Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(87)

“I’ve heard your good news. You and I are going to have it out, Price.” Evan pulled out a dueling pistol and aimed it at Cameron.

Cameron’s heart leaped into his throat and his bowels cramped. What the hell? This was Xavier. He wasn’t a madman. What had gotten into him?

“Evan!” Rose shrieked.

“Leave, Rose,” Cameron said, willing his voice not to crack. “Let her go, Xavier. Unlock the door and let her go.”

“No!” Rose ran in front of Cameron. “If you want him, my lord, you have to go through me.”

“This doesn’t concern you, my lady,” Evan said. “It’s between Price and me.”

“Of course it concerns me. What other business could you possibly have with Cameron?”

“Rose, leave,” Cameron pleaded. “I’ll be fine.”

“I won’t. I won’t leave you.”

“Think of the babe,” Cam whispered into her ear.

She softened against him.

“Please,” he said. “I’ll be all right. I promise.” He prayed he wasn’t lying to her.

She nodded. “If you say so, Cam. I’ll bring help.” Rose inched along the wall, never taking her gaze off of Evan, until she reached the door. She unlocked it and scurried outside.

Cameron held up his hands, his heart pounding. “Come on, Xavier. You don’t expect to fight an unarmed man, do you?” The man was a mountain, but a pummeling was preferable to being shot. Stay calm, Cameron. Stay calm.

“She was supposed to be mine,” Evan said.

“Look, if this is about the commission, I plan to give you your money back. You can ask Rose. She knows.”

“Do you think I give a damn about the money?” Evan took a step forward, and his face twisted in anguish. He exhaled and then lowered the pistol and deposited it back in his pocket. “My God, man, I’m sorry.”

Cameron walked toward him, his nerves skittering. “Xavier, what is this really about?”

“I don’t know. Rose, I guess. My foolish pride. My father’s impending nuptials. Everything’s changing so quickly. I thought I knew where I was headed.” Evan raked his hands through his blond hair. “I wasn’t going to do anything. Just scare you a little.” He let out a nervous laugh. “The pistol’s not even loaded.”

“You accomplished your objective. I very nearly shat myself.” Cameron held back a shudder. Oddly, he felt a sort of kinship with the other man. His own life had changed dramatically in the past month.

“My father. It’s difficult to see him with another woman. Yet he’s so happy.”

“Then you need to be happy for him.”

Evan nodded, his eyes sunken. “I haven’t found that happiness. I wanted it with Rose, but it wasn’t there. It was never there. I envy you, Price. And I envy my father. You’re right, of course. I need to be happy for him. And I know that, in my heart.”

“It will take a little time to get used to. But you will. Listen, I—”

“Mr. Price, I presume?”

Cam and Evan both looked toward the door as it locked again with a click. Cameron inhaled a sharp breath. A balding man stood, gun in his hand, and this was no dueling pistol.

“Who are you?” Cameron asked, his stomach churning again.

“You are Cameron Price?” the stranger said again.

Cameron gulped. “I am.”

“Then I suppose I’m your cousin. Or second cousin once or twice removed or some such. Dorrance Adams.”

“Ah. You’re the imbecile.” The words popped out before Cameron could stop them.

“Seeing as how you’re the one with a gun pointed at you, I’d say it’s debatable who the imbecile is here.” Adams advanced. “I’ve no concern with you”—he gestured to Evan—“but as I can’t have witnesses, I have no choice but to dispose of you both. And I plan to do a better job than I did with your father all those years ago.”

“My father?” Cameron shook his head, his ears ringing. “You’ve got it all wrong. My father only died seven years ago.”

“Yes, unfortunately, I found that out recently. The men I hired were supposed to kill him.”

“The men you hired?” Cameron’s mind raced. Was his grandfather not responsible? “I was told my mother’s father—”

“I’m afraid not. I’ve done some research over the past couple weeks. All the good baronet did was throw your parents out of his house. The beating was my doing, though obviously those I entrusted it to didn’t get the job done. Which is why I came for you myself. You won’t be getting out of this stable alive, Price.”

“What’s this about, Price?” Evan asked, slowly moving along the wall of the stable, farther away from Cameron.

“I’ll explain later, God willing,” Cameron said, his heart hammering. Keep him talking. Think of Rose and the babe. “Look,” he said to Adams, “if it’s the marquessate you want, you can have it. I don’t even want it.” Don’t mention Rose. If he knows about the babe— Cameron couldn’t complete the thought.

Adams let out a sigh. “If only it were that simple, Price. But it isn’t. You’re going to have to go.” He raised his hand.