Page 48 of My Dangerous Duke

I only hope she is safe. If anything were to happen to her, I…

As Xander’s mood grew darker, so did the weather outside. Strong winds were starting to gust against the great house, making the windows creak as thunder and lightning shook the earth. Xander looked wearily to the hallway windows as he closed the door to the final room- empty, like the rest of them. Another flash of lightning lit up the sky then, and as it did so, heavy raindrops began to splatter against the panes.

The sound of the raindrops ricocheted in his ears loudly, maddeningly.Thunk, thunk, thunk. Gone, gone, gone.She was gone.

“Your Grace!” Mrs. Gaines shouted from the end of the hall, giving him a fright.

“Heaven’s, Mrs. Gaines,” he snapped, whirling on her. “What are you trying to do? Give me a coronary?”

“Apologies, Your Grace, but it is Jared!” Mrs. Gaines exclaimed, waddling toward him as fast as she could.

Xander’s heart pulsed in his ears as he strode toward her.

“He has just sent a rider from town,” Mrs. Gaines went on, thankfully not making him wait any longer, “There was a maid from the Huxton Residence there that claimed that our duchess has been staying there.”

Relief rushed through Xander’s veins, but it was quickly replaced with fury and betrayal. Rhysand had lied to him. They were not really friends, and he knew that. But he hadlied.A sin he would surely be punished for that later. For now, though, he had to focus on Eleanor and beg for her forgiveness.

Chapter 22

“What onearthwas that?” Eleanor asked, pricking her ears to the air.

The game of cards she and Penelope had been playing- the game of which she had still held cards in her hand for- was forgotten as soon as they had heard it. It could have been the storm. It would make sense. But, Eleanor knew that it was not. It was something-someoneelse.

“Stay here,” Penny commanded, her voice hollow as she let her cards fall to the table.

“You do not think that would be… There is a storm raging outside!” Eleanor muttered, getting up at once to follow her.

“I am pretty sure that would not be enough to stop him.” Rhysand shrugged.

“Rhysand, you promised not to tell him! Oh, I will deal with you later! For now, I must speak with Eleanor!”

Xander’s loud, pained, deep voice echoed through the hall, becoming much clearer as Penelope and Eleanor opened the door to the parlor. Together they peeked around the corner, and Eleanor’s heart leaped in her throat when she saw her disheveled, soaked husband. He was facing toward her and Penelope, but Rhysand and the butler were blocking him from seeing her or going any farther than the foyer.

He looked pained and wild, more like a beast than a man as his massive chest heaved and his soaked hair covered his silver eyes. Even when he spoke, there was more of a feral undertone than ever before. Despite her anger at him, Eleanor felt longing lace through her blood, and she fought the naive urge to run into his arms.

“Stay here, Eleanor, I will deal with him,” Penelope whispered, tugging at Eleanor’s chin. “You do not have to face him if you do not want to.”

Eleanor felt her gaze be forced away from Xander to one of her dearest friends. Eleanor did not say anything, but she gave a numb nod. Relief broke through Penelope’s tense look, and she nodded back at Eleanor as she let out a breath. She walked around the corner then, and Eleanor shrunk back until she was sure she could not be seen.

“Your Grace,” Penelope said, both sweetly and loudly as she approached Xander. “Pray, do keep your voice down. It is lateand though our house is not full, there are still people trying to sleep.”

“Like my wife?” Xander demanded, setting his glare on Penelope as she approached.

Eleanor gripped the wall tighter.

“I believe that she is at odds with that sentiment at the moment,” Penelope went on.

Her voice tone was gentle, yet it held a sharp edge, making Eleanor almost want to smile. Many people underestimated Penny because she was so petite, but the truth was, she had quite a way with both truth and words. Her tongue could be a sharp as a blade and leave deep wounds if she was provoked.

“Please,” Xander said, his tone much calmer now.

He finally pushed the mop of wet hair out his eyes, revealing his molten silver orbs, and Eleanor felt her heart ache. She missed him. There was no denying it.

“I need to speak with her. I need her to know that it was not all a lie,” he went on. “She needs to know that my feelings, though unplanned, are very much real. I need… I need her to know I love her.”

Xander’s voice was not pleading by any means, but there was a strong emotion that left no room for doubt. Still, he had kepther in the dark about so many things. He had convinced her to believe him before. Is that all he was trying to do now?

“I will deliver your message, Your Grace,” Penelope replied, her chin held high as she clasped her hands together in front of her. “If I should so happen to see her.”

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