Page 42 of A Perfect Gentleman

“Of course, my lord.”

As soon as Mrs. Burbage left, Graeme started toward his bedchamber. But before he could reach the stairs, he came upon the butler and a footman standing side by side at the front door, as if blocking entrance to the man and woman in the doorway. Voices rose, increasingly agitated, a mingling of Norton’s plummy tones, an American accent, and another voice tinged with a faint flavor of Scotland.

Prescott and Abigail’s maid. Graeme sighed.

“Out of the question,” Norton was saying as Graeme came up behind him. “His lordship cannot be dist—”

“It’s all right, Norton. I’ll deal with the matter.”

The butler turned, puffed up with outrage. “Sir. I am so sorry you were bothered. I told these—these—”

“I am sure you did. They are Lady Montclair’s maid and her . . . friend. Molly will be staying with us now.”

“I what?” Molly stared. A spasm of horror crossed his butler’s features.

“I am sure that they are here out of concern for Lady Montclair,” Graeme went on, ignoring both of them.

“Where is Abby?” Prescott demanded. “Do you have her? I insist on seeing her.”

“My wife is asleep, Mr. Prescott, and I have no intention of disturbing her rest to satisfy your curiosity. Lady Montclair has had a rather . . . eventful evening.” He turned to Molly, saying mildly, “I take it you did not trust me to find her.”

Prescott answered before the maid could. “When Lady Montclair didn’t return, Molly became concerned for her mistress’s well-being, so she came to me for help.”

“I assure you, there is no need to be concerned. Norton, send Timothy back to the Langham with Molly so that she can pack up her ladyship’s things.”

“I’m not doing any such thing.” Molly crossed her arms mutinously. “Not till I hear it from Miss Abby’s lips.”

“Will you not? I suspect Lady Montclair will be distressed when she wakes up tomorrow and finds she has nothing to wear. But if you would rather not stay on with her, that is your decision, of course.”

Molly’s eyes widened. She looked about to burst into an angry speech, but after a moment, she set her chin and said, “All right. I’ll bring her things back. But I don’t need any help from them.” She cast a mutinous glance at Norton and Timothy.

“Of course not. It seems to be a national trait. I will leave it to you, then, to settle the matter.” He nodded toward Norton and swung toward Prescott. “Now, Mr. Prescott, if you will join me in my study, I have a few things to discuss with you.”

Prescott shot him a frustrated, furious look, but he, too, seemed to realize how little he could do to challenge Abigail’s lawful husband. With a short nod, he followed Graeme to his study.

“Have a seat.” Graeme gestured toward the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace.

“I’d rather stand.”

“As you wish.” Graeme shrugged. “Now—”

“What happened? Why is Abigail here?”

“She is here because she was almost shot this evening.”

“What?”

“After which she was pushed into the river and nearly drowned.” His words apparently rendered the other man speechless, for Prescott continued to gape at him. “I brought her back here, where I could protect her.”

“Protect her!” Prescott found his voice. “You sure as hell haven’t done a very good job of it so far.”

Graeme’s mouth tightened. “Clearly not. Unfortunately, I was unaware of just how much protection Abigail required. But from now on I intend to make bloody well sure she’s safe. I hope you have enough interest in her safety to help me do that. Tell me who she was meeting tonight. Why? Did she return to England to see him?”

“I didn’t know she was meeting anyone tonight, much less who. I am not privy to Abby’s plans.” The bitterness in Prescott’s voice convinced Graeme the man was telling the truth. “As for why she returned, she had the absurd idea she wanted to reconcile with you. I tried to tell her that being alone by yourself is better than being alone with someone, but she wouldn’t believe me. You are the reason she’s here. If she was attacked, I imagine that has to do with you, as well.”

“Me? I can assure you that until Abigail arrived in London I had not been subject to any attacks.”

“I’m sure not. It’s your inconvenient wife who is the victim.”