Henry couldn’t pretend he had no heart when she had very clearly stolen his.

CHAPTER 8

Tilly wiped at her nose and sniffed back her tears. She wished to be home. She wished to have Ethan tucked safely into the tightest hug.

But damn it all, what a horrible wicked man!

She raced down the hallway to her room, then slipped inside as she fumbled with the latch.

He pounded at her door.

“Go away, Roger.”

“Do not cause a scene,” he said, his voice a low menacing growl. “Open this door.”

Drat, the latch was stuck.

She threw her weight against it as he pushed it open. In the commotion, she heard a snap as he pushed the door into her back, and she stumbled to the floor. Tilly grasped her nose, gasping as she felt warm blood trickle through her fingers.

“Stand up,” he ordered.

Tilly scrambled backward, pushing to her feet and ducking around him to escape. “You can’t be in my room, Roger. You can’t…”

“You acted like a whore tonight. You try so hard to keep your reputation perfect when you and I both know the truth and now they do, too. They all know and so will London soon.”

“I have only ever done what you asked of me.”

“No, not everything.” He hauled her back, gripping her hair in his hand and whipping her head around to face him.

She bit back a scream, pain shooting down her neck.

“Not everything, but let me make this incredibly clear. You are disgusting. You haven’t an ounce of talent, and I am tired of carrying you for the rest of London. No, I will let you fail now. I will enjoy every second of your downfall. Women like you do not deserve happiness.”

He reached back and slapped her across her face. She stumbled away, then raced out of the room even though everything blurred before her, and she struggled to focus her vision. Dots flashed in front of her eyes as she raced forward, nearly tripping over her skirts.

She must find him. He would allow her to stay for a moment until she could gather herself.

Drawing up to Henry’s door, she wiped at her face, as she gasped and struggled to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and her nose was still bleeding, and now the left side of her face throbbed. She knocked against the door, trying her best to be quiet, to not fall apart.

All she wished was to disappear.

Henry grumbled from inside.

She knocked once more. If he didn’t answer the door quickly, another houseguest might discover her in the hallway.

Henry opened the door with his shirt unbuttoned, his tall body shadowing the doorway as she stared at him, struggling to stay calm.

Words froze on her tongue, and she waited for anything to happen before Henry reached for her and hauled her into his room, throwing his arm around her shoulder and drawing her close. Once inside, he stepped back and scanned her body, his eyes filling with rage.

“Please,” she whispered, trembling. “I need only a moment. I don’t wish to disturb you.”

“You will never bother me, Tilly. I need to know one thing.”

She nodded, tears brimming at her eyes as she gulped down another breath.

“Are you well enough for me to leave for a moment?”

“No, no, Henry. You can’t. You mustn’t.”

His face softened for a moment. “I wish only to talk. Stay here.”

Henry tore out of the room, eating up the hallway with an angry march. It took a moment for Tilly to catch up.

Henry strode by the largest library, then stopped, turning around to storm into the room. Roger spun from his spot beside the fireplace in time for Henry to march up and grab him by the shirt and shove him against the wall.

“You don’t get to touch her like that,” he snarled. “And you won’t ever again, understand?”

Roger laughed, glancing over Henry’s shoulder to study Tilly. “I was right. Leave you alone for two days and you’ve lifted your skirts for this man?”

Tilly closed her eyes, shame washing over her. She never should have fetched Henry; she should have never spent time with him. And yet not doing so wasn’t possible.

“You have no business with her anymore.” Henry shoved Roger back against the wall one more time, none too gently.

Roger laughed, urging Henry on.

“Soon, all of London will know what a whore you are, Tilly Brennan.”

Henry reached back and punched Roger.

“Bloody hell,” Roger grumbled, stumbling back a step.

“Shut your mouth, Haskett.”

Tilly rushed forward, grabbing Henry’s shirt to drag him back. There was no need for him to be involved in this trouble. It would do no good.

But it was no use. Roger ducked around her, shoving her away with his arm and grabbed Henry’s shirt. They both landed with a thud.

“What’s going on here?” the duke asked, rushing into the room and closing the door behind him. “I don’t want any trouble…”

He paused as soon as he saw her. “Miss Brennan!”

Roger and Henry continued to wrestle on the ground like a pair of snarling dogs until the duke broke them apart.

“Enough!”

The room fell silent.