Chapter Twenty-Three

If he felt like collapsing before, it was nothing compared to walking into the drawing room of Latrice Manor and seeing the man who had put him in this state holding the hand of his betrothed.

For a second that felt far too long, Austin had to stifle the rage that choked him. He wanted to march forward and snatch her away from him, to put an end to this vicious cycle of jealousy he felt whenever Colin Asher was near.

But he was no in state to do such a thing. He woke up in a back room of White's with a splitting headache and stars dancing before his vision. He didn't know who had been there at the time, only that they had informed him of the fact that it was the next day and that it was best that he remained on bedrest. All Austin could think was that he had to get to Lavender. That Lavender was waiting for him.

He didn't think he would show up to see him here.

"Austin!" Lavender gasped. She pulled away from Colin despite the look of displeasure on his face and hurried to Austin's side. "My goodness, what happened to you?"

Austin held on tightly to his cane. He couldn't even remember where he'd gotten it. Perhaps the man who had helped him at White's had given it to him considering the fact that his heavy head made it difficult to walk straight.

He grunted something, leaning in as Lavender opened her arms to him. She barely managed to stay on her feet as his entire body weight collapsed on to her. Austin struggled to lean away, keeping his eyes open.

"Oh, Derby, you should be home. Go and see a physician, for your sake."

"Colin, hush!" Lavender hissed before Austin could think of a retort. She smelled glorious as usual. And her hair felt softer than ever against his cheek. "Come, Austin, sit right here."

Lavender held on to him as she guided him to an armchair. The moment Austin sank into the comfortable seating he had to remind himself to keep his eyes open. He'd been knocked unconscious enough times to know when he was concussed.

He didn't say as much to Lavender. He focused on her face, oddly touched by the worry written into every bit of it.

"What happened to you?" Lavender asked, sinking to his side. "Were you fighting again?"

"Does it not look like it?" he couldn't help but say. When she scowled at him, he forced a smile on his face. "Forgive me. I suppose this is no time for jests."

"Yes, I am in no mood for laughing," she chastised. "Tell me why you are in this state. And why are you here instead of home receiving care from your physician?"

"Because I thought it more important to come here." With the hand not gripping his cane reached out to brush her cheek. "You were waiting for me, weren't you?"

Despite the slight blush that touched her cheeks, her glare did not lift. "So what? Your health is more important, is it not? I should call my physician since you are too stubborn to get any medical assistance."

She began to rise but he caught her wrist. "Don't. We have go to the races. For your plan."

"Forget about the plan! Look at you!" Hysteria tinged her voice. Even so, she didn't pull away from him, sinking to his side once more. "You're bruised all over and you cannot walk without a cane. How could you let this happen to you? Did you try to win back the money you lost last night?"

That made him frown. "Lost? Do you think I was out gambling?"

"Wasn't that what you were doing?" she asked, confused.

Before he could respond, Colin cut in. "Don't be a fool, Derby. You're clearly in no state to attend anything. You cannot even stand. If you're worried about Lavender, then there is no need to be. She is in good hands."

Austin lifted his eyes to meet his. "Is that so? And I suppose she got the idea that I was gambling from you as well."

"Would you rather I tell her the truth?"

"What do you mean?" Lavender cut in, looking between the two men. "What is the truth? "

Neither one of them spoke. Austin didn't want to tell her, didn't want to face her wrath when she heard that he had picked a fight with her friend and possibly caused an irreparable scandal. And he could tell Colin did not want to either, though he wasn't entirely certain of his reason for holding back the truth.

They stood at a stalemate, neither one of them saying anything. Austin could feel Lavender's mounting frustration. "One of you had better tell me the truth of what is going on or so help me," she warned.

Austin saw when Colin cracked. He opened his mouth, wanting to get the truth out before Colin did. But then the door opened and Vincent stalked in looking furious.

His eyes were fixed on Austin. He marched forward, grabbing Austin by the front of his waistcoat and hauling him to his feet. "Are you out of your mind, Lord Derby?" he bellowed.

"Vincent, what are you doing?" Lavender screamed. "Let him go right now! He is injured!"

Vincent didn't move. He continued glaring into Austin's face and, in the state that he was, Austin could do nothing but stare back. Lavender pushed her small frame between them, forcing her brother back. As soon as Vincent let him go, she caught Austin as best as she could and helped him back into the chair. Then she whirled on her brother.

"What has gotten into you?" she demanded, crossing her arm and standing in front of Austin like a guard dog.

"How funny, Lav, because I have the same question for the earl," Vincent spat. He looked at Colin and it seemed to upset him even more. He pinched the bridge of his nose and drew in a long breath. "If you two decided to fight each other in public then the least you could have done was stay in your homes rather than take your issues here, to my sister."

Austin stared into Lavender's back. He watched her go rigid, watched as she looked at Colin then turned to look down on him. Confusion was written across her face, disbelief in her brown eyes even though he could tell that she was starting to put the pieces together.

"You two did this to each other?" she asked both of them at the same time .

"It is the talk around town, Lav," her seething brother informed her. "Apparently, Austin approached Colin at White's Gentleman's Club and, after a heated argument, decided that it would best for them to settle it with fists. Which is why this one looks black and blue," he pointed to Colin, "and this one cannot stand or walk without a cane," he ended with Austin.

Lavender shook her head. "There must be a reason."

"There is no reason other than the fact that the earl is nothing but a brute! I heard that he was the one who incited the fight. And given everything I knew about him—which was far too little, I'll admit—I should have known better than to entrust you to a man like him, Lavender."

"Vincent." Lavender seemed to be struggling on her own with the truth. Austin could say nothing. He'd felt shame from the moment he woke up from his unconscious state but it did not choke him as soundly as it did now. "Let's calm down."

"I will not calm down, Lavender! It is one thing for him to carry the reputation of a brute and a bastard but it is another thing entirely for him to live up to one." He whirled on Austin. "I shall give you anything you want to break our contract. Money is no issue here. As long as you leave."

"Contract?" Colin spoke up. "You are contracted to marry her?"

Lavender mimicked her brother by pinching the bridge of her nose. "Colin, please."

Austin didn't look away from Vincent. He deserved this. Every bit of anger and disappointment directed towards him was duly sent. But he would not back down. "I made a promise by signing that contract. I shall not break it."

"You made a promise because money is what you wanted," Vincent reminded him. "I shall give you what you want, so long as you leave my sister be. I shall find a better husband for her."

"Money was what I wanted," Austin answered calmly. "It is no longer my motivation."

"And what do you mean by that?"

Austin did not answer. He knew the truth deep down. Perhaps it was being knocked upside the chin that brought him to his senses. But before he could find the right words, Lavender stepped in between them once again.

"Vincent, enough. I understand that you're angry but there must have been a reason why Austin and Colin fought. Austin is not an irrational man. Whatever drove him do such a thing must have been worth it." Lavender glanced uncertainly at him. "Wasn't it?"

He met her eyes, hoping she could see the depth of his earnestness as he said, "Yes, it was. We fought over you, Lavender. And it was certainly worth it."