“Your presence here is no longer necessary.”
“Yes, I’m getting the general impression that I’ve overstayed my welcome.” He winked at her. “I’ll ask Penny for her opinion.”
“You cheeky devil! You will not ask Penny, and it’s Lady Penny to you.”
“She’s happy for us to be on more familiar terms than that.”
He wasn’t normally so rude, but he just really didn’t like her, and he couldn’t abide such snobbery.
“It’s come to my attention,” she said, “that you have become entirely too cordial with my niece.”
“Yes, she and I are great chums.”
“You’re a bit more than chums.”
He grinned. “Maybe.”
“Your scheme has been exposed, Mr. Falcon.”
“What scheme is that?”
“When you were plotting with Miss Carstairs as to how you would deceive Lord Roland, you were overheard by a housemaid. Your duplicitous conduct has been revealed, and your swindle has unraveled.”
“What are you claiming? Speak in plain English, would you? I’ve never been clever enough to solve riddles.”
“From your own devious mouth, we have learned that Miss Carstairs will step forward and pretend to be Lord Roland’s lost daughter, Little Henrietta. This very moment, she is being arrested in London, and I—”
“Whoa! What did you say?”
“Lord Roland is having her prosecuted for blackmail and slander. She’s already been jailed. You will be swept up too—unless you behave exactly as I bid you.”
“What is it you think you can pressure me into doing?”
She pulled a bag of coins out of a desk drawer, and she tossed it to him. “You are a confidence artist, Mr. Falcon, and you have glommed onto our family for nefarious purposes. I will not let you hurt Lord Roland, so I am willing to pay you so you’ll cease your torment. I’m sure that’s the ending you’ve been angling for all along.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve definitely been hoping to blackmail you.”
“You will take this money and depart Roland at once and forever. You will not confer with Lady Penny about it. Go now—before I summon the law and have you imprisoned too.”
“I will go—as you’ve requested.” He grabbed the bag and stuck it into his coat.
“You also have to sign a binding contract that states—in exchange for the compensation I’ve forked over—you will never mention Lord Roland or Little Henrietta ever again.”
“I won’t ever mention them. I swear.”
“Should you break your vow—which I’m positive you’ll consider—I will have the contract that proves you’re a fraud and a liar.”
He’d suspected she was an idiot, and she’d just convinced him of it. For some bizarre reason, she assumed she could negotiate with a criminal, and the criminal would keep his word.
She retrieved the document from the same drawer, and she placed it between them. She dipped a quill in the ink jar and asked, “Can you read and write?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s the great thing about England. Even a rogue like me can be educated.”
“Is your full name Simon Falcon?”
“No, it’s Simon Carstairs. Falcon is my stage name.”
“I am not surprised by your subterfuge.”
He stood, leaned over, and yanked the pen away from her. He grabbed the document and signed it with a grand flourish. Then he straightened and started out.
Behind him, he could sense her stewing. He hadn’t groveled, so she’d be eager to hurl a few more insults, but he wasn’t about to listen. All he cared about was the fact that she’d handed over a small fortune, and if Libby had really been incarcerated, he’d post her bail with it.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she called.
He halted and glared at her. “Miss Pendleton, you shouldn’t attempt to coerce someone like me. You’re awfully bad at it, but thank you for the money. I’ll put it to good use.”
He reached the door, and she sputtered with offense. “What do you mean? We have a deal! You’ve agreed to shut your mouth.”
“I was lying,” he cockily said.
He exited into the hall, and she shrieked, “Mr. Falcon! Get back here!”
He marched to the foyer, and she ran after him, bellowing for him to stop. Servants and guests peeked out of parlors, curious to discover why there was such a ruckus.
As luck would have it, Penny was coming down the stairs, and she frowned at him and asked, “What’s that noise? Who’s shouting?”
Her aunt rushed up to Simon, and on observing Penny, she clasped his arm and tried to drag him back to the library. He shook her away and told Penny, “Your aunt has bribed me to vanish.”
Penny huffed with derision. “Aunt Millicent! You didn’t!”
“You will not consort with him,” her aunt seethed. “I will not permit it, and when your father arrives home from town, you will learn your lesson about where you stand in this house!”
Penny rolled her eyes and continued down to the foyer until she was next to Simon.
“Ignore her,” Penny said.
“I intend to, but get this. She informed me that your father has had Libby arrested for slandering him.”
Penny scowled. “Father wouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s what your aunt is claiming.”
Penny whirled on Millicent. “You had Libby arrested, didn’t you? How dare you!”
Millicent wasn’t cowed. “If Miss Carstairs is in trouble with the law, it is only what she deserves. After what she planned to do to your father, I hope she rots in Hell.”
Millicent whipped away and retreated to the library, then Simon said, “I have to head to London immediately. I have to check the situation there.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You’d better be.”
“Beware of your aunt.”
“I’m not afraid of her.”
“You should be. She might lock you away so we can’t be together.”
“I’d like to see her try.”
“I’ll sneak in, but if you’ve disappeared, how will I find you?”
“Don’t worry about that,” she said. “I will find you. Now go to Libby. If you need my assistance, send a messenger. I’ll come to town and aid you if I can.”
“I’ll post her bail, and I’ll have her out like that.” He snapped his fingers, the sound echoing off the high ceiling. “I’ll use the bribe money your aunt gave me.”
“Good,
