Earl of Gold (Lords of Scandal 7)

“They tried to light a home on fire.” More doors cracked open. Windows on second floors slid up. “A fire that if it had caught, would have spread to your homes. It could have engulfed the entire street.”

An eerie silence filled the night except for the licking sound of flames eating carpet. “You know who did this. I want names and I’ll pay handsomely for the privilege. The Earl of Gold is my name. I know you know why. Seek me out and you’ll eat for a month.”

Then he turned to Penny. “Pack up the children. Only the essentials for tonight.” He strode toward them, worried someone might actually take a shot at them.

“Where are we going?” one of the other girls asked.

“Yes.” Clarissa raised her brows. “Where?”

Logan spread out his arms, herding the women back inside. “To my house.”

Fergus was just behind him. “Thank the Lord,” the man muttered as he closed the door and bolted it again.

But Penny said something else entirely. Well, Logan reflected, she didn’t say so much as screech. “Your house?”

Penny had struck him as calm, but she’d been anything but this evening. “Do you have another idea? You can’t stay here. What if they throw in another bottle? Or…” But a stern look from Penny made him cease talking.

“There are children,” she hissed and then drew in a deep breath. Then another. When she spoke again, her voice was much calmer. “Clarissa, take the children to the kitchen and give them warm milk.” Then she looked to Fergus. “If you could lend your aid…”

Logan heard him mumble something about bourbon in his milk, but the man followed, and Penny watched them leave, not looking at him until they’d all cleared the room.

A nervous flitting started in his stomach as she pressed her palms down her dress. “Lord Goldthwaite.”

“When did you cease calling me Logan?”

She ignored the question, her voice having regained her calm tone, as she answered. “I agree that it is in the best interest of the children to remove them from the house.”

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“Good.”

“But.” Her finger raised in the air. “I will not allow you to use me for your own purposes.”

He rumbled deep in his throat. She was being ridiculous. “Penny,” he said through gritted teeth. “To what end might I move a whole passel of females into my home?”

Her gaze narrowed. “So you will keep your lips to yourself?”

Oh. That.

His fist clenched at his side. “I will keep my lips to myself. Will you keep yours to yourself?”

Color flooded her cheeks. “I am the one who is at risk of being compromised.”

True. But he was at risk of being hurt none-the-less. “I know you don’t trust me after what you discovered this evening but let me assure you that I wish for more than just a gaming hell. In fact…” He paused, not sure he could start that flood of words. So instead, he said, “I want to help. And above all, I want you and them safe.”

Her shoulders hunched and her face collapsed in defeat. It was a look he’d seen on many opponents’ faces. “We can be ready in a half hour or less.”

“Good,” his hands relaxed at his sides. Step one would be to get them to a safe place. Then they could begin discussing the future. That of the orphanage but also…

He pulled his chin back. What else did he want? Should he tell her how he felt? Or was he destined to repeat his past?

His hand rubbed at the back of his neck.

He wasn’t certain.

Penny held Natty and Fran in her lap while Clarissa sat with Ethel next to Logan. Fergus had climbed up with the driver to keep a watch as they left the East End.

No one spoke a word as they made their way through the night.