The other men scowled down at her.
“Why did you not say anything earlier?” Jo asked, perplexed.
“It must have slipped my mind amidst bearing my deepest, darkest secret,” Belle retorted.
Jo nodded in assent to her point.
“Are you certain it was him?” Westfield asked, his shoulders now bunched and his fists clenched tightly.
Belle nodded. “I am certain of it.”
“So we must assume he may already know you are alive,” James stated.
Derek heaved a heavy sigh. “He knows. He would have studied his surroundings before he entered them.”
Fear threatened to choke her. While she’d been blissfully unaware of his presence in England, he may have already been very much aware of hers? The notion greatly unsettled her.
“He will take action soon then,” Grey observed.
Westfield, Grey and St. Aldwyn shared a glance. Unspoken words passed between them. This matter was nothing like the projects Jo, Evelyn and Belle had gotten into in the past. It would appear the age of indulgence was over.
Belle felt the men’s resolve strengthen at the prospect of danger.
The women also held an entire conversation with only a look.
“Of all the arrogance!”
“We will not allow them to stuff us in a closet.”
“Thank you for not condemning me.”
“We would never abandon you.”
The men would be impossible. Arrogance was an expected trait from a lord and, as an unspoken rule, women tolerated men’s entitlement. But now, in light of this danger, they would be insufferable to manage. Because as another unspoken rule, at least among these gentlemen, they had learned to allow their women their freedom both as a token of respect and to maintain their sanity—now that was about to end.
Here we go, yet again, Belle’s inner voice echoed in her mind.
