Almost an Angel (31 page)
Authors: Katherine Greyle
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Erotica, #Historical, #General, #Regency
Penworthy looked more fierce, more furious than Marcus had ever seen him before. But Marcus was not a future earl to no purpose. He had never been intimidated in his life, and he had no intention of starting now. He merely lounged backward against the sideboard and smiled at his dearest friend in the world.
"You would not dare," he said softly.
"Aye," she agreed, her own voice gentle. "You would not do that to me."
Penworthy, however, narrowed his gaze, his expression colder than Marcus had ever thought possible.
"Try me," was all he said.
For a long moment, all that could be heard was the nearly silent tick of the gilt clock on the mantel. Penworthy's glare shifted with measured pace between both Marcus and Fantine, his every muscle daring them to defy him.
It took less than a second for Marcus to realize that he had no prayer of winning this argument. Honor, duty, and loyalty all demanded he capitulate. If Penworthy persisted in the madness of using Fantine--and it certainly appeared that he intended to--then Marcus's only option was to try and mitigate the damages.
One look at Fantine's disgusted expression, and he knew she had come to the same conclusion. Although, apparently, in her arrogance, she thought it was he who would mismanage everything.
In short, the two of them would have to work together to save Wilberforce.
God help the poor MP.