Speaking of Alice, she was worrying him. As still as death, she merely stared at the wall in front of her. He knelt at her side and gentled his voice. “Alice, I will find a way to make this right, I swear.”

A hand jerked him upright, away from her. Lockwood. The duke got in Kit’s face and had the gall to snarl, “Get back. You’ve clearly done enough.”

Rage tightened Kit’s muscles, and he shoved Lockwood with both hands. “You don’t know what the hell you are talking about. Furthermore, you have no right whatsoever to keep me away from her.”

“As her escort tonight, her welfare is my responsibility. Therefore, I have every right.” Lockwood stepped forward, rolling his shoulders like a bare-knuckled fighter in the ring.

Oh, so that was it, then? In a blink, Kit shrugged out of his coat and tossed it on the wooden table in front of a too-quiet Alice. If Lockwood wanted a fight, Kit would be more than happy to give him one. “Hardly, you pompous, overprivileged, stick-up-your-arse—”

Lockwood lunged and threw a punch, but Kit blocked it and offered up one of his own. Unfortunately, Lockwood twisted out of the way so Kit’s fist glanced off his ribs instead of inflicting damage.

“Stop it!” Alice put her hands between them, and soon Franconi was there, too, pushing the men apart. Tugging on Kit’s sleeve, she dragged him away from the duke. “Stop, both of you. Just stop!”

She was breathing hard and her eyes were wet, and the anger instantly left Kit’s body. He hated seeing her upset. “Forgive me, Alice. For everything. I am so sorry. I will find a way to keep that story from running, I swear.”

“What on earth is going on in here?” a voice shrieked.

Alice stiffened and grew paler. “Oh, God, no,” she whispered as she shut her eyes. “Please, no.”

Mrs. Lusk rushed into the kitchen, her expression awash in horror and disapproval. Her gaze swept over Kit and Lockwood, then settled on Alice. “What on earth are you doing in here? When they told me you were hiding in the kitchen, I nearly didn’t believe it. Have you lost your mind, Alice? Get out in that dining room at once.”

“Signora, how nice to see you again.” Franconi greeted Alice’s mother like a long-lost cousin, kissing her on both cheeks. “You look well.”

“Hello, Chef Franconi. I do apologize for my daughter’s rude behavior. I will get her out of your kitchen at once.” Mrs. Lusk gripped her daughter’s arm, and Alice winced. “Your Grace, I’ll have her settled at your table presently.”

Tears started leaking from Alice’s eyes and Kit’s chest twisted, like a fist was squeezing his lungs. “I do not think continuing dinner is in Miss Lusk’s best interest at the moment, ma’am.”