Courting Poppy Tidemore by Christi Caldwell

Author:Christi Caldwell [Caldwell, Christi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-28T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The moment Tristan entered through the double doors of the Paradise and found his trunks and valises stacked at the center of the rooms, several facts became clear on sight: Poppy’s brother-in-law had gathered Tristan’s intentions to marry Poppy. Two, Black was throwing him out on his arse for that offense, and three, with the proprietor standing there in wait, a menacing glower affixed to his scarred face, he intended to beat Tristan to a pulp before he did.

As if in confirmation of that fact, Ryker Black cracked his knuckles. “Bolingbroke,” he greeted in graveled tones.

God rot this day.

But then, what did you expect? Despite Tristan’s scandal and circumstances and dire financial straits, Poppy’s family had opened their business to him, free of charge, and he’d repaid that.

By what? Offering to marry the lady. Nay, as he’d said to Poppy’s brother, Tristan couldn’t very well blame them. What respectable family—any family, for that matter—would want a beloved sister or daughter or sister-in-law to wed him?

A small servant came rushing over. “Mr. Black, Oi’ve ’ad the carriage brought ’round,” the boy whispered, adjusting his cap.

“Thank you, Oliver. That will be all.”

The small child shuffled off, but not before he flashed Tristan a faintly pitying look.

“Oi’m not pleased with you,” the proprietor growled, after the boy had gone. Was the gentleman’s movement from proper King’s English to Cockney intentional? Meant to intimidate and terrify? And then, as if in answer to that silent wondering, Black shoved his jacket back to reveal the dagger there. “Not pleased, at all.”

Tristan flashed a bored glance at the less than subtle threat. “I’d gathered as much.” Perhaps had Tristan been another man, that tactic would have roused sufficient terror. Tristan’s having survived five years at war, there was little Tristan hadn’t himself seen…or done. “I was rather able to tell as much by my belongings being all lined up,” he said dryly.

Fire flashed in those near obsidian eyes. Assessing his current nemesis, Tristan contemplated the same strategies he had when dealing with Sinclair, before settling for direct honesty. Tristan marched the remaining distance to Poppy’s brother-in-law. Of a like height, he met the equally tall gentleman’s gaze. “Have I crossed some line with the Tidemores and Blacks? I’m certain you see it that way,” Tristan said in hushed tones that could not be overheard by the servants and patrons milling in the lobby. “Does Poppy deserve more than m—?”

“Yes,” Black said flatly.

“Me?” he finished. “Yes. The lady certainly deserves far greater than a worthless rogue such as myself.” And she would have had so much more, and had the expectations for it…had it not been for some ruthless cad, who’d taken advantage of her trust. Except, there never would have been a marriage with her, which even with the suddenness of the idea of a lifetime with Poppy left him oddly…bereft.

Chatham narrowed his eyes into menacing slits. “Wot are you saying?”

“I am saying what Poppy wants is what matters most and no one: not you, not her brother, not any one of her sisters gets to determine her fate.

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