Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
His patience wearing thin, Perry stared out the drawing-room window, his hands clutched at his back. He couldn’t bring himself to focus on the household accounts when suspicion gnawed at him relentlessly.
“My lord, a message has arrived from the Viscount Witney,” Bentley announced as he entered the drawing room holding a silver tray in his hand.
A few days had passed since Perry had uncovered the possible threat coming from Newbridge and he was eager to act.
Walking through the halls of his home, he was startled by each sound.
Perry was reluctant to be away from his wife and was extremely attentive to his daughter, at least until the nurse shooed him away for her lessons or meals or whatever important duties the daughter of an earl possessed that did not involve her father.
Striding rapidly toward the servant, Perry plucked the paper from the tray, nodding to the butler before he turned toward the fireplace.
He was torn between wanting an answer and wanting to be shown that his suspicions were ridiculous.
The scandal it would create if he charged the viscount with an offense would cause a shockwave throughout the ton.
Frankly, Perry dreaded attaching yet another scandal to his family name. There were too many to count as it was.
The red wax cracked as he lifted it from the enclosure, and the creased paper unfolded to reveal a brief message.
The Whispers have confirmed your suspicions.
The attackers from the night of the ball were hired by none other than the Viscount Thomas Newbridge. He was seen speaking to the men by a witness whose identity I must protect.
Apologies for laughing at you. My mistake.
I have posted one of my men to watch the viscount and track his movements. We will confront him as soon as you are available.
M.
As soon as he was available? He could be ready immediately.
Tucking the note in his pocket, he turned to watch his wife, who was practicing a duet with Aurelia.
His daughter was becoming adept at playing the pianoforte.
The way mother and daughter worked together to learn a new song both warmed his heart and spurred him on to put this situation to an end.
He tugged on his daughter’s beribboned ringlet, winning himself a warm smile from the little sprite.
Though he anticipated no danger from a meeting of gentlemen during the day with Michael’s men watching him, there was always a chance of violence.
He must arm himself, preparing for the worst. Perry had much to lose if Newbridge made another attempt on his life and succeeded.
Memorizing the way Charlotte and Aurelia looked in this moment, Perry called to Bentley for his cloak and hoped against hope the Viscount Newbridge would be at home.
They had much to discuss. Not wanting to distress his wife until he had some useful information, Perry kept his destination to himself and told her he was off to meet his brother at the club.
Charlotte had been through enough already.
Men were posted to protect them, that Perry felt secure in leaving Wildwood.
Knowing he would arrive at Michael’s home before a messenger, he had his carriage brought around and prepared to make the journey to his friend’s home. To his surprise, Michael and Beau were both standing in Viscount Witney’s office when he arrived at the opulent townhome in trendy Mayfair.
“You were both going to wait until I arrived?” he asked.
Crossing his arms with a chuckle, his brother raised a brow. “We had a good feeling you wouldn’t waste any time. We must call upon the viscount immediately. It’s too early for him to have left the house already. We want to use the element of surprise in our favor.”
“I will confront him and meet you at the club after,” Perry said, giving a stern nod and turning toward the door. Michael and Beau protested, their words clashing against each other.
“You mustn’t go alone,” his brother argued.
“It could be dangerous. I must insist we accompany you,” Michael added.
Giving his head a shake, Perry raised a hand to cease their comments.
“I will go alone. If it is me he wants, I will let him have me,” Perry said, his tone brooking no argument.
“You are to wait here. If anything happens to me, I need you to protect my wife and child. My hope is to challenge him in his home, where he will not want to get his hands dirty or start a scandal surrounded by all those witnesses. My guard will be on alert in case the conversation is taking too long.”
Beau frowned, a look of displeasure marring his features. “This is foolish, brother.”
“It is what I want. We are gentlemen. If I can meet with the viscount peacefully, without offering any hint of a threat, perhaps I can get him to confess and get him to stop this madness. The viscount has not threatened me man to man; he always sends henchmen to do his dirty work. He is too cowardly to kill me himself.”
Unbuttoning his dark green wool tailcoat, Perry revealed a pocket pistol tucked discreetly into the inside pocket, a weapon designed for protection, if not to kill, then to wound or distract the viscount, should the situation become dire.
When he began to suspect someone wanted to end his life, he instructed his tailor to create a few secret pockets for weaponry.
Perry was a crack shot and he was no fool.
Though he desired to resolve this matter in a gentlemanly manner, the stakes were too high.
The viscount would happily see him die over an old grudge.
Perry wanted to see this matter come to an end.
Peacefully, if possible, violently if necessary.
No one was going to come after his family again.
He would absolutely resort to murder to guarantee their safety.
“Have you heard anything from your man at Newbridge’s?” Perry asked his friend, buttoning up his coat and hiding his weapon once again. The heavy feel of the gun against his breast gave him a sense of security.
Michael shook his head, his face grim. “Nothing yet. Peter will assist you, should you need it. I will send him a message. He will gladly provide extra muscle, should the situation become dire. He finds life on land terribly boring compared to life at sea.”
With a determined nod, Perry glanced at his brother and his friend, both with matching brows etched with concern.
“I don’t care what you say. I will not wait for you long. Make sure the visit is quick, or we will be bursting in,” Beau said, stroking his chin in the palm of his hand. “I’ve taken a beating for you before and would happily do so again.”
Perry grinned as he bade them goodbye, his smile tinged with foreboding. He knew not what was to come, but there was no way he could leave this threat dangling over them forever. If the viscount was the one who was wishing them harm, he would be paying his due today.
Outside, the women in Mayfair dressed in lovely pastels, holding their umbrellas to shade their delicate skin from the damaging rays of the sun.
Walking in step with their maids or husbands, they were completely unaware of the danger that lurked around each corner.
Gentlemen tipped their hats to Perry as he descended the stone staircase, their canes scratching against the inlaid stone walkways.
Such a peaceful, uneventful day for some.
Perry’s heart raced as though it was going to burst out of his chest.
He had stared death in the face enough times; there was no mercy left in him for his enemy. Only a burning hatred that would motivate him to protect his family. At all costs.