Dancing At Midnight

back and presented John with a jaunty grin.

John was beginning to wonder if Spencer was insane. He was obviously obsessed, but at the same time, he seemed bent on maintaining normalcy, sitting here chatting with John as if they were old friends. 'Maybe I was curious,' he replied. 'If s a unique situation. It's a lucky man who gets the opportunity to meet with his killer under such civilized circumstances.'

Spencer smiled and inclined his head, graciously acknowledging what he perceived to be a compliment.

'Suppose you tell me what you're planning. You wouldn't want this to be anything less than a challenge, would you?'

'I couldn't care less if it's a challenge. I just want you dead.'

John smiled tightly. Spencer certainly didn't believe in indirect speech. 'No hints at what I might expect?'

'Something quick and easy, I think. No need to make you suffer.'

'How kind of you.'

'I'm not a monster, just a man of principle.'

While John was pondering that unbelievable statement, Spencer focused on something over his shoulder. 'Is that your lovely wife I see, Blackwood? I must commend you on your marital success.'

John felt his insides run cold. He twisted in his seat, his gaze swinging around until it fell upon Belle, who had just entered the shop with Emma and Persephone.

John took another deep breath, trying to contain himself. He was going to kill her. He was going to put her over his knee and blister her bottom. He was going to lock her in her room for a week. He was-

'Not very excited to see her, I see.'

John swiveled back to Spencer and snapped, 'Another word from you, and I will strangle you as I sit.'

Spencer leaned back and chuckled, enjoying himself enormously.

'Our conversation is over.' John stood up and walked across the room without a backward glance. Alex and Dunford would make sure Spencer didn't attack him. He grabbed Belle's arm before she could even sit down, hissing in her ear, 'You are going to be a very unhappy woman.'

Belle had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. Or it might just have been that she was dying to get a good look at George Spencer, who had risen to leave just after John. He passed right by them on his way out, tipping his hat at her and murmuring, 'My lady.'

The only bright spot in John's nightmare was the enraged expression on Belle's face. He had no doubt that she would have had a fair portion of Spencer's face under her fingernails if he hadn't been holding her firmly by the arm.

Once Spencer was safely out of the shop, John yanked her around to face him and said, 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'

Before she had a chance to answer him, Alex showed up at his side, grabbed Emma similarly and hissed, 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'

Persephone looked at Dunford and smiled, waiting for her turn, but much to her disappointment, he just stood there and glared at all three women.

'John,' Belle said. 'I don't really think this is the time.' She turned to the rest of their group and gave them a wide but weak smile. 'So sorry, but we're going to have to leave.'

John growled. Persephone took that as a sign of agreement and waved at him. 'Hope to see you soon,' she said brightly.

John growled again and this time Persephone said nothing.

Belle looked up at her husband. 'Shall we go?'

He walked out, and since her arm was attached to his hand, she went along with him. When they reached the street, John turned to her and said curtly, 'Did you bring a carriage?'

She shook her head. 'We hired a hack.'

This didn't seem to please John, and Belle didn't say anything while he hailed down another one. They rode home in absolute silence. She stole occasional looks at his profile and noticed that a muscle in his cheek was twitching violently.

He was furious. She peeked over at him again. The twitch had speeded up. Beyond furious. He was only waiting until they got home so he wouldn't embarrass her in front of the driver.

She supposed she should be thankful for small favors.

The hack pulled up in front of the Blydon mansion, and Belle scurried out while John paid the driver. She raced up the front steps, through the hall, and into the rear drawing room. She wasn't trying to avoid John-well, perhaps she would have tried if she thought she had any chance of getting away with it. But as it was, she was simply trying to choose a room which was as far away from the servants as possible.

John was only a few steps behind her, so completely enraged he was barely limping. He slammed the door behind him. 'What the hell did you think you were doing?'

'I was worried about you.'

'So you followed me to my meeting with Spencer? Pardon me if I don't commend your common sense.'

'But-'

'Do you understand what kind of man Spencer is?' John exploded. 'He rapes women. Rapes. Do you understand the meaning of the, word rape?'

Belle crossed her arms. 'I hate it when you get sarcastic.'

'Deal with it.'

She clenched her teeth against his harsh tone and turned away.

'Damn it, woman! You put yourself in a dangerous situation. And dragged along Emma and Persephone in the process. Did you think about that?'

'I thought you might need me,' she ground out.

'Need you? Of course I need you. Safe and sound and tucked away in the house. Not wandering around in front of killers.'

Belle whirled back around. 'I'm not some helpless little miss who is willing to sit at home while you gallivant about town. And if you think for one minute that I'm not going to do everything in my power to keep you safe, then your brain is quite broken.'

'Listen to me, Belle,' John said in a low voice. 'We didn't know that much about Spencer. We had no idea what he was going to do. For all I knew, he might have decided that the best way to get to me was through you. He might have grabbed you this afternoon.'

'I thought you said you were sure that Spencer wouldn't try anything in a crowded shop. Were you lying to me? Were you? Were you lying just to keep me from worrying about you?'

'Damn it all to hell, of course I wasn't lying to you. I didn'tthink Spencer would do anything at Hardiman's. All the same, I couldn't be one hundred percent certain, and I didn't see any reason to put you in any danger.'

'I'm going to help you, John, whether you want it or not.'

'Good God, woman, stop being so stubborn. These things take planning and finesse. If you keeping barging into this without looking where you're going, you're just going to get in the way.'

'Oh, please, John. I wouldn't have to barge into anything if you would only include me.'

'I won't have you put into a situation from which you cannot extricate yourself.'

'Do me a favor, John. Worry about yourself. I can run fast. Faster than you.'

John flinched as though he'd been hit. 'I had no idea my injury made me so much less of a man in your eyes.'

'Oh, John, you know I didn't mean it that way.'

Belle flung her arms around him and held him close. 'I'm just so scared and so angry, yes angry at this man.' Belle paused and caught her breath, surprised by the realization that she felt more fury than fear. 'I'm angry, and I lashed out at you, and that wasn't fair. It's just that I love you so much, and-'

'Belle, please.'

She let go of him and furiously pushed him away. 'Please what? Please don't tell you I love you? Please don't love you?'

'I can't accept it, Belle.'

'What is wrong with you?' she burst out. 'Why can't-'