Page 92 of Forever Her Bachelor
“Understood. I am sorry for what happened,” Reaper said before facing Chauncey. “From here on out, your debt is clear?—”
Though St. Clara was shocked that Reaper was so quick to agree with Jessie’s orders, he was still upset that Reaper had the audacity to send men after him. “That’s kind of you considering you’ve been paid.” Chauncey scoffed at the comment. This visit was a waste of his time.
Reaper reached into his pocket pulling out a bifold full of bank notes. “Here.” He held it out, handing it over. “To show that it was an accident. I am returning the funds. Consider both yours and Bollingbrook’s debt paid.”
Chauncey was silent, looking at the deadliest criminal in St. Giles in utter disbelief. “You’re just going to give me back the money I owed you?” he asked to be sure that he was not losing part of his faculties.
Reaper shrugged a shoulder, his blue eyes dancing in amusement. “Yes. Ghost informed me of how everything went wrong and how the duchess defended herself against him. A woman should never have to protect herself against a man.”
“Mr. Reaper, that is very kind of you,” Pippa gave the other man a wide smile that made Chauncey want to pull her to him.
“It is.” Jessie folded her arm over her chest. “The question is why.” She eyed him suspiciously.
“As I said, I never meant for anyone to get hurt, especially not Her Grace.” Reaper waved his hand in the air. “Do whatever you want with the money. Give it to the injured servants or keep it. It matters not to me.”
“Very well. Thank you,” Chauncey said with a clenched jaw.
“Well, we best be off,” Little Jim called out to the room, nodding his head to Chauncey before he and Ghost exited.
Reaper placed his hat on his head, looking at Chauncey and his wife. “Let me know if you ever need anything?—”
“I can assure you we won’t.” He met the man’s gaze, never wanting to do business with him again.
“I’ve never met a gent I liked …” Reaper chuckled. “Until now.” As Reaper reached the solid oak door, he turned to Jessie with a cheeky smirk. “Princess.”
Jessie let out a string of curses that Chauncey had never heard from a lady before as Reaper left the room.
Opening the billfold,Chauncey took out a few bank notes, holding them out to Jessie without thought. “Here, I would like to donate to the orphanage.”
Beside him, his wife let out an audible gasp of shock before Jessie wrapped her hand around the notes, counting them out.
“Thank you, St. Clara, but if I ever hear you owe Reaper again, I’ll come to your townhouse and thump some sense into you.” Jessie placed the notes on the desk, not caring that she’d just threatened a member of the peerage.
“Jessie, that’s my husband. Please don’t threaten him,” Pippa reminded the other woman.
“It’s fine. I’ll consider it an honor to be threatened by my wife’s protector and teacher.” St. Clara bowed to Jessie, happy that Pippa had such a woman as a friend.
“I also wanted to thank you for the self-defense lessons. They saved me twice,” Pippa informed her as she wrapped her arm around St. Clara’s.
“Good, you can use them on your husband to keep him in line.” Jessie motioned to walk them out of the office.
“That will be often,” St. Clara interjected, knowing that he was bound to do something to vex his wife.
Pippa laughed in agreement as they walked outside to their waiting carriage. “Please join us for dinner sometime, Jessie.”
“I’ll consider it if for nothing else than to escort Bea. I don’t want a lord getting any ideas about my sister.” Jessie nodded to them before she went back inside of the orphanage.
After assisting his wife into the carriage, Chauncey pulled her to him, burying his nose in the alcove of her neck as Newton jumped from where he was sleeping onto Pippa’s lap.
He released a groan of frustration, staring down at the feline. “Must I share you with all of London?” he asked Pippa, glaring at the gray and white cat.
“Not all of London, just Newt.”
CHAPTER 28
Dear Chauncey,
I am counting the days for you to return to me. I also want more than friendship.