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“No one is squabbling,” Magnus countered. “I only believe Emerton may benefit from refining his manners.”

Theo took a seat beside him. “You are still talking about me when we are visiting our dear friend, who may have been fatally stabbed.” He shook his head with derision. “I wonder who would truly benefit from refinement between the two of us.”

Edwin knew he had to intervene then, or else they would simply continue to squabble like an old couple.

“I was not fatally stabbed, Emerton,” he pointed out.

“It was in the morning paper,” William revealed.

Edwin was taken aback. “That is odd. Only a handful of people had seen me leave the party with a bloodied hand.”

“You know how fast rumors fly in the ton,” Magnus said.

“Gillingham brutally stabbed at a masquerade ball,” Theo recounted. “Pardon me for thinking you were on your deathbed. I also was misled by the newspaper.”

“I hate to agree with him, but Emerton is right,” Magnus said reluctantly. “According to the newspaper, eyewitnesses had seen you leave in a pool of your blood, barely supported by your wife.”

“What!” Edwin laughed. “That is simply ridiculous.” He showed them his bandaged hand. “This is the only injury I sustained. I most certainly was not fatally stabbed, and the pool of blood may have been just a sprinkle that I left behind as I rushed out to the carriage.”

“You know you must speak to the constables,” Magnus urged. “They may be able to catch the man who did this.”

“Did you see his face?”

“Did you recognize him?”

“He must pay for this.”

Edwin shook his head at the barrage of questions. “Except perhaps through some miracle, I truly do not see how he can be caught. I did not see his face.”

William huffed in disappointment.

“Did the newspaper at least report if any of the eyewitnesses saw the man who did this?” Edwin asked.

“No,” Theo responded. “They were actually speculating whether you were attacked by demons.”

“I do not know a demon that wields a knife,” Edwin snorted.

“If you said this in public, tomorrow’s headline would be ‘Gillingham admits to fraternizing with demons,’” William said.

Edwin laughed even harder. “I simply cannot decide if they are truly that clueless or if they are simply printing ridiculous rumors that they know the ton will eat up.”

“I say it’s the latter,” Theo piped up. “They know that printing the truth will not make them money. Therefore, they make up tall tales for bored ladies who have nothing to do but gossip.”

“That still does not justify spreading such awful rumors! And the fact that you seem to have no problem with it… I have half a mind to take them to court and—” Magnus started.

“I cannot remember when I said the salacious rumors were justified,” Theo cut him off with an arched eyebrow.

“Can you two perhaps get along for just one day?” William huffed, exasperated.

Edwin only watched in amusement. He did not realize just how much he had missed this until their arrival. He simply enjoyed being around his friends and watching Theo taunt Magnus while William tried to talk sense into them both.

It was simply refreshing.

CHAPTER 16

Ava headed for her husband’s chambers as soon as she woke up. She had slept in because she could not quite drift off until the early hours of the morning. She had been tossing and turning in bed as the events of the previous night played in her mind for what might as well be the umpteenth time.

Aside from the attack on her husband—which had disturbed her greatly—she also could not quite take her mind off the moment they had shared in that room at Wellington’s mansion.