“Surely, Keane should have returned by now,” Poppy said to Hazel. “I wish I’d gone with him.”
Hazel’s gaze flicked to the grandfather clock along the wall of the ballroom. “He hasn’t been gone long—and I’m certain he wants you to stay safe here, away from the commotion.”
“Perhaps.” Poppy tapped the toe of her slipper against the parquet dance floor. “But I cannot stand feeling so useless. I’m going to see what’s happened.” Decision made, she picked up her skirts and rushed toward the exit.
“Wait,” Hazel called after her. “I’m coming, too.”
But Poppy was already gliding down the stairs. When she dashed outside of the building, she joined the agitated crowd gathered on the pavement. Some were dressed for the ball, some for the pub, but they were all looking up, so she did, too.
And her stomach sank through her knees.
Keane was hanging from a third-story window, his body pressed against the pale-gray stone façade of the building. Tears burned her eyes as she watched him struggle, his body swaying slightly as he clung to the edge.
“No,” she whispered, swallowing the awful knot in her throat. But there was no denying the truth—she would have recognized him anywhere.
Hazel appeared at her side, breathless. “Good heavens. Please tell me that’s not…”
“It’s Keane,” Poppy choked out. “I’ve got to help.”
“I could send for Blade,” Hazel offered.
“There’s no time.” Besides, Poppy was accustomed to taking on the world by herself. It was what she’d always done.
Hazel gave her arm a quick squeeze. “Be careful.”
Poppy stifled a sob as she ran back toward the Assembly Rooms. Only a quarter of an hour ago, Keane had been holding her hand. Now, he was holding on for his life.
She should have told him everything that was in her heart while she had the chance. That she secretly adored his vexing questions. That she melted whenever he whispered in her ear. That her belly fluttered every time he shot her a lopsided grin.
She should have told him she loved him.
“Hold on, Keane,” she murmured. “If you love me half as much as I love you, just … hold on.”
Keane’s fingers had lost all feeling. His body swung wildly as he adjusted his grip. “Teddy!”
“I’m here,” Teddy gasped, sagging against the window frame.
Thank God. “Help me.”
“Of course, Cousin. Just give me a moment to catch my breath.”
A bead of sweat rolled off the tip of Keane’s nose. “I don’t have a moment. Pull me up.”
His cousin stood there mutely, cold and unseeing.
“Teddy! What’s wrong with you?”
Holy hell. He was useless as a statue. Maybe in shock.
Keane was going to have to save himself. One arm over the sill. That was all he needed.
He summoned every ounce of strength. Grunted as he pulled himself one inch higher. Then another. And another.
He swung his legs for some momentum, then threw his right arm over the stone threshold—and held on like it was the only thing between him and a grisly death. Which it was.
“Make way, Teddy,” Keane managed between gasps. “I’m coming in.”
Teddy’s blank stare turned sharp. Chillingly sinister. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Cousin.”
“Not funny,” he ground out. “Move, or I’ll knock you over.”
“I want you to know I didn’t plan this. Not this time, at any rate.” He reached for the lantern and removed the glass cylinder, exposing the flame. “But fate led us here. It’s as though she’s finishing the job for me.”
Teddy wasn’t making sense, damn it, unless …
No. Teddy had all but confessed, and yet Keane could scarcely wrap his mind around it. Or maybe he just didn’t want to believe it.
Teddy was the one who’d tried to kill him.
He shoved the thought to the back of his brain.
Keane dug the toes of his boots into the outside wall to take some weight off his arm. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get out of my way.”
Teddy’s smile sent a chill down his spine. “That superior attitude, that insufferable arrogance. They’re precisely why I did it.”
“Did what?” But deep in his gut, he already knew the answer.
Teddy moved the flame underneath Keane’s hand and stared into his eyes. “Tried to get rid of you.”
Anger flared in Keane’s chest; his fingers burned and blistered in the heat of the flame. He waved his palm blindly, trying to snuff it out.
Teddy only laughed. “You, Cousin, are a bastard who never deserved to become a duke. The title should have passed to my father … and then to me.”
The stench of burnt skin filled Keane’s nostrils. The sleeve of his jacket caught fire. Every nerve ending screamed for him to pull away from the flame. But he could not let go.
“Let’s discuss this like men,” Keane said. “If you want an estate of your own—”
“I want a dukedom.” He moved the flame directly beneath Keane’s wrist. “And I’ll soon have it.”
“By killing me?” Keane gasped.
“This will appear to be a terrible accident. You’ll come out looking like a hero, of course. You should be grateful for that.”
“Grateful? You prick,” he spat.
“How dare you.” Teddy hurled the lantern against a wall. Closed his hands around Keane’s neck. And squeezed.
The world went hazy. His ears buzzed. Teddy’s voice echoed in his head.
“The Summers girl is not duchess material. But she’ll make a fine mistress.”
“Fuck you,” Keane mouthed. No sound came out, but he said it over and over in his head.
Teddy growled with rage. “Damn you to hell, Hawking.” They were the words Keane had heard weeks ago on the dock, just before he’d been tossed into the ocean. Teddy had tried to drown him.
Keane’s throat burned. His eyes bulged. His fingers slipped. If this was the end, he had plenty of regrets.
But the biggest was going before he’d had the chance to marry Poppy.
The world turned gray at the edges. Oblivion crept closer, reaching for him with greedy fingers.
Crack. The lantern clocked Teddy in the jaw, launching him halfway across the room.
Air rushed into Keane’s lungs. He sputtered and coughed.
A pair of huge hands grabbed him beneath the arms, hauled him through the window, and dropped him facedown onto the floor. Spasms racked his chest. His clothes smoldered and smoked.
Till a large jacket covered his torso, putting out the last of the flames.
Keane rolled over and blinked. Poppy.
She stood above him, gorgeously fierce in her ball gown, holding the lantern like a smoking pistol. Her brother was at her side, flexing his fingers as he glared at Teddy, who was slumped against a wall, unconscious.
“Poppy,” Keane choked out. “Are you all right?”
She set down the lantern, knelt beside him, and pressed her palm to his cheek. “I am. Are you?”
“You saved my life.”
“I had a little help.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Allow me to introduce my brother, Dane. He’s the one who pulled you up. I must say, it felt good to count on him, especially when it mattered most.”
Poppy’s brother shuffled his feet. “Hawking.”
Keane raised his chin in acknowledgment. “You pulled me off the ledge.”
“I suppose I did.” He scrubbed the back of his neck. “Look, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Keane lifted his arm and examined the charred sleeve of his jacket. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
“I don’t think you do. This doesn’t have anything to do with my sister. Although I have plenty to say on that score, too.”
“I’m right here, Dane,” Poppy said dryly. “And I think I’ve proven I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
Her brother dragged his hands through his hair, chastened. “I’m sorry I haven’t been a better brother. But that’s going to change.”
Keane staggered to his feet. “There will be time for us to talk later.”
Poppy clasped his wrist and frowned at his raw palm. “This looks awful. I’m going to fetch Dr. Gladwell.” She looked earnestly at Keane, then her brother. “Can I trust you two alone for a few scant minutes?”
“Absolutely,” Dane said, as if the very question were absurd.
“Of course,” Keane chimed in, pretending to be mildly offended.
“Right.” Poppy’s brilliant blue eyes narrowed as she headed for the door. “Let’s try to avoid any further excitement this evening, shall we?” With a swish of her skirts, she left them alone in the room, standing toe-to-toe.
To his credit, Dane looked Keane directly in the eyes.
Without preamble, he said, “That night I left the Salty Mermaid, I know it was you who attacked me.”
Dane nodded and clasped his hands behind his back as if stoically awaiting his sentence.
“I also know that you did it at the request of my cousin.”
“He claimed to be the brother of a maid you seduced and abandoned,” Dane said sheepishly. “He offered me a large sum if I’d teach you a lesson. I told myself you deserved it. That the money would help Poppy and my father. That I’d finally have something worthwhile to contribute.”
“He lied to you,” Keane said sadly. “I suppose he lied to me, too.”
“It doesn’t excuse what I did,” Dane said. “I didn’t mean to hit you so hard. I—I think I panicked when you started to fight back. And when I saw how much your head was bleeding, I ran for help. I returned to the alley with one of my mates … but you were gone.”
“That’s because Teddy dragged me to the docks, threw me into the bay, and left me to drown.”
Dane shook his head, dumbfounded. “Why does he hate you so much?”
The question made Keane flinch. “I have something he wants.”
Dane nodded slowly. “Just so you know, your cousin never paid me. He tried to, later in the pub. He said I’d done my job well, but as desperate as we were—as we still are—I couldn’t take his blood money. I’m not saying that makes up for what I did,” Dane quickly added. “I suppose that what I’m really saying is I’m sorry.” He swallowed and raised his chin. “I’m ready to face the consequences of my actions.”
“I accept your apology.” With his good hand, Keane grasped Dane’s shoulder. “Tonight, you saved me from falling to my death. I’d say that makes us even now.”
Dane blinked. “I don’t know what to say. Are you certain?”
“I’d shake your hand, but…” Keane held up his red, blistered palm.
“Thank you,” Dane said, disbelieving. “My sister says you’re a good man.”
“She says you are, too.”
Dane cracked a smile. “She might have exaggerated a bit in my case.”
Just then, Bladenton ran into the doorway, chest heaving. “Hawking! Thank God. I feared I’d be too late.” His gaze flicked to Teddy, sprawled on the floor, and Dane, standing there in his shirtsleeves. “What the devil is going on here?”
“Come in and lock the door behind you,” Keane said. “We have some tidying up to do.”