"Now, now," Mr. Danbury moved fast like a cobra, grabbing her by the arm as she tried to slip away to the right. "It is very pretty, this pretense of modesty that you put on to make me more inflamed for you. But it is not necessary, lovely lady Louisa. I have heard all about you from all over society and what a naughty lady you are too. Tricking dashing and devilish Cedric Pembroke into a marriage, carrying on with all comers. Oh you are delicious. I am delighted to meet you. We are going to have all sorts of fun."
No.
No. No, no, no.
Louisa felt her heart spring into triple pace in her chest, hammering in her veins as she swallowed around a dry mouth, eyes fixed on him and the feeling of his fingers on her skin burning her like a brand. No, no. This - whatever this was - whatever he wanted - this couldn't be happening.
"Let me go!" she said loudly, pulling on her arm as she tried to fight her way free of his tight grip. "Let me go, sir. I do not want to be here anymore. Don't touch me!"
"Steady on," Mr. Danbury said, pulling her closer to him no matter how much she fought. "All right, beautiful. If you want a fight, I can give you one. I do like a woman with spirit. It's even better if you bite."
No matter what she did she could not free herself from him. Louisa kicked at his shins but er flimsy slippers barely made adent. He had her pinned, trapped against the bench, his hands on her arms and his eyes already traveling all over her body. She would not be able to get free of him. He would make her reputation true and then -
Oh god. Cedric. Please.
She screamed - as loud as she dared and then his hand was on her mouth and all she could smell was cologne and brandy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The scream tore through the night air before being cut off. Cedric had already been tracking his wife down as best he could, but the sound of her panicked cry was enough to bring a red wave of fury before his vision.
He broke into a run, pushing past several couples who had taken outside to the gardens to get some fresh air and not stopping to apologize to either gentleman or lady. Shouts and protestations followed him as he leaped over a low hedge, eyes fixed burning into the darkness, searching for any glimpse of her.
Why had he been such a fool as to allow her to wander off? Why had he not kept her with him, kept her protected as he had vowed he would on their wedding day?
What kind of danger might come for a lady of her status at so exclusive a party?
The memory of the rumors that Alexandra Balfour had described to him turned his blood to ice and drove him forward even faster. No one would harm Louisa, not while he drew breath to stop them. They would regret ever trying.
Perhaps the fates or the gods themselves drew him to his love's side for he turned once more in the gardens, flickering with the occasional lamplight and found a small clearing where a man (Danbury, he realized) had his own wife in his arms and was trying to force an embrace on her no matter how fiercely she fought him.
Oh and she was fierce. His love was a wildcat, clawing at his arm desperately, biting the hand that was covering her mouth, trying to kick any part of him that she could reach. Cedric rushed forwards, his vision narrowing to the man hurting Louisa and grabbed the fellow, pulling him off her in one forceful movement and flinging him aside.
Danbury was everything that was wrong with the modern man. Where Cedric had flirted and wooed those who were interested in being wooed, Danbury seduced women who were too vulnerable to know better, young girls barely out or maids who had never been pursued by a gentleman or sheltered invalids, leaving a trail of broken lives behind him.
Someone should have done something about this years ago, Cedric thought darkly, glaring down at the man sprawled across the ground at his feet. No matter. He would take care of it now. No new girl would be hurt by this cad. No more lives would be ruined.
"Cedric," Louisa gasped, a note of pain in her voice that distracted him from his foe for a moment, turning to check on her where she was now sheltered behind him. She had a livid mark on her face where Danbury had held her and there were tears running down her cheeks. She was pale in the lamplight, pale and pleading, her dark eyes desperate for his help.
"I'm here," Cedric said softly, catching the movement only just in time from the reflected fear that sprang to life in her face. He ducked to one side, letting the punch flow past him, grabbing Danbury byhiswrist and swinging him around to hold him by the cravat, feet barely touching the ground.
"A cad and a coward," he growled. "You'll attack from behind a man will you? I should not be surprised considering how you go after only women who you think won't be able to call upon aid against you."
"Get off me, St Vincent!" Danbury hisses, a little blood at the corner of his mouth. "You don't have the right to treat me like this. Your wife wanted me, if that's something that you have a problem with you can take it up with her."
"Ididn't-"
"Hush," Cedric said coldly. "You do not need to defend yourself against the likes of him, Louisa. Don't waste your breath, my dear."
"Oh? Who will society believe if I should tell them my tale of tonight do you think?" Danbury retorted, a little bolder despitehis position. "With her reputation as it is do you think that they will not believe that she threw herself into my arms and begged me to -"
Cedric put all his weight behind this blow, knocking the man to the ground and barely restraining himself from kicking him like the cur that he was. "Be still."
"Cedric - " Louisa touched his arm lightly, her hands trembling as they caught at his sleeve. "Please."
No. No he was above dirtying himself with this sort. Cedric glared for a moment at the worm on the ground, the waste of human life before him. "Perhaps you have mistaken yourself," he said slowly and venomously. "I am the Earl of St Vincent. My closest friends are dukes. My father built the wealthiest estate in the country. I have connections across the realm. I am going to ruin you, Danbury. You, your family, anyone who has ever blessed your name. I am going to find the furthest cousin to you who has never even met you and I will ruin them as well. I will burn the ground and salt it before I allow you to believe for one second that you are worthy of saying your name in the same sentence, the same breath as hers. Do you understand me?"
The fellow stared up at him, blood pouring down his face from his nose and mouth, eyes wide and frightened now. Perhaps he was at last understanding what it was that he had done.
