Married By Morning (The Hathaways #4)(60)

Harry leaned forward, a scowl gathering on his face. “Yesterday morning? Where did you spend the night?”

She lifted her chin and tried to sound matter-of-fact. “A coaching inn.”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous those places are for a woman alone? Have you taken leave of your senses? When I think of what could have happened to you—”

“She wasn’t alone,” Leo said.

Harry stared at him incredulously.

It was one of those silences that was far more eloquent than words. One could almost see Harry’s brain working like the elaborate mechanisms he liked to construct in his spare time. One could also see the moment at which he reached an accurate and highly unwelcome conclusion.

Harry spoke to Leo in a tone that chilled Catherine to the bone. “Even you wouldn’t take advantage of a frightened and vulnerable woman who had just suffered an upheaval.”

“You’ve never given a damn about her,” Leo replied. “Why should you start now?”

Harry rose to his feet, his fists clenched.

“Oh, dear,” Poppy murmured. “Harry—”

“Did you share a room with her?” Harry demanded of Leo. “A bed?”

“That’s none of your bloody business, is it?”

“It is when it’s my sister and you were supposed to be protecting her, not molesting her!”

“Harry,” Catherine broke in, “he didn’t—”

“I’m rarely disposed to listen to a lecture on morality,” Leo said to Harry, “when it’s given by someone who knows even less about it than I do.”

“Poppy,” Harry said, his gaze fastened on Leo as if he were contemplating murder. “You and Cat need to leave the room.”

“Why must I leave when I’m the subject of discussion?” Catherine demanded. “I’m not a child.”

“Come, Catherine,” Poppy said quietly, heading to the door. “Let them bluster and brawl in their manly fashion. You and I will go somewhere to discuss your future sensibly.”

This struck Catherine as an excellent idea. She followed Poppy from the room, while Harry and Leo continued to glare at each other.

“I’m going to marry her,” Leo said.

Harry’s face went blank. “You despise each other.”

“We’ve come to an understanding.”

“Has she accepted you?”

“Not yet. She wants to discuss it with you first.”

“Thank God. Because I’ll tell her that it’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

Leo arched a brow. “You doubt I could protect her?”

“I doubt you could keep from murdering each other! I doubt she could ever be happy in such volatile circumstances. I doubt … no, I won’t bother listing all my concerns, it would take too bloody long.” Harry’s eyes were ice-cold. “The answer is no, Ramsay. I’ll do what is necessary to take care of Cat. You can return to Hampshire.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy to get rid of me,” Leo said. “Perhaps you didn’t notice that I haven’t asked for your permission. There is no choice. Certain things have happened that can’t be undone. Do you understand?”

He saw from Harry’s expression that only a few fragile constraints stood between him and certain death.

“You seduced her deliberately,” Harry managed to say.

“Would you be happier if I claimed it was an accident?”

“The only thing that would make me happy is to weight you with rocks and toss you into the Thames.”

“I understand. I even sympathize. I can’t imagine what it would be like to face a man who’s compromised your sister, how difficult it would be to keep from murdering him on the spot. Oh, but wait…” Leo tapped a forefinger thoughtfully on his chin. “I can imagine. Because I went through it two bloody months ago.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t the same. Your sister was still a virgin when I married her.”

Leo gave him an unrepentant glance. “When I compromise a woman, I do it properly.”

“That does it,” Harry muttered, leaping for his throat.

They crashed to the floor, rolling and grappling. Although Harry managed to slam Leo’s head on the floor, the thick carpet absorbed most of the impact. Harry sought a chokehold, but Leo ducked his chin and wrenched free. They rolled twice, exchanging blows, aiming for the throat, the kidneys, the solar plexus, in the kind of fight that usually took place in East End slum alleys.

“You won’t win this one, Rutledge,” Leo panted as they broke apart and lurched to their feet. “I’m not one of your prick-me-dainty fencing partners.” He dodged a hard right and took a jab of his own. “I’ve fought my way in and out of every gaming hell and tavern in London—” He faked a jab with his left and followed with a swift right hook, making a satisfying impact with Harry’s jaw. “And aside from all that, I live with Merripen, who has a left uppercut like a kick from a mule—”

“Do you ever stop talking?” Harry threw a counterpunch and stepped back before Leo could retaliate.

“It’s called communication. You ought to try it sometime.” Exasperated, Leo dropped his guard and stood there undefended. “Especially with your sister. Have you ever bothered to listen to her? Damn it, man, she came to London hoping for some kind of brotherly counsel or consolation, and the first thing you do is send her from the room.”