Lady Vixen (46 page)

Simon
had just motioned to Twickham to show them into his study when William's angry
howl vibrated in the air.

The
sound galvanized Simon into action, and moving with the speed of a man half his
age, he thrust the speechless Twickham aside and marched out into the hall. At
the sight of Nicole fighting desperately with a man he freely stigmatized as a
grubbing maw worm, his temper exploded.

"How
dare you! Unhand her this instant, you blackguard!" he roared in a voice
that shook with fury. His eyes spat sparks of molten gold as he advanced into
the hall. "How
dare
you!" he thundered again, his voice
carrying throughout the house, bringing on the run several of the servants and
Regina. Regina, stopping at the head of the stairs, took in the situation in a
glance, but knowing that her brother abominated interference, she held her
tongue.

William,
queasily aware that he had exceeded himself beyond all limits, ventured a
sickly ingratiating smile, while Agatha speedily fell into hysterics. Babbling
incoherent excuses and crying in noisy gulps, she stood in the center of the
hall completely ignored except for one or two nervous glances sent her way by
one of the younger servants.

If
William had been content just to focus his apologetic manner on Simon, the
scene might have ended differently, but he made the fatal error of trying to
redeem himself with Nicole. With the same ingratiating smile in his face, he
patted her arm and muttered, "Now, now, this is not what it appears.
Little Nicole and I were just having a minor disagreement, weren't we, my
dear?"

Nicole,
her temper still flaming, and genuinely horrified by what had happened, but
wanting the unpleasantness over as soon as possible, probably would have
followed his lead and smoothed over the incident if William, his smile fading a
trifle and an ugly look in his eyes, hadn't tightened his hand threateningly on
her arm and prodded, "Isn't that so, my dear?"

Distastefully
she shook off his hand and in a cold voice said clearly, "Please release
my arm this instant! No, we were
not
having a minor disagreement! You
attacked me and were trying to force me to leave with you."

There
was a concerted gasp from those assembled, and Simon, his anger barely under
control, approached the stairs with stiff-legged strides. One foot on the bottom
step, he stated in a dangerous tone, "Leave my home, immediately, and do
not
ever
show your face here again! If you are unwise enough to do so, I
shall have you beaten from my door like the cowardly jackal you are!"

Inflamed
by Simon's barely concealed contempt, William's face went dark with rage, and
spinning on Nicole, he snarled, "This is all your fault, you wicked jade!
But I am your guardian and you will come with me!" Flashing Simon a look
of dislike, he sneered, "You forget yourself, my lord. Nicole is my niece
and I am her legal guardian. You have no right to stop me from removing her
from this house!"

And
William proceeded to compound his already precarious position by once again
laying an ungentle hold on Nicole and ordering loftily, "Come along, now.
Your belongings can be sent to our lodgings later."

Knowing
that Simon could do nothing to help her unless she made the first move, Nicole
thought swiftly. She knew Simon would not allow her to be taken against her will,
but he could do nothing if she didn't fight herself. William's overbearing tone
and manner had shown her unmistakably that her uncle had certainly not changed
in the passing years, and as he gave her a vicious yank down one stair, her
decision was made.

Drawing
herself up proudly, she said quietly, "I have no intention of going
anywhere with you." Then twitching her arm quickly away from his grasp,
she whirled and sprinted up two steps, intending to avoid further conflict. But
William, cursing and swearing, caught her by the shoulder. Wrenching her
around, and oblivious to Regina at the head of the stairs and Simon and the
others staring at him, William struck Nicole a savage blow across one cheek and
shouted, "We'll just see about that, miss! You'll learn who is your master
after I get through with you!"

Any
restraint Nicole may have tried to put on her temper vanished, and with the
imprint of William's hand burning her face, in a voice full of loathing, she
spat, "Why you fat toad!" and returned his violence with a stunning
wallop to his left cheek.

William
rocked on his heels, and Nicole, deciding she was damned as it was, gave him a punishing
right to his protruding stomach.

Everything
had occurred so swiftly that those watching were momentarily stunned, but as
William stumbled backward, Regina, upon whom Agatha's histrionics were
beginning to wear, started determinedly down the stairs. Simon, his cane held
like a club, rushed angrily up the stairs and commenced to give the already
reeling William several smart blows about his shoulders.

The
added attack was enough to overbalance William, and with profanities streaming
from his mouth he tumbled ungracefully down the eight or nine steps to land in a
crushing heap at Agatha's feet.

"Ha!"
Simon grunted satisfactorily, his eyes bright with elation. Nicole glanced at
him, and the audacious wink he sent her caused a sudden glint of laughter in
her eyes. Looking quickly away to keep from giggling, for Simon was so
blatantly satisfied with their combined endeavors, she watched as Regina sailed
passed the recumbent William and the sobbing Agatha to snatch up a vase filled
with roses and efficiently throw it in Agatha's face.

The
shock of the water stilled her noise, and even William was startled enough to
cease his string of gutter language. Silence reigned in the hall at Cavendish
Square.

Then
in her most awesome and grand fashion, Regina said calmly, "Twickham, see
that these callers are removed, at once!" Sending a stern pair of eyes in
which an imp of amusement danced to the two culprits still standing on the
stairs, she commanded, "Nicole go to your room, we'll discuss this later.
Simon, I believe you had better retire also. Remember, the physician has said
exertion is bad for your health."

Picking
up her cue instantly, Simon muttered, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely
right." He and Nicole beat a hasty retreat up the remaining stairs and out
of sight.

William,
seeing his prey vanishing, staggered to his feet, crying hoarsely, "No!
Nicole is to go with us."

Regina
fixed an admonitory look on him and said dispassionately, "That, I hardly
think so, sir! You have entered, uninvited, my brother's home; harassed and
abused our guest; treated myself to a display of the type of language I hope
never to hear again; and your wife has nearly deafened my ears with her
ill-bred screechings. With those events fresh in my mind, I can assure you that
Nicole Ashford will never be released into your hands. Further, I am thinking
seriously of laying charges against you and your wife. You would be wise to
leave before I make my decision!"

Speechless
for once, William stared open-mouthed at her, and before he even realized it,
Twickham, with the help of the under-butler, had skillfully piloted both the
Markhams out the massive front door and bolted it behind them.

Bowing
with deep respect to Regina, Twickham said solemnly, "If you will permit
me to say so, madame, that was
very
well done!"

"Well,
yes, I rather thought so too!" Regina agreed with her usual modesty.
"Simon, where are you?" Regina called. "I know you're probably
hanging over the upper railing like some vulgar housemaid. Come down!"

"Ha!"
Simon barked, appearing so promptly that Regina's unkind cut was proved true.
In an aggrieved tone he went on, "What else could I do when you ordered me
about so? And in my own home too! I tell you, Regina, I won't put up with your
overbearing ways!" Unfortunately he ruined this reproachful tirade by a delighted
chuckle. "Clever of you to hustle them out that way," he admitted.
"Always said you were a great gun for a woman!"

His
sister only gave an unladylike snort and asked, "Where is Nicole?"

"Here
I am," Nicole called and followed Simon down into the hallway.

Aware
of the interested stares of the still-assembled servants, Simon whisked the two
ladies into his study. Twickham, he knew, would see to it that nothing of this
morning's incident was bruited about among the servants, but he suspected that
for the next few days there would be many snickers in the kitchen and stables.
While it had afforded him a certain amount of enjoyment, he was uncomfortably
aware that it had been a very serious affair.

Nicole,
too, was conscious of the gravity of the situation, and feeling she had
disgraced herself she was thoroughly ashamed of her own part in the fracas. In
a low, mortified tone she said. "I must apologize for my share in that
deplorable scene. I should not have lost my temper, and I should never have
struck my uncle. If you throw me out into the street, it will be no more than I
deserve."

"I
quite agree. You acted little better than a fishwife," Regina replied
amiably, a twinkle deep in the dark eyes, however, taking the sting out of the
words. "But I must own that in this case I can hardly blame you. What a
disgusting creature your uncle is! No wonder you have no wish to return to his
roof. But," she said with a frown, "what has occurred is a most
serious event. What are we to do now, Simon?"

The
two ladies were sitting on a red-brocade couch while Simon was seated across
from them in a high-back chair of black leather. His face was stern and
thoughtful, and Nicole, filled with guilt at her shocking conduct, was certain
that despite the conspiratorial wink on the stairs, he was disgusted with her
and meant to ban her from his home.

Until
this moment she hadn't realized how very fond she had grown of Lord Saxon and
his sister, Regina. Being thrust away from them would be anguish, almost like
losing her family again. Bitterly she regretted her actions, and once again she
attempted to apologize. But Simon held up his hand and did not allow her to
speak. He gave her a measured scrutiny, and then when she thought she could
bear it no longer, Simon grinned at her.

"Aha!"
he snorted with gratification. "What'll we do, hey? Well, we'll
fight!" He shot Nicole a piercing glance. "Won't we, gel?"

The
cold fear around her heart melting, Nicole smiled tremulously. "If you say
so, sir."

"Of
course, I say so! Why I wouldn't let that... ah... fat toad, I believe you
called him, have say over one of my dogs!" Thoughtfully he added, "He
does
resemble one, doesn't he?"

Regina
gave an exasperated sigh. "Fat toad, or not," she began determinedly,
"he
is
Nicole's legal guardian. We had no right to deny him.
Legally, he can remove her from this house and order her to do as he
pleases." Looking at Nicole, Regina, always forthright, asked, "I don't
wish to wound you, my dear, but how is it that you have two such dirty dishes
for relatives?"

"They
are not really related to me at all," Nicole answered truthfully.
"Aunt Agatha is my mother's stepsister, and when my parents died, there
was no one else."

"I
see," Regina said slowly. "That means that their guardianship of you
could be overthrown. Especially if someone like Simon were prepared to push the
issue. Are you?" she asked Simon.

"Of
course, I am! Didn't I just say so?" he barked testily. "Now that the
Markhams have arrived in town, I'll go around and visit my friend Judge White
in Russell Square. He'll have the ticket—I have no doubt of that! Very knowing
fellow, Judge White. Besides," he added thoughtfully, "the Markhams
ain't going to do anything. I've a suspicion that your uncle has been playing
ducks and drakes with your fortune, and I'll wager he don't relish an inquiry.
We'll just sit tight. It's my guess that for a while at least they'll bide their
time and keep mum."

"Hmmm.
For once I rather agree with you. Particularly if there is anything illegal in
his handling of the estates," Regina remarked reflectively.
"Certainly they won't seek a court's ruling. And even if they did—today's
contretemps would definitely put them in a bad light. There are several of us
who can swear that he struck Nicole in a rage, and I think the fact that he is
no relation would weigh against them. Especially if Nicole's fortune is a great
deal more than their resources. Is it, my dear?"

"I
think so," Nicole replied uncertainly. "I really have no idea."

"It
is," Simon said dryly. "William Markham is barely a gentleman farmer.
His property would provide his family with a comfortable living, nothing more.
Nicole's father was a wealthy man. He could have bought and sold someone like
Markham a dozen times over and never even noticed it. As I see it, all we have
to do is outwait them. Nicole will reach her majority in less than three years,
and if she marries before then, she'll come into her fortune even sooner."

"But
I can't live off you for three years," Nicole exclaimed, feeling that
Simon had already done a great deal for her.

"Why
not?" Simon growled. "I see nothing wrong with it. You and Letitia
will be my pensioners and I'll gladly stand the nonsense. You'll not break me,
you know."