“I gather you know who I am,” Heath replied.
“Naturally. I make it my business to know all the nabobs in London.” O’Rourke hesitated. “And I saw you at the jades’ house last week.”
Heath raised an eyebrow. “Jades?”
“Fleur and Chantel. You were on the stairs as I was leaving.”
“When you were unceremoniously evicted, you mean.”
A muscle flexed O’Rourke’s jaw, but he held on to his temper as he gestured at a wooden chair set in front of his desk. “Would you care to be seated, milord?”
“Thank you, no. My business won’t take long.”
Heath had kept his hat and walking stick upon being admitted, and O’Rourke surveyed the stick measuringly before locking gazes again with his guest. “I’ll wager I know the purpose of your visit, milord.”
“Do you?”
“You’ve come on behalf of those bawds.”
“In part. I am more concerned about your mistreatment of Miss Irwin.”
The heavy black brows snapped together. “What do you mean, mistreatment? I never laid a hand on Fanny.”
“Indeed? You split her lip and left bruises on her jaw from your grip.”
His expression turned bewildered. “I never meant to. I would never hurt Fanny. I love her.”
“You have a curious way of showing love.”
“Is that so?” O’Rourke’s tone held a hint of belligerence. “What is it to you, your lordship? Fanny hasn’t taken up with you, has she?”
“If you mean, am I enjoying her services, then no. But she is under my protection all the same. Miss Irwin is a friend of a friend.”
Nodding as if in understanding, O’Rourke sank back into his chair. “So that’s the way of it? You’re hot for that little firebrand who attacked me.”
Heath felt his mouth twitch at the suitability of the term for Lily. “You might put it that way. I hope to make that little firebrand my wife someday, and the well-being of her friends is of grave importance to her, and therefore to me.”
“Did she send you here?”
“I volunteered.” Heath smiled rather coldly. “You should consider yourself fortunate that I stopped her from coming here herself. She was quite eager to have your blood.”
“And you are not?”
“Let us say I am willing to settle for a warning. If you hurt Miss Irwin again-if you so much as damage a hair on her head-you will answer to me.”
The gamester stared back. “What will you do, your lordship, call me out? That would hardly be fair, considering that you’re one of the premiere swordsmen in London.”
“I daresay in England,” Heath returned mildly. “And I am accounted a fair shot as well.” In truth he was a deadly shot, as he suspected O’Rourke would know.
The man glanced down to where Heath had rested his hands on the gold knob of his walking stick. “That is a swordstick, or I miss my guess.”
“I make it a policy never to confront an opponent unarmed.”
“I am not your enemy, milord.”
“You will be if you persist in ill-using Miss Irwin.”
O’Rourke visibly clenched his teeth. “So you will meet me at dawn some morning?”