Evening Star (Star Quartet 1)

“He threatened to ruin us if I told you,” she said.

“Surely you didn’t believe him.”

“Of course I did. He hates me for rejecting him four years ago. He knows that we aren’t married, and he is threatening to inform the world if I don’t pay him ten thousand dollars.”

“Ah,” he said.

“His valet was the man chasing me that day.” She fell silent, but the quiet was deafening. “I wanted to threaten him, Alex. I didn’t want you to know.”

“But you came to the shipyard to tell me, did you not?”

She nodded. “You weren’t there.”

“Tell me something, Giana,” Alex said thoughtfully. “Why didn’t you tell me about this last night? I do have a few more resources available to me than you do.

“Why?” he repeated when her silence lengthened.

“I was afraid for you. I didn’t want him to hurt you.”

He gazed at her intently for a long moment, then said evenly, “Well, you can forget the entire incident, and Randall Bennett as well now.”

“How can I forget it? Alex, he will do what he threatened. He can make things very uncomfortable for all of us. I don’t want you hurt. You don’t deserve it. He is serious, Alex.”

“A man with a broken nose and a cracked jaw has difficulty making himself understood,” he said calmly.

“Broken nose?”

“I beat the hell out of Randall Bennett. Very enjoyable,” he said as an afterthought. “His valet too.”

“How could you? You don’t even look messed up.”

He held out his hand and showed her his bruised knuckles. She lightly touched her fingers to the broken skin and felt him flinch slightly. “Why?” she asked.

He smiled sardonically. “If we had been truly married, I would have promised to love, honor, and cherish you.”

“But none of that applies to us.”

“I suppose it doesn’t,” he said slowly, sounding suddenly tired. “In any case, I told Bennett that if he opened his mouth I would carve his tongue out and force him to eat it. Coming from a savage American, I think such a threat sounded believable. At least he appeared to believe me. He should be returning to hearth and home in England soon.”

“I think he is desperate for money,” Giana said.

“Scoundrels usually are.” He gave her an almost savage smile. “Actually, my love, I know he is on his way to England. A couple of my men escorted him to a departing ship. I did pay his passage. Incidentally, I also sent a letter to your mother. She will keep an eye on Sir Galahad when he arrives in London. Now, Giana, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll lie down for a while. You scared the hell out of me.”

“Do you mind if I join you? My legs still feel rubbery.”

“Only if you promise to keep your distance.”

Alex was on the point of relaxing when he heard Giana giggle beside him. “I dread knowing what amuses you,” he said.

“Randall’s beautiful face. Did you really break his nose?”

“You’re a bloodthirsty little savage,” he said.

Chapter 25

“Derry,” Giana shouted, raising her head from the letter, “we’ve done it. The first thirty reapers are on their way from Chicago to New York, despite the strikes, despite all the wretched lawsuits. My representative in London will be able to fill the orders he’s contracted—in two months, at the latest.”

“We’re not going to lose our skirts?”