“Because I’ve finally decided on my charity.”
“What’s that?” Josie stepped back and craned her neck, peering through the French doors. “I think Lord Westman is calling for me.”
“Well, then he’ll have to get in line behind His Royal Highness’s Society for Invalid Veterans of Overseas Conflicts.”
“Maddie, is that even a real organization?” Catie asked.
Maddie nodded. “Their founder sent me a heartbreaking note a week ago, and my mother brought it with the rest of my mail today. They need help with their annual fund-raiser and auction. I agreed to chair the event, and I need two co-chairs. You two have just been appointed.”
WHILE THE PRINCE LAUGHED at one of his own jokes, Jack slipped behind an earl and a baron. Finally free, he glanced about for his wife. Every moment he was away from her, his chest grew tighter and his shoulders felt like they were being drawn together by a large fishhook.
He arrowed straight for the last place he’d seen Maddie, shooting a menacing look at anyone who stepped in his way.
“Damn,” he swore when he reached the spot where he’d seen her standing and it was empty. The prince’s ball was turning into a bloody inconvenient crush. He would never find her in the throng of bodies.
“Looking for someone?” The high-pitched voice came from behind him.
Whipping around, Jack found himself eye-to-eye with the Duke of Bleven.
“I know I am.” The handsome man smiled, though no warmth penetrated his cold eyes.
Automatically, Jack allowed a mask of indifference to settle over his features. “If you’re asking about my brother, I last saw him in Scotland several days ago. He could be anywhere by now.”
“Ah, yes, Lord Nicholas,” Bleven said, stroking the cleft in his chin. “I suppose I will have to deal with him later. But, of course, you know the person I was speaking of is your lovely wife. She and I have some unfinished business.”
Jack clenched his jaw and forced himself to speak quietly. “If you have any business with my wife, you can take that up with me. I’ll be more than happy to oblige you.”
“Oh, but that wouldn’t be any fun,” Bleven said. His face twisted into an expression of exaggerated solicitousness. “I’d much rather spend my time with the lovely Madeleine.”
Jack couldn’t stop his rage from boiling over. He grabbed Bleven by the collar and hauled him up against the wall. The crowd surrounding them took a united step back, and Jack heard the hissing speculation.
“Blackthorne has Bleven by the neck.”
“The duke will kill him.”
“My money’s on Blackthorne.”
Bleven’s eyes bulged out and his cheeks were red with indignation. Jack’s face was inches from Bleven’s, his voice little more than a whisper. “If you so much as touch her, you sadistic bastard, I’ll kill you.”
“Like you killed those men who had their fun with your mother?” Bleven’s hoarse voice carried past Jack. There was a gasp from the crowd behind them, which made Bleven smile. He lowered his voice, speaking only to Jack. “They were my men, Blackthorne. Like you, I stood in the shadows and watched. I’d waited a long time for my revenge. I plotted and planned, and in the end it was sweet. So sweet.”
Jack felt the bile rise in his throat, and his fist itched to smash into Bleven’s face. “I’ll kill you for what you did,” he spat.
“Oh, promises, promises. Now allow me to make you one. You and your brother have insulted me for the last time, and you will pay. And I know just the currency—that pretty new marchioness.”
Jack slammed the duke back hard against the wall again. “Goddamn it, Bleven. Stay away from my wife.”
Bleven sneered. “Keep looking over your shoulder, Blackthorne, if it makes you feel better. But when I come for her, you won’t be able to stop me.”
“Step outside with me,” Jack said between clenched teeth. “I’ll stop you.”
“How? Are you going to cry again, little coward boy?”
Jack knew what Bleven was doing, knew the other man was trying to goad him into making a scene or—worse—make him so angry that he forgot what was truly important: Maddie.
Exercising all of his willpower, Jack unclenched his fists from around Bleven’s collar and lowered the duke to the floor. “I will protect what’s mine,” he hissed. “I’ll come for you, Bleven. Don’t ever doubt that.”
He stepped back and swung toward the crowd, scanning it for Maddie. Instead, he felt a hundred eyes on him.
