Regency Society. Ann LethbridgeЧитать онлайн книгу.
First you flatter, then you steal, and if you are not successful, you try blackmail. And at last, you resort to threats to make me do as you wish.’
‘Threats?’ He pushed her away so that he could look down into her eyes, trying to read the truth in them until she was forced to look away to hide it. ‘He is threatening you still?’ The hand that held hers squeezed her fingers and he pulled her close again. ‘Why did you not just tell me? When I saw you together, I thought…Well, never mind what I thought. I was a fool.’ He glanced at the musicians. ‘The dance will be ending soon. Tell Barton whatever you like: that I forced you to dance or that you went willingly to spite him. Then, the first chance you get, lose yourself in the crowd. Do not go to him tonight, no matter what he is holding over your head. And I will be sure he does not come to you. You needn’t be afraid of him or do anything that you do not wish to do. I can still help you, if you will let me. Why did you not ask?’
She thought of Barton’s threats, and what might happen to Tony if she involved him again. ‘The last time, what I asked you to do was wrong. I can not ask it again. It is too dangerous.’
He leaned forward and laughed in her ear. ‘It is in my nature to do wrong. There is very little you can do to redeem my character other than to allow me to use my more improper talents in a good cause. What you asked was no imposition, and a chance to see some much-needed justice done in the world. I do not care a fig for the dangers that concern you. I will bring down Barton in any case, but I do not want my actions to injure you, for you are innocent of his villainy. If he is doing something to thwart that, then will you do me the great honour of allowing me to help you again?’
She hesitated, and he spun her around the floor so that Barton could not see them speak.
‘Say the word, your Grace. I will not impose on you further, if you truly do not wish it. But if you but nod, I will come to your rooms later, and you can tell me all. Then, if you do not wish my help, send me away.’
She was almost weak with relief at the thought of talking to him, and leaned against him and let him feel the change in her body as she gave herself up to his protection.
He squeezed her hand again. ‘Very well, then. Go home and unlock your window.’ He smiled at her. As the music ended, he spun her back to the place she had been, to stand by the irate Barton. ‘Delightful, your Grace, and so sorry to impose, but I could not resist the temptation to steal the dance.’
She watched the light of recognition flare in Barton’s eyes at his choice of words.
Barton glared at him. ‘You should be careful what you steal, sir. For you know what happens to thieves.’
Tony laughed. ‘I have but to read The Times to see that, sir. Hanging. But at least it is not so bad as the thing that happens to traitors. While the courts might show leniency to a thief, counterfeiting is high treason. To be hanged, drawn and quartered for acting against your own country?’ Tony shuddered theatrically. ‘A nasty end, is it not, Jack?’
Barton’s normal composure broke, and he grew even angrier than he had been; his cold smile turned to a grimace of fury and his colouring was mottled red. ‘Then a traitor need have no reason to fear doing murder, Smythe. The slow and painful death of another will add nothing to the severity of the punishment, should one be caught.’
She reached out and tugged Barton’s sleeve to distract him, and he shook her off.
Tony tipped his head to one side, considering. ‘I suppose it would not, if one could manage such a feat. But in your case, I have my doubts. Shall we see?’ And he turned and started towards the dark walks.
And Barton cursed once, and made to follow. Then he turned back to her. ‘You are to return home immediately, go to your room, and wait for me there.’
She grabbed his arm. ‘I will do nothing of the kind. I know what you mean to do. And you promised you would not.’
Tony turned back and looked at her curiously. ‘Do as he says, Constance. Go home. Whatever occurs, I do not wish you to be a part of it. Do you understand?’
She looked between the two men, both implacable. ‘Go.’ Barton pointed towards the exit as though ordering a dog to its kennel.
‘Please, your Grace,’ Tony added.
And then he walked away, in the direction of the most secluded paths, disappearing into the nearest crowd.
Barton followed.
Constance sat on the end of her bed, knotting and unknotting her handkerchief in quaking hands. Why had she listened to either of them? She should have thrown herself onto Barton and held him back.
But Tony had gone so quickly and left Barton to push and shove his way through a group of people. When she had gone after him, she had been swept along with the group, and was near to the exit before she got clear, having seen no sign of Tony or Barton.
She had searched for a while, but been afraid to venture into the darkness alone, and finally had hired a hackney and hurried back to her house, shooed the maid away, locked the door and unlocked the window. Please, dear Lord, let it be Tony who arrived and not Barton. She did not think she could bear the sight of him, much less his touch, if she knew that he had come to her rooms with Tony’s blood on his hands.
‘By your leave, your Grace?’ Tony stood framed in the open window, awaiting her permission to enter.
‘Oh, do not be such a fool. Come in before someone sees you.’ She rushed to the window and reached to pull him in herself, patting at his chest with her hands, searching for some sign of injury.
He stepped into her room as easily as if he’d entered it from the hall, laughing as her hands touched him, catching them and bringing them to his lips. ‘You thought I would come to harm from Barton?’
She looked at him incredulously. ‘I was terrified. You must have known what I would think.’
‘That I would go into the darkness and let him brawl with me, in a public park? Not knowing who he might have brought with him for aid or what trap might await me? I’m sorry to disappoint you, darling, but I ran like a rabbit until I was quite sure he was lost on the paths, and then I came here. And I can assure you; I am quite unharmed.’ He placed her hands against his chest again. ‘But you may touch me as much as you like. I find it most pleasant.’
She snatched her hands away and turned from him. ‘I was a fool to agree to this. I should never have allowed you to come. I put you at risk for helping me, and you treat it as if it were a joke. But I thought you deserved a warning. Barton knows I had help getting the deed. And yesterday he forced his way into my home and took it back. After tonight, he must know it was you who helped me. He wants revenge. He means to hurt you.’
Anthony laughed. ‘I gathered that. I wish him luck in it.’
‘Do not talk that way. You do not understand what he is capable of.’
He smiled. ‘I am sorry, but so many men have threatened me over the years. I am still here, and quite whole.’ He stood before her, hands outspread, inviting another examination. When she did not reach for him, he became serious again. ‘I thank you for the warning, although I am not particularly concerned by Barton’s threats. And what might all that have to do with your kissing him in a public place?’
‘You saw?’
‘Indeed. You were not enjoying it? Because you appeared most enthusiastic.’ His smile was gone, and his tone demanded an explanation.
‘What choice do I have? He gave me a demonstration yesterday of the depths he is willing to stoop to ensure my obedience. He beat my servants. He tortured my maid before my very eyes, until I gave him the key to my house. And threatened to do the same to you if I did not submit to him.
‘He has everything, and yet he wants more from me. I have no money, no