Robert grunted at these words. He’d already realized all of that before he’d even known who the suitor was. He had no intention of going through legal channels to handle the man. He intended on hunting the bastard down and personally beating the hell out of him for putting Lisa through all of this, and for what he would have put her through had she not escaped Mrs. Morgan’s that day.

“Of course, there are other, less legal ways to deal with a man like that,” Smithe continued as if reading Robert’s mind. “I don’t usually encourage that sort of thing, but in this case it does seem the only way to keep the young lady safe . . . short of her marrying someone else and being removed as temptation. Is there any chance she will marry soon?”

“A very good chance indeed,” Robert assured him grimly. His talk with Richard the night before had cleared his mind on certain issues and he had been trying to tell Lisa that when Smithe arrived. The minute the man was gone he would return to the parlor and tell her of the epiphany he’d had. How he’d realized that what he’d thought was true about his childhood and his mother wasn’t true at all. That he’d come to see that his father was a bitter old woman hater who had infected him with his poison, but she was the antidote. He would tell her that he realized now how irrational and stupid his thoughts on marriage and wives had become, and that he did trust her, with all his heart.

Of course, Robert acknowledged that he would have the occasional habitual doubt enter his mind that he would have to fight off and deal with, but he would do his damnedest to ensure he did not take them out on Lisa. He would not drive her away as his father had done with his mother. He would cherish her and keep her close all the days they had together.

“Well, that ensures her safety at least. Findlay can hardly marry a married woman,” Smithe said with satisfaction. “As for the other, there is a risk he might still try to get her alone to have his way with her, but I suspect a stern talking to and a fist or two to the man’s face would be enough to discourage him from taking that tack.”

“Undoubtedly,” Robert agreed dryly.

“Just let me know if you want a couple of my boys to give him that talk and I’ll see to it,” Smithe said, standing up.

“I think I would prefer to handle that myself,” Robert said silkily, getting to his feet as well.

“I thought you might,” Smithe said with a grin as Robert walked him to the office door. “It’s what I would do.”