Before he could respond, raised voices filtered through the door of the drawing room.
“I was given strict orders they are not to be disturbed, my lord!”
William’s eyes widened, there was another shout in the hallway, and confident footsteps echoed before the doorknob twisted. Livvie did not want to risk taking her attention from her stepbrother, not even following the noise of several powerful slams. The door crashed open and her husband walked in, as calm as if he had not just kicked down the door.
She almost fainted.
With a sweeping glance, he took in the shambles of the drawing rooms, the cushions on the floor, and the glasses and liquor stain on the carpet. His piercing regard on her brother, a faint smile edged the grimness of Tobias’s mouth. “Countess, I trust there is a reasonable explanation?” he asked calmly, never taking his predatory stare from William.
Alarm and relief filled her in equal measure at Tobias’s presence.
William swallowed. “This is outrageous, I…”
He spluttered when she pressed the foil to his throat.
“Wife…” Tobias said warningly. “You are in enough trouble as it is, best not to add murder to your repertoire.”
“I had a nagging problem and instead of troubling you with my histrionics, I decided to handle the matter myself,” she drawled smoothly.
A shadow passed over her earl’s face. “I see.”
William grimaced. “My lord, the countess—”
“Quiet.” Tobias’s voice cracked like a whip. “Olivia?”
“He has assaulted me twice now. Shortly before I met you, and earlier this morning, when I visited Mother and Father. He…he…cornered me in the library, kissed me, and tried to push his hands beneath my dress!”
“She wanted it! We are lovers…” William trailed away at the surge of fury that lit Tobias’s eyes before he lowered his lashes.
Her stepbrother rallied quickly. “I swear on my honor, Lord Blade, Livvie and I have been lovers—”
She gasped, jerking back and lowering the blade. “He lies!”
Painful silence enveloped the room.
“Tobias?” The word seemed to get caught somewhere in her throat.
“Sheath your sword, wife. We will bid your father good-bye and depart.”
She tried to pull her disjointed thoughts into some semblance of order. What was he thinking? Surely he did not believe this bounder?
Her stomach went hollow.
William tugged at his cravat and ran a hand through his hair. “I am sure we can sort this unpleasantness, Blade, as men. Livvie has been hounding me, before I even wed Louisa. Today, when I told her I was no longer interested in an affair, for my wife is increasing, she threw a tantrum. I, too, share a similar distaste for female vapors and machinations and told her so.” He frowned convincingly and waved a hand. “I did not expect this.”
She gaped.
Tobias’s lips twitched, barely, and it chilled her. He walked farther into the room, not once glancing her way. Was it possible he believed her stepbrother and was too disgusted to look at her? A surge of fury sliced through her veins.
“You have grievously injured my countess and you will be made to understand the severity of your mistake,” her husband said with terrible softness. “I have not excused your behavior.”
Oh!
William narrowed his eyes. “My lord, I—”
Tobias smiled with icy civility. “You will name your seconds.”
The room swam around her. He was going to fight a duel for her? “Tobias—”
“You will be quiet, wife.”
William had blanched and even jerked back a few paces. “Blade, you cannot be serious. You would not do something as illegal as force a duel on me over…over…a woman?”
Not even Livvie could countenance such an assertion. The idea of Tobias facing such danger filled her with dread.
“My countess isn’t just a woman.”
Despite her revulsion at the situation, her heart quickened in pleasure. He was truly willing to fight for her. Did this mean he was growing attached to her in a similar regard?
“Good God, man, I shall not meet you. I do not care if I am dubbed a…a…coward, you are reputed to be a crack shot and are undefeated with a foil,” William ended faintly, tugging at his cravat.
There was something about the stillness of Tobias’s manner that made Livvie wary. Tension fairly vibrated from him like an aura, and it was as a fleeting smile touched his lips that she saw beneath his deceptive mien. He was beyond fury. His control shook her…what would it be like if he were to ever lose the rigid control he held on to so ruthlessly.
“I will not kill you. I have no intention to flee to the continent or be judged by my peers for taking your life.” He stepped closer, and William scrambled back until he was flush against the wall. “You touched my wife without her consent.”
“I swear she was willing,” her stepbrother babbled.
“And you insult her by insinuating she is without honor. Death would be a relief for you, as you would escape the consequences of your actions. I will ruin you. Your investors will no longer do business with you, your clubs will blackball you, you and your wife will no longer be accepted into any respectable drawing room.”
It was impossible for William to even whiten further…but he did.
Livvie scrambled to stand beside her husband and touch his arms. “Tobias, I—”
She faltered as his face went white. He reached out his hand almost hesitantly and touched her cheek. She flinched.
“He hurt you,” he said through bloodless lips. His eyes darkened, and she felt the latent violence surged through his body.
Her heart trembled, and she was filled with acute discomfort. “Let us depart this place. We will call on my father tomorrow—”
“Your lips bleed.”
Livvie swallowed.
“Your riding habit and chemise is torn. There are bruises on your neck, your cheek,” he said softly, as if he were simply reciting some inconsequential list.
He turned from her to her stepbrother.
William’s lips sneered. “I already told you, I will not meet you at dawn. I did nothing she did not want, I—” His head snapped back with force as her husband backhanded him.
The violence was delivered with such calm brutality, Livvie jerked away from Tobias.
William crumpled, sliding against the wall to the floor. Tobias hauled him to his feet and delivered a powerful blow to his midsection. Her stepbrother gagged.
She recoiled. “Tobias, stop! Please.”
But her husband showed no mercy. With each blow he delivered to William, she retreated more. She wanted her stepbrother to be punished, but this…this was too much. His face was a bloodied mess, and he lay limply on the ground, no sound issuing forth.
Her husband faced her and a visible jolt went through her. She watched him with a deep wariness, not liking the anger turning his eyes to jade. The silence seethed between them. What could she say? Minutes passed and his piercing unemotional regard was nerve-wracking. “Tobias, I…I think what just happened must be discussed.”
“Do you?” His murmur was low and deadly, and she hated that he used that tone with her. “What manner of excuse do you have to explain your behavior?”