Chapter 25Horrified that what he most dreaded was unfolding in full view, especially with poor Eustacia present to bear witness, gazing at her brother in anguish, Percy didn’t regard Jo’s light touch on his arm. “I’ll fetch Nathan. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Percy felt so exposed that he barely registered his friend’s departure. Challenged by Clarence, all his accomplished town bronze melted away. He felt helpless before the bully who had blighted his childhood.
“Which one of you snivelling curs should I deal with first?” Clarence said in carrying tones as if the ballroom was empty apart from Armand and Percy, rather than packed with a rapt and enthralled throng. “The half-caste pretender or the simpering fop who’s not man enough to find his own mistress and fumbles at my cast-offs?”
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