Marquess of Menace (Lords of Scandal 10)

Bash had Mr. Taber pressed up against the wall while Dishonor, bleeding from several scratches, had knocked the third man to the ground.

“Tie them up,” Dishonor said as he wiped some blood from his cheek. “It’s the Bow Street Runners for them.”

“No,” Mr. Taber gasped from his spot on the wall. “You might as well kill me right now.”

“That could be arranged,” Dylan said, standing. Rage coursed through him as he looked at the man who’d attacked Eliza the night before. He’d like to mangle the man’s face, but he remembered that Eliza would see it all and he forced himself to breathe. Dishonor stepped inside and then came out again with balls of twine. Tossing Dylan one, they began to tie the two unconscious men and then stepped toward Bash and Mr. Taber.

The man began to fight harder and Bash gave him a quick punch to the stomach. “If you’re going to die anyway, you might as well tell us who you work for.”

Mr. Taber sneered. “I’d never betray him.”

“Is it he who is going to kill you?”

Mr. Taber laughed as Bash and Dishonor tied his hands. Dylan watched Taber, looking for any subtle cues. “It is. But if I talk now it will be a slow death instead of a quick one. And if you’re smart, you’ll allow him to keep pilfering from your business. He won’t run it dry and you’ll be safe. But get in his way and you’ll end up exactly like your partner.”

Eliza gasped from the shadows and then stepped out. Dylan didn’t hesitate. He pulled her into his embrace, turning her away from Mr. Taber.

“Well look who it is.” Mr. Taber leered. “My bride-to-be.”

“My bride-to-be,” Dylan snapped back.

Eliza tilted her head up and gave him a smile. It was gentle and warm and full of…whatever it was, it stole his breath.

“You can’t have her. My associate has already decided that as the oldest, she should marry within our operation. Even her uncle has agreed. You might have moved the sister in with you, but he is still their next of kin.”

Bash pushed the man into the wall. “He is not. When he left them in that house all alone, he forfeited his rights. I’ve already had a judge sign them over to me. You’ll never touch any of the sisters.”

Dylan squeezed Eliza tighter. Who was Mr. Taber’s boss and how dangerous was this man that he thought he had rights over a duke? How would Dylan protect Eliza from this mysterious man?

Chapter Twelve

Darkness had fallen by the time they could make the trip back to Bash’s home. Dishonor rode with them and the cat slept soundly in Eliza’s lap.

The soft purring helped calm her nerves and she stroked the animal, grateful it was unharmed.

The little ball of fur had been completely fine, but Dishonor was a slightly different story. “That thing scratched the hell out of me.” He touched one of the cuts crisscrossing his face.

“That thing saved your life, I’d wager,” Dylan replied.

“True,” Dishonor said as he touched his cheek again. “What will you do with the animal now?”

“Keep it,” she answered, giving it another pet. “It’s clearly an alley cat. It’ll enjoy Bash’s barn and it’ll be far better fed there.” Then she looked at Dylan, her face heating. “And my marquess over there has an affection for women with cats.”

Dishonor scrunched his brow… “Is that some sort of sexual—”

Dylan cleared his throat. “The last woman I courted had a white, fluffy cat named Tulip. Dreadful creature.” But he leaned over toward Dishonor. “We’re done talking about cats.”

Dishonor touched his cuts again. “Fine. Let’s talk instead about the fact that the thieves have discovered me, my secret storage facility, and possibly my identity. Though, Mr. Taber clearly didn’t know it, and I only pray that they’ve not discovered who I am when I’m not at Carrington Shipping. I’ve no choice but to shut the two compromised lines down and let the drivers go, though I have no idea if they’re actually involved.”

Dylan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You heard Taber. Shutting down the lines could create a large disturbance.”

Eliza drew in a deep breath. Her first concern was Dishonor, of course. But then she realized this could impact her too.

She’d been there today. Seen by Mr. Taber at the secret warehouse. She slid her fingers from the cat and slipped them into Dylan’s grasp.

He laced his hand into hers.

But Dishonor grunted. “You think I should allow these men to continue stealing from me?”