Page 76 of A Night of Passion with the Duke

The man stepped closer to her, running a finger down her cheek. “I do hope we do not run into any problems, lass,” he warned, keeping his voice dangerously low. “I do not want to have to kill anyone today.”

She scoffed and pulled back from him. “I did my job. I’m just being careful.”

He smirked. “If ye did, ye’d be in his bed, riding his cock, not here with us.” He laughed. “Ye’re a fine woman, and it’s a cold night. If ye come to me, I won’t turn ye away. Let me show ye what a real man’s cock looks like.”

Joana gasped and slapped him. “How dare you, you worthless scum?” she yelled.

Edward watched the man’s temper rise, but before he could hit her, he stepped out with his pistol raised.

“If you take another step, you’ll find yourself without a brain.”

ChapterNineteen

“If you take another step, you’ll find yourself without a brain.”

No sooner had the words left him than he felt grateful he’d carried his pistol.

The man charged at him, stopping short when he noticed the pistol. He made to run into the treeline, but the constables stepped out, brandishing their standard-issue rifles.

His accomplice’s eyes darted around, trying to look for a gap to escape. Edward watched, creeping closer for any sudden moves, not surprised when he started towards the smallest member of their group.

It seemed Charles had the same idea as him and tackled him to the ground. The other constables tackled the other man, tying his hands behind his back.

Edward got off the man he’d been holding down once he’d been shackled and headed towards Arabella, who was awake now. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at the scene before her.

He could tell the moment she saw him because she burst into loud sobs, struggling against her restraints.

He rushed to her, holding her against him as she wept. His heart pounded in his chest as relief washed over him. She was all right. He’d saved her. She was in his arms again.

He held her till her sobs stopped and pulled back to see just how tired she was. He nodded to the constable who had cut her free and swooped her up in his arms.

She fell asleep immediately, her hands wrapped tightly around his neck as if she was afraid to let go. Edward kissed her hair, holding her tighter to his chest.

“I’ve got you now, love,” he whispered. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again.”

“You’ll need to get a carriage to return home, and it won’t be until we get into town,” Charles stated, stepping up to them. “The road here is filled with potholes—that’s why their wheel broke. It was such a stroke of good luck, wasn’t it?”

A lump formed in Edward’s throat, and he managed a nod. He was grateful for his brother’s level-headedness and how he’d taken charge of Arabella’s rescue when he’d been too emotional to think.

“I—”

“Don’t thank me,” Charles interrupted. “Come. The walk back to town is long.”

They started down the path, but Edward remembered then the reason they had to make this journey.

“Where is Joana?” he asked finally, unable to hide the anger in his voice, looking around.

He spotted the constable pushing her onto the floor beside the blackguards as she screamed and hurled insults at him.

“She has been taken care of,” Charles answered with a frown. “They’ll be transported to the nearest prison to await trial.”

Edward nodded, walking off.

“Edward, please!” he heard Joana yell behind him. “You should be with me not that whore! Edward!”

He ignored her words, holding his wife tighter. They decided not to sleep in the inn and resumed their journey back home immediately.

“I’ll stay back to give a statement,” Charles told him, patting his back. “Take care of her.”

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