Page 50 of The Paid Companion

At the sound of those unambiguous words, several heads swiveled instantly toward the carriage. Elenora realized that she and Arthur and Jeremy were suddenly the focus of every member of Society who happened to be in the vicinity. It was rather like being caught in the fierce heat of a burning lens.

Jeremy’s jaw dropped. Elenora did not blame him. She was almost certain that her own mouth had fallen open as well.

She could scarcely believe what she had just heard. Arthur had threatened Jeremy with a duel.

“Now, see here, sir, I don’t know what—” Jeremy broke off to jerk violently on the reins of his agitated horse.

The additional insult was too much for the beast. It reared wildly, hooves flailing.

Jeremy lost his balance and began an inevitable slide to one side. He fought frantically to regain his seat, but when the horse took off at full gallop, he had no chance. He fell hard on the path, landing on his rear.

Feminine giggles and raucous masculine laughter emanated from passing carriages and riders nearby who had witnessed the debacle.

Arthur ignored the entire scene. He tweaked the reins and the grays moved out in a snapping trot.

Elenora looked back over her shoulder and watched Jeremy pick himself up, dust off his rump and stalk away across the grass. The one glimpse she got of his flushed face was sufficient to send a shudder through her. Jeremy was furious.

She turned around quickly and sat, gazing straight ahead, clinging tensely to her parasol. “I apologize for that unfortunate scene,” she said tightly. “I was caught by surprise. I certainly never expected to find myself face-to-face with Jeremy here in London.”

Arthur guided the horses toward the gates. “I believe we shall go home now. Thanks to Clyde, we have achieved our purpose. Our presence here in the park this afternoon was most certainly noted and will no doubt be remarked upon at length this evening in every ballroom in town.”

“No doubt.” She swallowed and glanced at him quickly, uncertain of his mood. “It is generous of you to take such a positive view of the situation.”

“My good nature has some limitations,” he said. “I will expect you to keep your distance from Clyde.”

“Of course,” she said, appalled that he would think that she might want to have anything to do with Jeremy. “I assure you, I have no wish to speak to him again.”

“I believe you. But he may well try to presume on your previous association.”

She frowned. “I do not see how.”

“As you yourself noted, Clyde is nothing if not an opportunist. He may convince himself that he can find a way to turn his acquaintance with you to his advantage.”

She was hurt that he thought for even a moment that she needed to be warned. “I promise you, I will be careful.”

“I would appreciate that. This situations has already become complicated enough as it is.”

Her heart sank. He was certainly not pleased, she thought. And why should he be, come to that? The incident with Jeremy was the second complication in which she had been involved that day.

If she found herself connected to any more irksome problems, Arthur might well conclude that she was more trouble than she was worth.

Judging from his pensive, brooding expression, she suspected that he was thinking similar thoughts.

Concluding that it would be a very good idea to change the subject, she seized upon the first one that came to mind.

“I must compliment you on your excellent acting talents, my lord,” she said with an approving air. “Your implied threat to issue a challenge to Jeremy should he spread unpleasant gossip about me was extremely convincing.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes, indeed. It was only a single line, but you delivered it in a most gripping manner, my lord. Just the right degree of cool understatement, if I may say so. Why, your words even sent a shudder through me.”

“It remains to be seen if Clyde was similarly affected,” Arthur said thoughtfully.

“I’m certain that he was.” She chuckled. “For a moment, you actually had me persuaded. I vow, had I not known that you were merely acting a part in this play we are staging, I would have sworn that you meant every word you said.”

He gave her a curious look. “What makes you think that I didn’t mean exactly what I said?”

“Really, sir, you are teasing me,” she said.