“You can’t do this to me,” Lady Ridgeland screeched, struggling against the two men. “You can’t do this to me!”
“You kidnapped two gentlemen of the realm,” Mortimer said, dusting off the sleeves of his jacket. “If nothing else, that is a serious offense.”
“What a satisfying sight,” Saville said with a grin.
“I found these men like this! You have no evidence that I kidnapped them!”
“I have the notes that were sent to Lady Selena. I’ll have the testimonies of the staff in the brothel within the hour, but most importantly, Lady Ridgeland, I have ears.”
“Yes,” Selena piped up. “And the duke’s ears are all he needs. The duke is the law.” She looked to the duke. “You go, I shall take care of my brother and Warrick.”
Mortimer nodded, inclined his head at them, and strode from the room.
Selena turned to the men still tied to the chairs. “Well, this is a sight I’d love to capture in a portrait.”
“Are you going to untie us or not? My arse is numb. I cannot believe you did not notice I was missing for two days! What if I had been harmed?” Saville complained.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Weeds don’t perish so easily.”
Her brother’s face went blank. “Did you just call me a weed?”
“I borrowed a phrase from Theodosia.”
His eyes narrowed. “Didshecall me a weed?”
“You shall have to take it up with her.”
Saville craned his neck to look toward the open door. “Is Theodosia here as well?”
“No, of course not. I would never involve her in matters she has no interest in.”
“Good,” Saville said. “Now can you please unbind us? I can’t feel any part of my body anymore.” He paused. “What the devil, are you wearing those Turkish trousers again?”
Selena shrugged and her cloak parted further to reveal a pair of Turkish trousers, covered by the prominent robe she still wore. He hadn’t noticed them back at Warrick’s house, but he noticed them now? “You should be more worried about your clothing than mine.”
He jolted. “Why? Don’t tell me you cut up my waistcoats again!”
She shrugged. “Theodosia and I had a spot of fun.”
“Selena.”
One word, that was all it took to set her heart aflutter. They hadn’t seen each other in two days, and she could hardly drag her gaze from him.
Her brother’s voice faded into the background.
*
Warrick stared atSelena, unable to tear his gaze away. Anyone who saw her now would think she was a scandalous mess. She was. A glorious, scandalous, mess. And she’d arrived with Mortimer, tall, handsome, and in possession of an amazing head of hair.
He couldn’t help but feel a tiny twinge of jealousy.
Just a tiny twinge.
What had Mortimer asked him back at the tavern? Something about whether Warrick would warn him off if he were to approach Selena about the book. He hadn’t, since he didn’t mind that, butthissituation—running about town together dressed in those damn trousers again, entering a brothel together—stabbed at his gut.
Just a little bit . . .
And what was “the duke of law” all about?
