Bestselling Lords and Ladies by Jane Feather

Author:Jane Feather
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2010-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

Grayson didn’t intend to come to Kate’s when he’d stepped into his carriage that evening, but he found himself before her house nonetheless. He noticed, standing outside his carriage, that her door was ajar and imagined that a party was taking place inside, with gentlemen and courtesans.

And him, out of place, the fool who had stopped here like some lovesick lad. He was expected at Mary’s for supper in an hour, but he couldn’t keep away from Kate one more moment. He felt ridiculous, standing there on the street, looking at her door.

The wind was picking up; a winter storm was moving in. Grayson walked to the door. Even if there was a party within, the wind would make the house cold, and he could at least make himself useful by seeing that it was shut. But as Grayson neared the door, he heard the snarl of a male voice and the distress in a woman’s cry. That alarmed him; he didn’t bother to knock, but pushed the door open and saw the man with his hand in Kate’s hair.

Wild, raw anger shot through him; Grayson dove into the small foyer and grabbed the man by the shoulder. When he saw the sneer on the man’s face, the wild, raw anger soared dangerously. “Unhand her!”

Kate cried out; Grayson grabbed the bastard by the lapels of his coat, shoved him hard against the wall, forcing him to let go of Kate’s hair. He held the man against the wall, one arm across his throat, his knee in the man’s groin. “I should kill you,” he breathed.

“She owes me money!” the man insisted.

“You have an abusive way of asking for it,” Grayson said tightly, and pushing him toward the door.

The man stumbled and righted himself; Grayson lunged again, pushing him so hard that he went tumbling out the door, almost landing on his arse. A couple passing by cried out in alarm, but the bastard was already up and running, disappearing around the corner.

Grayson stepped back in and closed the door. His hat, which had come off his head, lay on the floor. Kate was standing just where he’d left her, her eyes wide, her chest rising with each deep breath, looking appalled and frightened. Her beautiful corn silk hair was rudely messed.

“God help me—are you all right?” Grayson asked, and started toward her, but Kate gasped and took an abrupt step backward, as if she now feared him. Grayson hesitated, uncertain what to do. He made a move toward her again, and she suddenly ran into the drawing room, looking wildly about, as if seeking an escape.

“Kate!”

Kate ran to the window. “They aren’t locked. They must be locked!”

Grayson strode forward, catching her before she could run again, putting his arms around her and pulling her back against his body. “It’s all right, Kate,” he said soothingly. “You’re safe. I’m here now, and you are safe.”

“Oh God, Christie …” She sagged with relief. “The windows—”

“I’ll get them,” he said, and reluctantly let her go to check them, finding them locked.

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