Page 49 of Never Besmirch a Wallflower: Dukes and Wallflowers

Levi hung his head. “It’s the correct word for my behavior.”

“Do we owe Miss Rowe an apology?”

“I attempted?—”

“Attempted?” Roxburghe scoffed. “You, who are so excellent with words…”

“Her reaction perplexed me,” Levi replied, replaying his shadowy version of the memory. “She refused the fob quite vehemently, then cowered as though she expected me to strike her for the rejection.”

Roxburghe shrugged. “We know very little about her past. Her father may have been a hard man who thought physical punishment was the best tutor.”

“Perhaps…”

Levi rose and extended his hand to Roxburghe, helping his friend climb from the floor. He hadn’t considered Miss Rowe’s family could be responsible for her bizarre reaction and berated himself for assuming, despite her denial, her fear was due to him.

“I suggest we search the corridor.” Roxburghe nudged Levi’s shoes with the toe of his boot. “You may have dropped them outside your chamber.”

Though he didn’t think Roxburghe’s theory was correct, Levi nodded. Sinking onto the bed, he pulled on his shoes. Once fully attired, he stood, crossed the room, and ripped open the door.

Mansfield, his fist raised to knock, took a step backward and scowled. “Where did you hide it?”

“Where did I hide what?” Levi asked, glancing back at Roxburghe, whose perplexed expression matched Levi’s.

“My gold fob,” Mansfield snarled.

“Yours is also missing?” Roxburghe joined them in the corridor.

“What do you mean by ‘also?’” Mansfield glowered at both men.

“Lennox’s vanished.”

“And,” —Levi held up one finger, stopping Mansfield’s retort— “my father’s ring along with it.”

“Thievery!” The word exploded from Mansfield.

“Who would you like to accuse?” Levi asked, keeping his voice even.

He glanced over his shoulder at the closed chamber doors. Mansfield’s fury would wake everyone in the house.

“Whoever isn’t missing anything!” Mansfield yelled, flinging his arms upward.

“I’m not,” Roxburghe said, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Are you accusing me?”

“No,” Mansfield said, grinding the word between his teeth.

Levi placed a calming hand on Mansfield’s arm. “Let us speak with Warwick and Beaufort to verify if the incident only pertains to us.”

“What about the ladies?” Mansfield lowered his voice as though he’d just remembered they were guests in Miss Rowe’s home.

“Miss Webb isn’t missing anything.” Roxburghe blurted out, then reddened, realizing the implication of his words. “That is?—”

Levi held up his hand. “We understand.”

Mansfield strode across the hallway, raised his hand, and knocked on the first door. When no man answered, he balled his fist and banged on the door, keeping up the racket until Beaufort cursed and blearily opened the door a crack.

“What do you want?” Beaufort asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Are you missing anything?” Mansfield asked, his nose an inch from Beaufort’s.