Free If the Earl Only Knew (The Daring Marriages) by Amanda Forester Page B

or two paler. Of course Robert would no doubt balk at killing the man outright, but Sir Richard didn’t know that. If Robert thought Jane’s honor had been besmirched, he could threaten the man to a duel, if Wynbrook didn’t get there first. Or she could take care of the situation in her own way. Kate had no shortage of ideas for how to kill the man.
    “In no way did I intend to threaten you, Sir Richard. But if you so much as whisper any scandal about Lady Jane, I swear to you that you will not be able to propagate your seed ever again. Be assured that you cannot endeavor to succeed against Lady Jane without suffering a most intimate loss. My brother and I are great friends of the Wynbrook family, and we take their care and protection very seriously. You have nothing to gain here and everything to lose. Do not ever inconvenience Jane again.”
    Richard’s eyes bugged out from his face and a vein in his temple pulsed with anger. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but apparently thought better of it and shut it again with a snap, adjusting his cravat once more. “What lovely friends you have, my dear,” he said, addressing Jane.
    “Yes,” said Jane, linking her arm with Kate’s. “I do have the very best of friends.” She turned to Kate. “Though perhaps I am not as good a judge of character as I thought, and perhaps I have not recognized who my friends truly are.”
    Kate was not accustomed to being appreciated and had not expected Jane to thank her for her interference. She was relieved and happily surprised Jane would still consider her a friend.
    “Thank you,” she said simply to Jane. They turned and walked toward the door. At the threshold, Kate looked over her shoulder to where Richard remained planted in the middle of the room, his fists balled at his sides. If ever a man was plotting revenge, it was he.
    Jane’s lower lip began to tremble and Kate feared she was beginning to lose the admirable pluck she had shown before Sir Richard. She needed to get Jane out of the house without anyone noticing her distress.
    They found Tristan, and it only took one glance at Jane for him to spring into action. He might not have been the best choice for raiding a French frigate, but the man did know how to navigate the shoals of society safely. Within minutes, Tristan had made up a plausible excuse to their hostess, called for their coach, and collected their respective brothers.
    Kate thought it best not to tell the men what had occurred until they were all safely on the way back home in the coach and out of the danger of the ballroom, to avoid such scenes as they may later come to regret. It was good she had, for at the telling of the story, Jane burst into tears and Wynbrook had to be physically restrained by Robert and Tristan to prevent him from jumping out of the carriage and running back to murder Sir Richard.
    By the time they returned home, Wynbrook was still seething and poor Jane had dissolved into silent sobs. Kate immediately took Jane upstairs and deposited her with Ellen, hopeful that her sister could soothe her better than Kate’s ineffectual attempts.
    Kate returned downstairs to find the men in full war-room negotiations. Robert had changed into his captain’s coat with a brace of pistols slung across one shoulder and his sword strapped to his side. Wynbrook and Tristan shared looks of grave concern, expressions she had rarely seen on their faces. It reminded her forcibly of the last time she and Robert had come to visit and everything had ended in tragedy. She truly was bad luck.
    “There is no way around it. He must be bought off,” said Wynbrook, not yet noting her presence.
    “Worthless bloody bastard,” said Tristan and then coughed at seeing her enter the room. “Sorry there. Didn’t realize you were in the room.”
    “No musket?” she asked her brother, boldly walking forward.
    “You’re right, we need one,” said Tristan with a grim smile.
    “Thank you, Lady Kate, for bringing