He sat on the carriage floor, staring at Lucien in horror. “What the devil did you do that for? You’ve wrecked my neckcloth, damned if you haven’t!” He felt the folds of cloth with trembling fingers. “Wrecked!” he half shrieked. “The arrangement cost me three cloths this morning. And what will the duke and duchess think of me now?”

Lucien noted with amusement that Hislop seemed to take irrational violence in stride. Perhaps his acquaintances were often driven to commit such outrages.

“You will stay away from Mrs. Ewing,” he said in a gentle voice. “If I ever hear that you have been seen near her or her house, I will personally make certain that you are never again invited to an event given by the haut ton.”

Hislop pushed himself up and sat down on the opposite seat, looking at Lucien as if he were a rabid dog. “I don’t know what you’re so excited about. It isn’t as if I’ve done anything the woman disliked! I’ve been the perfect gentleman, if you want to know.”

“I don’t give a damn,” Lucien said through his clenched teeth. “As long as you understand that your ‘friendship’ with Mrs. Ewing is over.”

Hislop’s full lips formed a pout. “I’ve been working on this for months,” he complained. “And you only showed up the last few weeks. Wouldn’t it be more of a gentlemanly thing to allow that I have a prior claim?

“All right!” he shrieked, as Lucien made a sudden violent movement. “For God’s sake, I’m not that interested anyway. She’s a beauty, but a bit somber for my tastes. I was thinking of trying the sister—but I won’t,” he exclaimed, meeting Lucien’s wrath-filled eyes. “Won’t go anywhere near the house, since that’s what you wish.”

Lucien leaned back on his seat, which seemed to give Hislop courage.

“Don’t see why you’d mind if I made a play for the sister,” he complained. “You can take Emily, and I’ll back out like a gentleman, even though I do have the prior claim. So why not let me have the sister? I can set her up, you know,” he said generously. “I’ve got a little house out in Chelsea that’s perfect for this sort of thing, and it’s been empty for all of two months now.”

Lucien knocked on the roof so hard that the carriage shook. It swayed to a halt.

“What’re you doing?” Hislop asked in some alarm. “You said you’d take me to Gisle’s breakfast! And I want to go!”

“Get out,” Lucien said as the door swung open.