A Lily Among Thorns(30)

Instead, she let her smile spread. “That’s why I’m not going to have you killed outright. But I recommend you hire bodyguards for Solomon, because if he so much as nicks himself shaving, you’ll find yourself in a gutter with your throat cut. You should know I have the means to do it. Don’t think any foolish sentimentality will prevent me.” She nodded toward the door. “Now get out and be grateful for my forbearance.”

He was shaken, but he tried to bluster through. “What, you’d kill your own father? Surely—”

“If you’d ever bothered to inquire, you’d know I never make empty threats. I don’t give a tinker’s damn that you’re my father. I only still call you that because I know how much the connection mortifies you.”

“Does he really mean this much to you, then, this tradesman?”

She couldn’t remember ever being this angry, which was saying a great deal. She laughed softly. “Oh no. I’m not doing this for him.” It was a lie. But her father didn’t seem to know it. She thanked God for that, though she didn’t believe in Him. “No, it’s the principle of the thing. It’s time you learned not to meddle in my affairs. I hate you, you know.” She wasn’t sure if that was a lie or not. The bright sharp feeling that rose like bile in her throat at the sound of his voice—was that hatred? “I daresay I’ve been waiting for this excuse for a long time. I should have done it when you were here last week. But it’s never too late. If I end in Bedlam, you’re dead then too. I have friends who’ll make sure of it. Now get out and leave me alone.”

“Is there no end to your depravity, Reenie? I hear that Frenchman who was keeping you is back as well!” He gave her a sly look. “Maybe I ought to have a word with the fellow, tell him he’s been cuckolded.”

Serena blanched a little at the word “cuckolded.” There is no way he could know about those marriage lines, she told herself. “I’m sure if he were here, René would be shocked to hear that I’m not as chaste a mistress as he thought, but he went to the British Museum.” An odd choice, given that he’d never shown the slightest interest in antiquities before, but no doubt he found time hanging heavy on his hands while he waited to take possession of the Arms.

“Hmm, too bad,” Lord Blackthorne said, sounding pleased. Serena felt sure he would head over to the museum the moment he was out the door. At any other time, she would have been amused at her father trying to play Iago to René’s Othello. But the idea lost its piquancy now she knew that, like Iago, her father did not balk at murder.

There would be no apology to make, after all. There was that to be grateful for.

Serena didn’t feel grateful. She took a deep breath, picked a piece of lint off her sleeve, and went to find Solomon.





Chapter 7


Solomon still didn’t have a plan to make Serena let him stay. He was hoping that after last night, she would just give in and save him the trouble. In the meantime, he was packing very slowly. He put on his shirt very slowly and buttoned his waistcoat very slowly.

If he couldn’t make her give in, he’d be back in Cheapside by dinnertime. The thought depressed his spirits unutterably.

Depression felt disturbingly normal, as if feeling alive and interested in the day, as he had for the past few mornings, was some sort of aberration. Welcome back, blue-devils.

Slowly shrugging into his coat, he looked out the window and saw Lord Blackthorne getting into his carriage. The old bastard must be delighted at this turn of events. A moment later Solomon felt guilty for his surge of resentment. If he left, the threat of Bedlam would be lifted. It would be a blessed relief for Serena, even if Sacreval remained to be dealt with.

But damn it, Solomon wanted to help her deal with him. He yanked open the wardrobe and started throwing things onto the bed.

A knock came at the door, and Serena walked in. She stopped short when she saw the pile of clothes, and his open valise. “Oh, good, you’re going,” she said flatly.

His heart sank. “What did your father want?”

She frowned. “How did you know—never mind. Nothing important. Be gone by lunchtime or I’ll have you evicted for trespassing.”

“Honestly, Serena, only you could add insult to injury with such—” She put up a hand to rub at her temple, and he saw white dents where her nails had bit the palm. He turned sharp eyes on her and saw her face was bloodless. “Good God, Serena, you look—you look bleached! What did that bastard say to you? Did he threaten to have you locked up again?”