For her?
“What the hell is going on here?” Harrison asked, walking through the group of men facing her.
He came and stood beside her, his larger body giving her a sense of protection she had never known or needed. Closing her mouth, Kitty gazed up at Harrison, watching the slow trail of perspiration fall down his temple to his strong jaw line, to disappear in the neck of his cravat.
Kitty opened and closed her moistening hands, trying to control the sudden tremble in her body.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Pierre scowled at Harrison, fixating his gaze on him and Kitty side by side.
“Anything pertaining to Madame Delcour is my concern. Now, I’ll ask again, what the bloody hell is going on here?” Harrison took a step toward Pierre, and Kitty couldn’t stop herself from staring at him if she tried.
“It’s simple Hendershot, The Court of Chancery has ruled that Madame Delcour is no longer the owner of this establishment. So, she now has decisions to make.”
“What fucking decisions?” Harrison cursed, his body tensing beside Kitty.
“Hendershot, control yourself,” Richmore said, placing his hand on Harrison’s shoulder.
Pierre replied, “My dear sister here has two choices. Either pack her things and leave without a farthing to her name or stay and work like the whore she is?—”
A loud gasp escaped Kitty as Harrison’s fist connected to Pierre’s jaw. Her brother-in-law went tumbling into Belville and Woodson. The three men lost their footing, falling to the marbled floor of the ballroom.
Covering her mouth, Kitty tried to hide the snort of laughter that erupted from her. It felt surprisingly good to watch them struggle to rise. Though her world was crumbling around her, knowing that she had her friends and Harrison made Kitty believe she could face anything.
Struggling to his feet, Pierre stood, keeping his distance from Harrison. “I want this man escorted out!” he pointed to Harrison, giving the command to Siegfried.
“Madame?” Siegfried inquired to her, eyes wide wondering if he should follow Pierre’s command.
“That won’t be necessary. We’re leaving.” Harrison held his hand out, looking down at Kitty expectantly.
All breath left her, the occupants of the room disappeared, and there was no one else in the world but her and Harrison. After everything she’d done to him, refusing him over and over again, all because she wanted to cling to her independence to her business more than anything in the world. Now it was gone, and she did not know if she would ever relinquish control away from Pierre and his acquaintances.
It was painfully clear that both Belville and Woodson had been promised something in order for the Court of Chancery to vote in Pierre’s favor, but what was it? And how could Kitty possibly prove that something nefarious was at play?
Without a word, Kitty placed her hand in Harrison’s, and suddenly she could breathe. A smile teased at the corner of his mouth, and he threw her a wink before they turned and faced her foes together.
“Very well, I’ll leave, but you will not be here long. I will find a way to appeal this decision, and when I do, all of you will feel my wrath.” Kitty looked each man in the eye, wanting them to know that she did not plan to hand over everything that she’d worked for to an undeserving piece of swine like her brother-in-law.
Woodson nodded his head mockingly. “Of course, you can try my dear Madame, but unless you have proof that your late husband left the establishment to you. I’m afraid there is nothing to be done.”
Kitty’s entire body stiffened, there was proof—a will— years ago. Jacques had one created, but she was not sure what he had done with it. How completely daft her younger self was then.
The only thing she cared about after Jacques’s death was living. People depended on her for answers, and their own survival.
“Where is the Lord Chancellor? Is he aware of this subterfuge?” Richmore asked.
Kitty looked from Richmore to the other men. The Lord Chancellor had the authority to overrule the judges, and if he was not aware of the decision, perhaps all was not lost.
Hope swelled inside of Kitty. She needed to find a way to stop Pierre from ruining everything that she’d built with her own bare hands.
“The Lord Chancellor has more important matters to see to.” Belville gave her a triumphant smile.
More important matters than her, a woman. Of course, the marquess and Lord Woodson were conspiring with Pierre. The both of them had been trying to gain entrance into Pleasure House for years, but Kitty had never approved of them.
In her profession, it was imperative that she knew who she could trust with her employees and whom she couldn’t. The world was full of cruelty, especially to women, and she would not allow anyone under her protection to come to harm.
“There is nothing you can do. Make your decision, sister.” He sneered the word, his disdain for her clear.
In. Out.
