The Lion and the Mouse: A Steampunk Romance by Jenny Schwartz

Author:Jenny Schwartz [Schwartz, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-15T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Jones telephoned me that you’d turned up, Farleigh.” Very carefully Colin put Anthea to one side, tucking her safely in the hallway, before walking into the drawing room.

George Farleigh retreated, step by step, as Colin advanced.

“I thought you would. You’re a slug. But I didn’t know you were this revolting.” Colin grabbed Farleigh’s coat front, hauling him up on his patent leather toes. “No one threatens my wife.” He pushed and Farleigh fell back into an armchair.

The man gabbled some incoherent nonsense.

“Oh no.” Colin smiled, slow and deadly. “I heard what you said the first time. Don’t bother to lie to me. You threatened my wife and my marriage.”

“And Dirigible Journeys,” Anthea said from just behind him.

“Go back into the hall.”

She caught his sleeve. “Please.”

“I won’t beat him,” Colin said impatiently.

“A misunderstanding.” Farleigh sat up and tugged at his rumpled coat.

Beside Colin, Anthea trembled. She was overset.

He put an arm around. “It’s all right. I don’t need to pursue vengeance against your uncle. I’ll leave that to Billy French.”

Farleigh collapsed back against the chair, his mouth working, but no sounds emerging.

“Who is Billy French?” Anthea asked. She leaned ever so lightly into his strength.

Colin held her closer. “French is a bookmaker. Not one of the high class ones. Your uncle went slumming. But French won’t get his revenge by banning Farleigh from his clubs or anything so gentlemanly. French breaks knees as a first warning. If a man still doesn’t pay his debts, he dies.”

Farleigh whimpered. “You have to help me.”

“I will.”

Anthea glanced at him in surprise.

Colin kept his attention on Farleigh. “I’ll give you a choice. Walk out of here and wait for French to catch up with you.” He enjoyed the expression of congealing horror on the old man’s face. The bastard should never have threatened Anthea. “Or I’ll pay your fare to the Antipodes.”

In the silence that gripped the living room, they clearly heard the rattle of a steam-mobile in the street.

Then Farleigh heaved himself to his feet. “I’ll take the fare money.”

“Bruce,” Colin shouted.

The drawing room door opened. “Deliver Farleigh, here, to a ship bound for the Antipodes. I don’t care which ship. Make sure he sails on it.”

“Yes, boss.” The guard’s big hand closed on Farleigh’s arm.

“You can’t do this. Anthea?” Her uncle appealed to her.

“Good-bye, Uncle George.”

Colin squeezed her tight, proud of her courage.

Bruce propelled Farleigh out of the room with a rough shove.

“Oh Colin, that was horrible.” She hid her face in his shoulder.

He put both hands around her and held her close. “Yes, it was. But I’m proud of you.”

“Why?” She raised her face.

He smiled because there were no tears, though her eyes looked watery. “Because you defended our marriage. For us, you threatened your uncle in a manner you didn’t dare to use to save yourself from me.”

“You’re not so bad.” Her lashes lowered, hiding her eyes. She smoothed his rumpled tie.

“Thank you.” He grinned. “And you’re not crying.”

“I’m not?” She blinked up at him. “I’m not!”

He kissed her mouth, taking advantage of her lips being parted in surprise.

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