Return of the Knight (Gentlemen of Knights Book 8) by Elizabeth Johns

Author:Elizabeth Johns [Johns, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-08-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Gabe was escorting his sister to the stairs, for a few minutes after her arrival, when he overheard voices. Sound carried extraordinarily well in the vast house and he heard every word. Evidently Maria had as well, for her fingers dug into his arm. “What is he doing here?” she hissed.

“Accosting Miss Sutton,” he growled. “He promised me he would keep his distance.”

“The temptation of living here for free must have been too great for him to resist. I will go and comfort her, but I believe it is a good thing she has discovered his true nature. You stay and deal with him.” Maria released his arm and climbed the stairs, passing Bertie as he descended.

“Bertie, I was not expecting to see you in London,” Maria said curtly as they met each other halfway on the stairs.

“He was just leaving,” Gabe growled, clutching the bottom of the handrail and feeling like committing murder.

“Afternoon, Cuz.” Bertie smirked at him. “I hope you do not mind. I stayed here while waiting for you.”

Gabe swiftly decided he would make it clear to his servants that in the future Bertie would not be admitted without his permission. And never without Gabe himself being present—unless he was dead.

“In my study, now.”

“Yes, sir.” Bertie saluted to mock him.

Gabe waited for Bertie to pass in front of him, then followed his heir inside and closed the study door behind them. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “Explain yourself. I thought we had come to an agreement.”

Bertie sat casually, crossing one leg over the other. “I am simply taking advantage of your hospitality while I wait for the funds you promised. I had thought to try my hand at finding a wife as well.”

“‘Taking advantage’ is about right. You were to keep your distance from Miss Sutton.”

“How was I to know you would bring her here?”

“She is in London under the patronage of my sister and mother. It was certainly within the realms of possibility that she might visit this house. I do not recall you asking permission to reside here.”

Bertie shrugged. “As your heir, I had thought it a reasonable assumption. This old pile was sitting empty.”

“To have it thus is my prerogative, I believe. But I will make it very clear, since you always did need your orders to be very specific, you will remove yourself from here immediately. You will not go within a mile of Miss Sutton again without her permission, and never alone. And if I ever hear that you have propositioned her again, we will meet on a field with pistols, and your body will never afterwards be found.”

Bertie began to laugh. “By Jove, you want her for yourself! I’ll admit she is a tasty armful. Too bad she has no money or connections, or I might just take her for myself.”

Gabe did not think. He drew back and slammed his fist straight into Bertie’s nose, feeling a satisfying crack before blood begin to spew forth. Gabe

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