She saw the shadow in his eyes—the slight hesitation before he’d said Willard and gathered that Willard hadn’t been kind.
“Neville didn’t…Pleasesay he wasn’t among those who tormented you.”
He half-smiled. “Not as indifferent to him as you’d like me to believe, are you?”
She scowled. “Go on.”
“No, it wasn’t Neville.” He gripped his shoulder and stretched his neck. “Oh, Nev did the usual things—forcing the younger ones to carry books and such.”
“I don’t find thatusual.”
Asquith shrugged. “What is school without such intentional “toughening?” But Willard… Willard was truly cruel. When Neville got wind of what was going on, he marched me and a few other boys with him into the woods on a regular basis.”
She turned away. All this time she’d bemoaned her lot as a lady. She’d never considered what kind of pressures the men around her might face. “I thought you said Neville wasn’t your tormentor.”
“The exercise’s purpose was not to torment, but to teach us how to fight back. He ran us through courses. He made us lift logs. And when we were strong enough, he had us practice our punches in pairs.”
“But that’s barbaric!”
“Painful, perhaps, but, because of Neville, we learned how to stand our ground.Ilearned to stand my ground. Willard never forgave Neville for teaching me that lesson. I think he hates Neville more than he hates me.”
“Oh, I think Willard has enough hate inside of him to go around.” She crossed her arms over her chest, thinking of how Willard had ordered her ‘never to mention that name.’
“I just want you to know how good a man Neville is. Earlier tonight, I gave him permission to ask for your hand, but—shh, shh, listen, would you?Youwill have the final word, I promise. Nothing you don’t wish to happen will come to pass.”
“But if I refuse him…”
“You will need to spend time away. At least until…” he hesitated.
She turned back, reading the truth in his face. She would need to spend time away, and she might never be able to come back.
“Until Lenora and Nettie are settled.”
Banished to the country. Able to ride whenever she wished. Hunt if she so chose. Unencumbered by menacing males.
Exactly the fate she’d wanted.
Then why did she feel exactly as she did when hiding in the gamekeeper’s cottage to escape from her father—desperate to avoid a fate she knew was inevitable?
Chapter Ten
Quietly as hecould, Neville passed through the mews gate to Harbury House. Then, he slid the bolt through the latch behind him. Since his mother had told him about “the powerful peer” who’d placed spies in the houses of his enemies, his already sharpened vigilance increased.
He doubted Willard would go so far as to attempt to force his way into a duke’s home. Then again, before tonight, he thought Willard incapable of making a public mistake, let alone of rampaging down a theater corridor.
Could such a madman be contained?
Eltenham, Willard’s father, was a proud man. When word of his son’s wild tear reached him, he was not going to be pleased.
Unless Eltenham was part of the plot…
The very thought made Neville ever more aware of the night air’s icy edge. If Willard had his father’s full protection, Willard would become untouchable. Someone would have to kill a man for him to be brought to justice.
But justice was a matter for the morrow. Tonight, Millie was his first concern.
Neville followed the garden path, seeking signs of life. While the house’s curtains had all been drawn, the stables were lit from within.
Odd, that. Had Asquith only just arrived?