Fairchild. Watch your tongue, boy. You know my money and I are all that stand between your family and utter ruin, as you’ve absolutely failed to control your father’s gambling and whoring.”
Crowley leant forward, and to Thaddeus’s utter horror, spat on the ground at Thomas’s feet. Thaddeus felt white hot anger flash through him, but Thomas was faster. In a second, his hands were gripping Crowley’s coat.
“The respect you are owed is none,” he said to Crowley through gritted teeth, “and as such any gentleman refraining from laying hands on you is doing you a courtesy you have not earned.”
“Easy, Fairchild,” Henry said softly. “Like you said, he’s not worth it.”
Henry’s calm voice broke through the haze of anger surrounding Thaddeus. He realized that he must keep the situation under control, despite his own fury. He was the host, and Henry’s older brother, and – he hoped – soon to be Thomas’s brother-in-law.
He stepped forward and put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder. Thomas met his eyes, and after a long moment, he dropped his hands and stepped away from Crowley.
“Henry, I would appreciate it if you would be so good as to finish removing Lord Crowley from the grounds, before either Fairchild or I strangle him,” he said, speaking lightly but meeting Crowley’s eyes without trying to conceal his anger.
“Of course, brother,” Henry said. He grabbed Crowley by the arm again and the man let himself be led away, perhaps realizing he had finally pushed his luck too far.
Thaddeus watched him go, and let out a huge sigh, doing his best to let his anger go with it.
“I feel the same,” Thomas murmured.
“Come,” Thaddeus said. “Let us take a turn about the garden before we return inside. Let the night air clear our heads.”
Thomas nodded, and they set out walking along the garden’s perimeter. When they’d made it about halfway and the tension of the confrontation seemed to have mostly gone, Thaddeus turned to Thomas.
“Tell me truthfully,” he said, “how bad are your father’s finances?”
Thomas grimaced and looked away.
“I’m embarrassed to say, My Lord,” he replied.
“Please,” Thaddeus said gently. “I only ask because I wish to know how I can help.”
Thomas glanced at him, then looked down at his feet.
“The bailiffs have begun coming to the door,” he said quietly.
Thaddeus stifled his shock, trying to give Thomas space to speak.
“They have already taken a great deal,” Thomas continued.
“The house is all but empty. I have hung onto what I can, and kept some money stashed away, but it’s not enough.
Not nearly enough.” He stopped walking and closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face.
“I’ve managed to protect Isolde’s dowry, as it is owed to you, and Cornelia’s as well, little good that it’s done her with Crowley prowling about.
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Who else but a man like that would want to marry into such a family? ”
Thaddeus felt a twinge in his heart for the young man.
“I would,” he replied quietly, and when Thomas opened his eyes in surprise, he gave the man an encouraging smile. “I shall if I can manage it. And as your brother-in-law-to-be, I swear to you I will see this matter resolved. Well enough that Miss Cornelia can marry who she pleases, as well.”
Thomas looked at him with big eyes, for a moment looking so much younger than his years.
“Do you really mean it?” he asked breathlessly.
“I do,” Thaddeus replied. “I mean it, even if things don’t work out between me and your sister. I … I meant what I told you. I care about her, and I will see her well cared for, even if not by me.”
“Thank you,” Thomas said fervently. Thaddeus could only nod and turn away, a little bashful under the other man’s effusive gratitude.
As they rounded the corner and the house came into view, Thomas spoke again.
“You said you would marry my sister if you can manage it – and that you’d help even if things do not work out. Has my sister still not given you a clear answer?”
Thaddeus felt his cheeks flush and was grateful for the dark that hopefully hid his blush.
“I regret to admit that I still have not been able to speak with her. It has been … a trying few days. But now that I am better, nothing will stop us from being able to find a moment alone together. I will make sure of it.”