Chapter Thirteen
Graham
“Thirty-five thousand pounds.” Graham’s solicitor, Henry Foulis, slid the bank draft across his desk. “The Somerset property has closed. Want me to have this deposited to your account?”
Graham stared at the number on the draft, not bothering to hide his disappointment. Diana had valued it at forty thousand minimum. “That’s all?”
“The buyer was quite firm, my lord. Given the urgency of your sale—”
“They exploited the opportunity.” Graham tucked the draft into his chest pocket. He’d wanted to order the draft for Rothwell himself and not involve his solicitor, so he might as well take the drafts. “And the Devon property?”
Foulis shifted in his chair. “Ah, yes. There has been…a delay.”
That could not happen. Rothwell expected payment in a matter of days. “What do you mean by a delay?”
“An issue with the funds. The buyer’s solicitor assures me that it will be settled and the property will still transfer ownership as planned. Eighty-five thousand pounds for that one.”
The amount would hardly matter if Graham couldn’t pay Rothwell by his deadline. Graham leaned forward, practically snarling, “How long?”
“They have requested another week.”
Graham gripped the edge of the desk until his knuckles went white. “That’s not possible. The sale must close today.”
“My lord, I understand your urgency, but—”
“You understand nothing.” Graham shot to his feet, sending Foulis’s inkwell rolling. “Do we have any other buyers?”
The solicitor’s face flushed. “That would close today? That is just not possible. You are better off waiting for this matter to settle.”
But he didn’t have the time to wait. Diana’s safety depended on it.
He wasn’t certain what he would do, but there had to be something.
He was now ten thousand pounds short. But it might as well be one hundred thousand without the sale of the other property.
With less than one thousand pounds remaining in his account, he had nothing else.
“Send for me immediately if we hear words of the funds,” Graham commanded and rose from his chair. “And press for the payment to be given.”
He took his leave, slamming the door behind him. Ten thousand pounds. How in the world was he going to come up with ten thousand pounds?
Graham dismissed his carriage, deciding that the walk would better serve him. He racked his brain thinking of anything that he could. Did he have anything else that he could sell quickly?
The bank was just ahead of him and he stopped and leaned against the brick wall of one of the shops, taking his head in his hands. What in the devil was he going to do? There was the account with Diana’s dowry, but he couldn’t use those funds. He had to come up with something else.
He groaned.
“Something troubling you?”
Graham looked up to see the bastard himself, Rothwell, standing before him.
“Nothing that concerns you.” Graham straightened, fighting the urge to plant his fist in the man’s smug face. Again. The bruising from where he hit the man before was still barely visible.
“Oh, but everything concerns me until I receive my payment.” Rothwell’s smile was cold. “You look rather… distressed. Surely your plans to raise my funds are going well?”
Graham said nothing, but Rothwell chuckled as he brushed something off of his shoulder. Of all people to run into on the street, it has to be that blackguard. He started to walk away before he caused a scene.
“Difficulties, perhaps?” Rothwell called out to him, louder than Graham would have liked. “I suppose we could discuss alternative arrangements.”
Graham spun on his heel and came nose to nose with the man. “There will be no alternative arrangements. You’ll have your money.”
“When?”
“When it is due.” He still wasn’t sure how he was going to accomplish that, but he still had a couple days and he was going to need them if he had any chance. Or to take Diana and run. Because that option was becoming far more likely with every minute that passed.
“I don’t think you have the funds. But I’m certain your wife would be far more effective than you with her connections. I’m certain you gained access to a dowry and funds settled on her.” Rothwell challenged. “Perhaps I should call on your pretty little wife and discuss the matter with her.”
Graham shoved the man into the alley and pinned him against the brick wall. “You won’t go anywhere near her.”
“You are of the mind that you have the upper hand here, Powis.”
“What’s to stop me from ending you right here and now?” Graham growled, pushing his forearm tighter into the man’s neck. He had never punched anyone before Rothwell, but he would do a great many things if it meant Diana remained safe.
Rothwell laughed, between choking for air. “You’re stupider than you appear.”
Graham loosened his hold on the man’s neck, but still kept him against the wall. “How do you figure that?”
“Do you think this ends if I disappear? I have men that will make sure you pay. And they won’t practice the same restraint as me when it comes to making you suffer through using your new wife’s body to make their point.”
Graham cut off the man’s breath again. He could hardly see through his rage. “Do not mention my wife again.”
Rothwell shoved him back and fought to catch his breath. Then he started laughing again. “The offer still stands if you want her to earn five thousand pounds on her back. And her knees, and stomach. But since you can’t keep your hands to yourself, my men get a turn, too.”
Unable to stop himself, Graham unleashed punch after punch into the man’s face.
Rothwell fought back, shoving Graham back against the wall, pinning him so that he couldn’t move and then snarled in his face.
“You’re going to regret that. Now get me my money.
And if you think to try to run. We’ll find you both. ”
Graham heaved and he knew what he had to do.
This wouldn’t end until he had paid Rothwell.
He’d get him the funds and then he and Diana would go to the country for a while so Rothwell could move on to harass someone else.
And he could hire guards to ensure Diana remained safe until he could be certain the threat had passed.
“I have your money,” Graham seethed. “Wait here and I will bring you the bank draft.”
Rothwell released him and stepped back, giving him a satisfied grin. “There. Was that so difficult? I knew you would see things my way.”
Graham lumbered away from the alley and composed himself just before he stepped back onto the main street. He was thankful he had been wearing gloves, but his fist throbbed.
He had no choice in what he was about to do. Diana wouldn’t be safe until Rothwell was paid. The blackguard was a low life who wouldn’t cease in making their lives miserable until he had his money.
He only had one option to get Rothwell what he wanted.
Diana’s dowry.
The thought of using even a single pound of the money from her dowry made him want to cast up his accounts.
He’d told her he didn’t need her dowry to pay any debts.
And he had meant it at the time. If that second property would have sold in enough time, it wouldn’t have come to this.
But he can’t risk Rothwell getting the mind to corner her.
It would just be ten thousand pounds, and he’d return it as soon as he had the proceeds from the Devon property.
His hands shook as he walked toward the bank, each step feeling like it was a step closer to losing Diana. By the time he reached the bank his nerves were shot. If he thought he had any other way, he would take it.
He left with the bank draft for Rothwell and returned to the alley as quickly as he could so he could be done with the mess.
Rothwell was exactly where Graham had left him, examining his fingernails with his bruised and bloodied face.
“Forty-five thousand pounds,” Graham said, throwing the bank draft at the man’s feet. “We’re finished.”
Rothwell bent to retrieve the draft, pleased with himself. “Well, well. See what a man can accomplish when he puts his mind to it.”
“It’s done. Stay away from my wife.”
“You don’t think she might like to know what her husband has been up to?” Rothwell tucked the draft into his waistcoat. “And you bloodied my face, and expect I should just let that go?”
Graham stepped forward, clenching his fists. “If you go near her—”
“You’ll what?” Rothwell straightened his coat, seemingly unconcerned by Graham’s threat.
Graham drew a deep breath and raised his hands to indicate he wouldn’t attack him again. “You have your money. Our business is done.”
“As long as you stay out of my way.” Rothwell said, turning to walk the other way, but then turned back for one last taunt. “Do give my regards to the lovely Lady Powis.”
Graham stood alone in the filthy alley, wondering what he would say or do next. Nausea swept over him as he thought about facing Diana.
He’d stolen from money promised to his wife. And betrayed her trust. Arguably he had been doing that for the past few weeks.
When he finally reached their townhouse after roaming the streets on his long walk home, he heard women’s voices coming from the drawing room. Diana’s bright laughter made the guilt twist through his body.
He crept to their bed chamber and let Baker help to right his appearance. Baker eyed him curiously as he tended to his hand and then he donned a fresh pair of gloves.
But he couldn’t put off facing his wife anymore. He descended the stairs and made his way to the drawing room.
“Graham!” Diana exclaimed as soon as he appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up when she saw him. “Perfect timing. Look who has arrived!”
He glanced over Diana’s shoulder and saw his mother coming to a stand and approaching with her arms extended. “My son.”
He was glad to see his mother, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. “Mother. What a wonderful surprise.”