Some instinct told Steven who the ladies' man was even before Chloe spoke....

Some instinct told Steven who the ladies' man was even before Chloe spoke. "You've been so curious about Mr. Fairfax, Fulton," she said, in an idle tone. "Here he is." The banker. Steven got to his feet, not as a gesture of courtesy, but so the man couldn't look down on him. "Fulton Whitney," the banker said by way of introduction. His tone was grudging. Steven didn't put out his hand, or speak. He was wondering what kind of polecat would cozy up to a woman like Emma, then spend a sunny April morning rolling in the sheets with a couple of floozies. Whitney cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly on his feet, while Chloe left the sofa where she'd been sitting, her fan still fluttering. "I'd better see how things are going downstairs," she said, and then she was gone. "So you'll be leaving now, I suppose," the banker said, breaking the strained silence. "I don't imagine a man like you cares to stay in one place too long." Steven folded his arms. "Until just a few minutes ago, I figured on riding out," he answered. "Now I'm not so sure." Color blossomed in Whitney's pasty cheeks. "What possible reason could you have to stay?" "Just one. Her name is Emma." The banker stared at him with undisguised contempt, and Steven figured he must look pretty seedy, all things considered. It had been days since he'd shaved, and two months since he'd had a haircut. "You aren't good enough to lick her shoes." Steven indulged in a slow, obnoxious smile. "Let me understand this," he drawled. "I'm not good enough for Emma, but you, her fiancé, just crawled out of bed with two whores?" Again, Whitney's face flooded with blustery color. "I don't have to explain anything to you," he rasped. And then he started to walk away. Steven was possessed of a rage nobody but Macon had been able to arouse in him before. He grasped the banker by the arm, whirled him around, and threw his fist into the middle of the bastard's face. Fulton gave a startled yelp as he struck the wall, then slowly slid down it, one hand to his bleeding mouth. "Now," Steven said calmly, "we know exactly where we stand, you and I.

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