Page 13 of An Earl’s Sacrifice (The Clandestine Sapphire Society #3)

T he library’s usual warmth failed in penetrating Meredith’s chilled skin.

She stood before the fireplace, her wet cloak discarded over a chair as the flames and her temper crackled.

The glow from the hearth cast sharp shadows in the low-lit room.

The door flew back and her husband stormed in, his own coat dripping water onto her new carpets, his boots squelching with every step.

His expression was as dark as the battering torrent outside.

“ What in God’s name were you thinking?” he demanded, his voice hard and low, but the fury beneath was unmistakable.

She bristled with outrage. Meredith turned, facing him, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve a lot of nerve, sir. I did what needed to be done. Someone must stand up to that fool.”

“ Someone , yes. But not you!” He stepped closer, his hand tightening into a fist at his side. “You had no business facing a man like him on your own. Do you even understand the sort of man he is? The danger he poses?”

Her jaw set and she lifted her chin. “I understand far better than you think.” The audacity of his outrage, after leaving her to navigate this mess in the first place, was almost as infuriating as his sudden, supposed , concern for her safety.

She’d laugh in his face had she the capability.

But she was too cold and too angry. “Let me make one thing clear to you, my lord . I do not require your permission to do what I know is right.”

“That’s not the point,” he shot back. He shoved a hand through his hair, his frustration obviously boiling over. “You shouldn’t have confronted him. And certainly not alone. I’m here. I should have handled Thornfield, not you.”

“You were too busy stealing my bath.” Meredith’s vision hazed with a red fog.

“How dare you think you can just sweep in here after three years and handle something you know nothing about. You’re deluding yourself,” she scoffed.

“The Keep, the village, the mines —all left in ruin because you couldn’t be bothered.

I’m the one who’s been dealing with matters—” She ticked off one finger.

“Gaining the women’s trust—” She ticked off a second.

“Teaching the children to read—” A third.

“ Hiring a steward while you—” She was so angry the words refused to come.

She drew in a deep breath through her nose that went far in resetting her temper.

“I know I wasn’t here,” he bit out in a tone sharp and cutting. “Don’t you think I know I left you to face all of this alone? But damn it, I’m here now .”

Meredith stepped toward him, her voice low but trembling with rage.

“I’m not some delicate flower that needs sheltering, Lord Pender.

I’ve had to fend for myself long before you decided to show up.

” She swept up her cloak and strode to the door.

“It is my greatest desire to see you crawl back under the rock from which you emerged.”

“Perhaps I shall do exactly that.”

She grabbed the knob and turned it, stopping short of opening the door. She looked over her shoulder, giving him her harshest Duke of Rathbourne glare. “You’re dripping water all over my new rugs. That never happened before you arrived either.”

*

The door shut hard behind his countess. Well.

That hadn’t gone quite as he’d planned. Lucius dropped his gaze to his feet, to the water seeping into her precious rug.

Squelching his way in the offending boots to the hearth, he tugged them off where the floor was stone, disgusted with himself that he even spared a thought for her overpriced floor coverings.

With no care for his sopping stockings, he trudged to the cabinet and poured out a measure of brandy and threw it back. You’re my wife ! he’d wanted to shout. I have every right to care whether you live or die. I care what happens to you, whether you want me to or not .

Unfortunately, and rightly so, her jab at his sudden appearance, his sudden interest in her well-being, no doubt rang as absolute absurdity.

Hell, if he had any sense at all, he would jump on his horse first thing in the morning. But that was beyond reach now that he’d taken Thornfield to task. Giving the man the upper hand now was out of the question.

Lucius poured another couple of fingers of brandy then moved to the settee before the fire and sat down. Yes, he would see the matter of Thornfield through then leave her to her Mr. Ashcroft. But the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth the brandy couldn’t mask.

She’d made such a timely exit, he hadn’t even said all he’d intended.

Lucius slammed his half-empty glass on a low table and rose. He snatched up his boots and stalked out the door only to find his valet had finally made it to the wilds of England’s southwestern coast.