Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(41)

Lily threw him a disdainful glance. “I suppose you want me to throw myself at your feet and beg—‘Oh please, my lord, allow me to stay’—well, you won’t have your way, Raiford! I’m not begging, and I’m not leaving. Perhaps when you’re sober we can discuss whatever it is that has set off this tantrum, but until then—”

“I’m fortified with a bottle of brandy, and I can barely tolerate you, Miss Lawson. Believe me, you don’t want me sober.”

“You pompous ass!” she exploded. “I suppose you’ve decided I’m the cause of all your problems, when the trouble is all in your stupid, thick, muddled-up head—”

“Start packing. Or I’ll do it for you.”

“Is this because of last night? Because of one meaningless kiss? Let me assure you, it held less significance for me than—”

“I told you to leave,” he said with deadly calm. “I want every trace of you out of here, including your cards, your midnight rambles, your little schemes, and your big brown eyes. Now.”

“I’ll see you in hell first!” Lily faced him, ready to stand her ground. She watched in bemusement as he left the library. “Where are you going? What are you…” Following him, she saw him at the foot of the grand staircase. He was heading to her bedchamber with ground-covering strides. “Don’t you dare!” she screeched, and scampered after him. “You inhospitable swine, you conceited, arrogant monster…”

Flying up the stairs, Lily reached the bedroom at the same time Alex did. A startled housemaid was engaged in changing the linens. After one glance at the pair, she fled as if retreating before an invading army. Alex flung open the armoire and began to stuff articles of clothing into the first available valise.

“Take your paws off my things!” Outraged, Lily grabbed a delicate china figurine from the bedside table and hurled it at him. Alex ducked quickly. The figure shattered against the wall behind him.

“That belonged to my mother,” he growled, his gray eyes filled with an unholy light.

“And what do you think your mother would say if she saw you now, a violent brute with a dried-up heart rattling in his chest, caring about nothing except his own selfish needs…ah!” Lily cried out in fury as Alex opened the window and tossed her valise outside. Gloves, stockings, and feminine articles fell from the half-open valise and scattered on the drive outside. Whirling around, Lily searched for something else to throw. She happened to catch sight of her sister standing in the doorway.

Penelope was staring at them in horror. “You’ve both gone mad,” she gasped.

Soft as her voice was, it caught Alex’s attention. He paused in the act of cramming a dress into a hatbox and glared at Penelope. With his contorted face and his drunken, disheveled blondness, he hardly looked like himself.

“Take a close look, Penny!” Lily said. “This is the man you’ve agreed to marry. A fine sight, isn’t he? You can always tell a man’s true character when he’s pickled. Look at him, oozing meanness from every pore!”

Penelope’s eyes widened. Before she could form a reply, Alex spoke to her harshly. “Your erstwhile lover won’t be coming back here, Penelope. If you want him, leave here with your sister.”

“She most certainly will,” Lily snapped. “Pack your things, Penny, and we’ll go to the Stamford estate.”

“But I couldn’t…Mama and Papa wouldn’t approve,” Penelope said in a faltering whisper.

“No, they wouldn’t,” Lily agreed. “Is that as important to you as Zachary’s love?”

Alex directed a chilling stare at Penelope. “Well? What will it be?”

Looking from Lily’s defiant face to Alex’s ominous one, Penelope turned as white as chalk. Giving a terrified cry, she darted away and headed for the retreat of her own room.

“You bully!” Lily exclaimed. “Dog in the manger! You know very well you can intimidate the poor child into doing whatever you want!”

“She made her choice.” Alex tossed the hatbox to the floor and gestured to it. “Now, should I finish your packing, or will you do it?”

There was a long moment of silence.

“All right,” Lily said contemptuously. “Get out. Leave me in peace. I’ll be gone within the hour.”

“Sooner if you can manage.”

“Why don’t you explain the situation to my parents?” Lily invited with a sneer. “I’m sure they’ll agree with everything you say.”

“Not another word to Penelope,” Alex warned, and strode from the room.

As soon as she was certain he was out of earshot, Lily took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. She shook her head, laughing quietly to herself. “Arrogant ass,” she murmured. “Do you really think I’d be defeated so easily?”

Chapter 6

A parade of cowed-looking servants carried Lily’s valises and portmanteaux out to the chaise. The closed carriage was adorned with shining lacquer and the Raiford armorial bearings. Alex had given the driver explicit instructions to deliver Lily to her terrace in London and return without delay.

Lily’s allotted hour was nearly over. Mindful of the passing minutes, she wandered through the mansion in search of her father. He was in one of the small upstairs parlors, seated at a desk burdened with stacks of books.