“What do you want, Mr. Lasseter?” Raven demanded, ashamed of the way her voice trembled. Yet the pain and humiliation he’d caused her during her abduction was still a stark memory. She had every reason to harbor a healthy fear of him.
“I told you, I came to pay a courtesy call. I thought it only polite form to welcome you into the family.”
She gazed at him skeptically as Sean settled in a chair, casually crossing one leg over the other. He was impeccably dressed in a bottle green coat that brought out the deep color of his eyes. She would have considered him a strikingly handsome man but for the savage look of dislike he was directing at her.
“Somehow I doubt you consider me welcome,” she returned. “Or that you are even capable of common courtesy.”
“Call it curiosity, then. Tell me, what clever tricks did you employ to dupe Kell into wedding you?”
Gathering her control, Raven attempted to respond calmly. “I did not dupe him. He understood my plight and responded as a gentleman might, by proposing.”
His mouth curled. “Kell is hardly a gentleman.”
“At least he did not abduct me and drug me and ruin me in the eyes of society.”
“But you know nothing of the sins he has committed.” Sean’s look turned almost sly. “He is suspected of murder; were you aware?”
She lifted her chin scornfully, unwilling to believe anything Sean said. “I refuse to listen to such ugly rumors.”
“Are you certain they are rumors?”
Raven stared at him. “Are you claiming they are not? Kell said…He led me to believe he didn’t kill your uncle.”
“Would you expect him to do
otherwise? He would hardly admit to murder, now would he?” Sean made a scoffing sound. “My brother is not the paragon you think him. You should take warning.”
Raven shook her head, suspicious of Sean’s motives. He was doubtless trying to make trouble between her and his brother. Surely there was not any real substance behind his innuendo. But whatever his aim, she only wanted to be rid of him.
She drew a deep breath. “What will it take to persuade you to leave me alone, Mr. Lasseter? Money? If so, I can give it to you. I have a modest fortune. You can have it if that will stop you from hounding me.”
“You cannot bribe me,” Sean returned with scorn. “No amount of money can make up for the hell you put me through.”
“I am sorry for the pain you suffered. But you have had your revenge. I would call us even.”
“Not even. Never even.” His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “Not until you pay in blood.”
Rising, he moved toward her, his very stance menacing. If he deliberately meant to frighten her, he was succeeding. Raven took a defensive step backward, glancing behind her at the bellpull, wondering if she could reach it in time and summon a servant. If not, she could scream…
When he reached out and grasped her wrist, she winced in pain. The bruises he had inflicted upon her the night of her abduction had only recently faded.
Just then O’Malley appeared. Raven gasped in relief as he grabbed Sean by the collar and yanked him away from her.
When Sean started to struggle, O’Malley drew back his meaty fist, holding it poised threateningly. “ ’Tis clear you didn’t learn the lesson I taught you last time.”
“Unhand me, you bloody cur!” Sean demanded, his face black with rage.
When the groom contemptuously released him, Sean staggered back, running a finger beneath his cravat as if it were too tight. “You will regret that, O’Malley.”
“Not as much as you’ll regret it if you dare to touch her again. Wring your neck, I will, I promise you. You’ll not see your next dawn.”
His scowl returning, Sean took a step forward. But then he stopped, as if considering the wisdom of fighting a man so much brawnier than he.
His fists clenched at his sides, he lowered his voice to a savage whisper. “I would watch your back, if I were you.” Still bristling, Sean brushed past the groom and stalked from the room.
Raven sank into the nearest chair, trembling.
“Are you all right?” O’Malley asked in concern.