“Excuse me.” She stepped around him, but he caught her elbow in a crushing grip.
“Don’t be so hasty, Mrs West. We have much to talk about.”
She winced at the pain in her arm. “There is nothing we have to discuss. Let me go.”
“Did you not miss me at your wedding? I was to have been Nat’s attendant. Did he tell you why I wasn’t there?”
“He said you were away in the country on business.”
Lombard smirked. “A lie, Mrs West, a damned lie.”
The blood ran cold in her veins as she stared at him. “Let me go, please.”
“On your wedding day, I was still recovering from a busted lip and swollen eye, courtesy of your husband.”
She raised her chin. “Then-then likely you deserved it.”
His wolf-like smile frightened her. “I’ll beg to differ on that. Your husband has a temper, Mrs West. You should be careful not to entice it. Nat’s a fine boxer. Did he tell you that was one of his pastimes, knocking men’s teeth out?”
“He has mentioned he boxed, yes.” Why did Lombard bear her such animosity? She shivered, afraid of his threatening presence.
“But not that he did the same to me?” He chuckled. “No, I can see by your face he didn’t reveal that information. However, I expect there is much about his previous life he hasn’t told you.”
“I haven’t the time to talk to you. Please let go of my arm.”
“In a moment.” He paused, his eyes narrowing with anger or hatred she didn’t know which. “Tell Nat that I’ll be waiting for his apology.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time, I think, especially after the way you are treating me today.”
“Tell your husband, that unless he does right by me, I’ll let loose certain information about his private dealings with a certain Mr Carstairs.”
“What do you mean?” She stared, her mouth dry at the warning.
“Pass the message on, if you please.”
“I insist you tell me what you mean.” She had the urge to strike his impudent face.
“You cannot demand anything of me, Madam. In this case I hold all the cards. Simply tell Nat to contact me or I’ll spill everything I know about Carstairs and his dealings. If Nat hasn’t lost all his reason then he’ll know what to do.”
“He’ll not react to your intimidation, Lombard.”
“And I’ll not lose another penny because he has a fancy to become an honourable married man, particularly when he’s only married a strumpet of a governess.”
“How dare you!”
“Oh, I dare, Madam, I dare.” He grimaced, curling his lip up as if what he saw disgusted him. “I cannot believe West has thrown away so many lucrative financial opportunities because of you. Well, he might suddenly want to be righteous, but I do not, and I’ll not grow poor because of it either.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Give him my message.” He squeezed her arm cruelly and then thrust her from him, before bowing like a gentleman. “Good day, Mrs West.”
Incensed by his disrespect, her temper flared. “Go to Hell, Mr Lombard, and take your message with you. I’ll not do your dirty work. I have never liked you and am glad Nathaniel has rejected your friendship. I’m pleased he gave you the hiding you deserve.” She stopped, alarmed at her own viciousness and at the expression of calm rage on Lombard’s face.
He turned to the silent man next to him, gave one nod and then quietly walked away up the alley.
Nicola, frozen to the spot, watched wide-eyed as the rough-looking fellow smiled, showing black rotten teeth. She backed away, hitting the wall behind her, but he advanced quickly, too quickly for her to respond. He slammed one hand over her mouth and then she felt a sharp burning pain in her side.
Gasping, she held her side, confused at the pain and its source. Taking her hand away she staggered at the sight of the sticky blood soaking her gloves. Her knees buckled and she slid down the brick wall to the damp cold cobbles.
“Don’t scream, missy,” he threatened, leaning over her, “or I’ll bone you as clean as a butcher’s carcass. You just lie quiet now until I’ve gone.”
She held her side, reeling as the pain hit her in repeated waves without let up. “No! Help me,” she begged on a scream.
“I said to shut it!” He drew his hand back and she screamed again as his fist came down and spun her into blackness.
* * *
Nat flicked the lace curtains aside and stared at the