“Go on.” Fabian smirked. “You may hit me until your knuckles bleed but it won’t change a damn thing.”
Vane drew back his fist. “You arrogant bastard.”
“No! Please, Vane.” Lillian rushed forward and tried to step in between them. She tugged the sleeve of Vane’s black coat. But when that proved futile, she dropped to her knees and threw her arm across Fabian’s chest. “Don’t hurt him.”
Despite having received numerous punches, Fabian’s heart swelled at her concern for his welfare.
Vane turned on her. “Good God! After what he’s done to you, I should kill him.”
“Why, when you have not even given him a chance to explain?”
“Explain! What the hell is there to say? He abducted you from Vauxhall, all because I wouldn’t play the obedient lord and go on his pathetic ghost hunt.”
Fabian’s blood boiled. “Estelle is alive. Why won’t you trust my word?”
Vane released Fabian’s shirt and straightened. “Let us say for one ridiculous moment that you speak the truth, and in a desperate bid to save your sister you ruined mine. What I cannot fathom is why you thought such an idiotic plan would persuade me to help you?”
“I have not ruined your sister,” Fabian snapped. “If anything, I have saved her from spending a life living in your shadow.”
Deep lines appeared on Lillian’s brow. “Don’t fight.”
“Och, can’t you see you’re upsetting the lass?” Mackenzie added.
Vane ignored them. “Oh, you think preying on a vulnerable woman is honourable. She has suffered enough.” His glassy eyes resembled the surface of a frozen lake: a cold hard exterior that promised danger beneath its icy depths. “The last thing she needed was to be a pawn in your game.”
With Lillian’s assistance, Fabian came to his feet. “This is not a game. An innocent young woman is out there as we speak.” He stabbed his finger at the door. “And you have the gall to suggest I find it an amusing way to pass the time.”
Vane raised an arrogant brow. “Innocent? Is that what you believe? Trust me. Estelle knew what she was doing. I suppose whatever you were doing with my sister behind the bed hangings falls into your misguided definition of innocent, too.”
“I’m misguided?” Fabian clenched his jaw. “I’m not the cold-hearted bastard who offered marriage and reneged.”
Lillian sucked in a breath. “Fabian, please. Let us all sit down and discuss this in a proper manner.”
“Proper?” Vane chided. “Ravenscroft knows nothing about integrity or decency.” Vane stared down his nose at Fabian. “Find a pistol. I shall wait for you outside the castle walls. Pack your things, Lillian. We are going home.”
“No!” Lillian rushed to her brother’s side, grabbed his arm and shook it repeatedly. “Stop this, Vane.”
“This pirate has treated you with nothing but disrespect. I will have satisfaction on your behalf.” Vane seemed confident of success. “Now gather your belongings.”
“Don’t underestimate my skill in combat. And Lillian is not going anywhere.” Fabian was about to break the news of their recent nuptials.
“I can’t go with you,” Lillian blurted. Her pained expression was like a knife to Fabian’s heart. “I can’t go with you because … because Fabian is my husband. This is my home now.”
A deathly silence ensued.
Vane’s eyes bulged. He opened his mouth but said nothing.
Mackenzie sidled towards the door. “I’ll be outside should anyone need me.”
“As her husband, it falls to me to protect her.” Fabian could see Vane was struggling to absorb the news. “Lillian is my responsibility.”
Vane shook his head. He turned to Lillian. “You married without telling me?”
“Under the circumstances, I had little option.”
“You mean to tell me you married this heathen because he forced you?”
“No!” Lillian’s frantic gaze shot back and forth between them both. “I wanted to marry him. We were good friends once. More than friends now.”