The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel #3)(44)

“And they set out to prove you wrong.”

He tried for another smile. “I got a few good punches in.”

She shook her head. “You’re a child.”

“We’re not paying them fear money.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Of course we’re not.”

“Excellent. Then consider this business meeting adjourned. You are staying here to get your divorce, and I shall take care of the rest.”

Frustration flared. If she hadn’t been forced to the country, she’d have been able to help in London. She’d have been able to protect the Sparrow. Ironically, she hadn’t been at the club to protect it from its enemies because she was too busy protecting it here. From a different enemy altogether.

If she lost it, she lost the only reason to have returned to Britain. All that she was fighting for. She was here for the Sparrow’s promise of freedom. For its future. And for hers. But there was no point in protecting the tavern in theory if she couldn’t protect it in practice. “Like hell. I’m coming with you.”

“No.”

She cut him a look. “Tell me. What, precisely, makes you believe you can tell me what to do?”

He sighed. “Certainly not history.”

“No,” she agreed. “Certainly not.”

“And if you do return, then what?”

“Something!” she insisted, frustration flaring. “The Sparrow isn’t anything without its namesake.”

“Bollocks,” Caleb said. “You stay here. I’ll take care of the Bastards. Hire security, make sure they see I won’t stand for them getting in our way. Don’t worry your pretty head about the bits and pieces.”

She narrowed her gaze. “I shall club you in your head if you continued to treat me as a precious dove. I’m coming back.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s mine,” she whispered. “Held in trust by you.”

“Until you get your divorce, which is why you’re here.”

“Which will mean nothing if I don’t have a tavern standing at the end of it.”

He looked to the ceiling and exhaled his frustration. “You want your nose in the business.”

She nodded. “Now, more than ever.”

“Fine. Then I shall spend days here.”

It was such a terrible idea she laughed. “No, you will not.”

“For once, we agree, wife.” Haven stepped into the room as though he owned it. Which she supposed he did. Irritating man.

“I’d thank you not to eavesdrop on my conversations,” she said.

“As we remain married, conversations you have with unmarried gentlemen are my business, pet.”

Men were insufferable. “Call me ‘pet’ again, and see what happens.”

He did not flinch. “What? You do to me what your American scoundrel had done to him?” He looked to Caleb. “Bad luck. I only wish I could have done it myself.”

“If it had been you, Duke, you’d be looking a fright, not me.”

Haven grinned at that. As though it was funny. “History would suggest otherwise, Yank.”

Sera paused. What did that mean?

It did not matter. “Haven, I must return to London.”

“No.” She imagined neither man much liked agreeing with the other.

She could not contain her groan of frustration. “Neither of you get a say in the decision.”

“We have a deal, Sera,” Haven said. “And that deal does not include sallying off to London with some American.”

“I’ll sally wherever and with whomever I like,” she retorted, suddenly incredibly irritated by everything. “You don’t own me.”

“But he does,” Caleb said.

She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

Haven was set back on his heels as well. “I beg your pardon?”

Caleb’s gaze found hers, and she hated the meaning in it. “He does own you, Duchess. You’re his wife. He owns you, and all of your belongings. He owns your very future.”

The message was clear. To keep the Sparrow safe and hers, she had to stay here. She had to secure her divorce to secure her future.

She scowled at her friend. “You’re a damn traitor.”

“We do what we have to. Don’t worry, Duke. She’s not going back to London.” Sera swallowed back her urge to do additional damage to Caleb’s face, and he added, “And I’ll be spending some more time here, it seems. We shall all become fast friends, I’m sure.”

What nonsense. They had a plan, she and Caleb. He was not staying here. She opened her mouth to tell him as much, but Haven interjected, looking as though he might do Caleb severe harm. “I assure you we will be no such thing. And you are not welcome here.”

She’d been certain Caleb wasn’t setting foot at Highley again, until that moment. And then it became a point of pride. Just as everything between she and Malcolm always had been. “He stays if I wish it.”

“You’ve wished quite enough, Seraphina. I’m not of a mind to continue to coddle you like a child. There’s no room for him.”

“Like a child?” To whom, precisely, did he think he was speaking?

“Oh, now you’ve done it, Duke,” said Caleb.