Page 98 of Kathryn

“Are you quite mad, Dulverton?” Katie sputtered. “Ampthill is drunk—as always—and he accosted me on my way into the parlor.”

Dulverton whipped around to his captive. “Is that true, Ampthill? Did you accost my wife?”

Again, Ampthill gurgled, but more weakly this time, his eyes rolling back in their sockets.

A startled yelp came from behind them and both Katie and Dulverton turned to find Becky at the head of the stairs.

“Where the hell were you?” Dulverton barked at the stunned maid. “Why weren’t you with your mistress as you are supposed to be? That is your purpose, and if you cannot—”

“Do not yell at her!” Katie snapped. “I am the one who sent her away. Now, release Ampthill immediately—unless you want to have an unconscious body on your hands.”

Dulverton’s lip twitched into a snarl and an actual growl rumbled in his chest. He released the earl as swiftly as he’d grabbed him and Ampthill slid to the patterned carpet like a stunned fish, gasping for air.

Feet pounded up the stairs and the innkeeper appeared beside Becky. “Your Grace? Is something amiss?” He gawked at the floundering earl. “Goodness! What happened?”

Dulverton gave Ampthill an ungentle nudge with his booted foot. “This bounder was attempting to molest my wife. He is drunk.”

The innkeeper stared aghast, his eyes bouncing like marbles from peer to peer.

Katie took pity on him when Dulverton continued to glare. “Please help the earl to his feet and take him somewhere… else.”

“Oh, yes.” The innkeeper darted forward. “Excellent notion. Thank you, Your Grace.”

Katie made her way into the parlor on unsteady legs.

“Your Grace?”

She turned to find that Becky had followed her and was peering anxiously up at her. “Did that man hurt you? Is there—”

“You!” Dulverton roared, standing in the doorway, pointing at Becky. “Out!”

Becky made a squeaking sound and immediately scurried toward the door, needing to squeeze past the duke’s big body.

Dulverton slammed the door behind her so hard the windows on the opposite wall rattled. “If your maid cannot manage to stay by your side while you are in public then I will discharge her and find somebody who will.” He strode to the table and yanked out a chair. “Sit.”

“I will not sit! How dare you order my servant about in such a rude, draconian manner?”

Dulverton closed the short distance between them and loomed over her. “I dare because I am your husband. You would be wise to obey me, or you will discover that I am capable of far more draconian behavior.”

Katie opened her mouth.

His icy eyes narrowed. “Have a care what you say, madam. I am not in a mood to be trifled with.”

Katie was so angry her vision blurred.

Fortunately, the parlor door opened and prevented her from spewing bile. Two servants hesitated on the threshold, bearing loaded trays yet obviously repelled by the atmosphere in the room, which was thicker than the slices of bread piled on one of the trays.

“Get on with it,” Dulverton barked, setting the frozen tableau into motion.

Katie ground her teeth together so hard they should have been powder. She looked from the bustling servants to the duke, who was regarding her grimly.

You are foolish to taunt and infuriate him when he has every right to be angry at me for allowing you to wander alone through an inn, phantom Becky chided.

Katie suspected she would get an almost identical scolding from the real Becky on the way home.

Once the food had been arranged one of the maids turned to Dulverton. “Will there be anyth—”

“Go,” he ordered. “And do not disturb us again. If I want you, I will ring for you,” he said, his eyes never leaving Katie.