Page 53 of My Dangerous Duke

They now knew that Victor had grown suspicious of his failure to be accepted by theTon,and had taken to carrying the letters with him everywhere he went in his jacket.

“You look absolutely radiant tonight, wife,” Xander praised, keeping his eyes on Eleanor.

She smiled at him lovingly, affection and strength pouring from her gaze.

“As do you, husband,” she replied, sweeping her eyes up and down his black suit.

“We are a fine match,” he went on, using what little time they had left before they were to put their plan to work, “And I want you to know no matter how much I hate your father, I will always be thankful that he brought you to me.”

Passion flared in Eleanor’s eyes as she nodded, but before either of them could say anything else, they heard their signal. A look of understanding passed between them as Victor Langley’s angry remarks filled their ears, and with a nod, they strolled outside.As predicted, Victor was there, dressed in his finest, with his ruddy face swollen with anger.

“I have an invitation!” He roared, holding up Eleanor’s forged card.

“I am afraid that is impossible, sir, as you are not on the list,” the footman replied, straining to be polite the pompous noble.

“Papa.”

Victor looked up at Eleanor and Xander, blinking in surprise as if he had only then noticed them. The moment his eyes landed on them, he smirked and drew up his nose.

“There,” he insisted, not bothering to greet either of them as he looked toward the footman. “That is my daughter and son-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Larsen,” Victor continued, pointing at them.

The footman looked over to them as they stood in the doorway, and bowed to them respectfully.

“Indeed, they are,” the footman agreed, “But that makes no difference in your regard, sir.”

Victor turned his glare toward Eleanor as his lips curled into a snarl, immediately igniting Xander’s anger. He went, instinctively, to step between them, but Eleanor’s touchfeathered the top of his hand. He stopped, thankful for her furtive intervention, and stepped back into his place.

“Papa, I am sure this is something we can all work out,” Eleanor said sweetly, giving her father a dazzling smile.

“You will make this nasty business go away?” Victor grumbled, his face fading back to its natural pale color as he watched Eleanor walk to him.

“For once and for all,” she promised, opening her arms to him.

Eleanor did not recall ever hugging her father once in the last twelve or so years, but as she opened her arms, she saw a look of affection on her father’s face she had never seen before. Sweetly, she slipped her hands around between his jacket and shirt and embraced him. It was a bittersweet moment, feeling her father return the rare form of physical affection. If only their relationship could have been different…

“I will take care of all of this, Papa,” she promised as her fingers crept around her desired query.

Eleanor hugged her father tighter, mentally whispering goodbye as she pulled her prize away and deftly slipped them behind her back. As planned, Xander’s hands came to her, one at her wrist, the other at the letters. Once he had a firm grasp on both, he pulled Eleanor out of the embrace and walked toward the carriages.

“Where are you going?” Victor asked, his face growing red again in confusion. “You just said you would take care of this! Now you are walking away?”

At this, they turned around, and Xander held up the key to their freedom.

“We just did, Langley,” he replied dryly.

Victor’s eyes grew so wide that there was whiter than iris. His face then turned from crimson to purple as he began to vibrate with fury. With a roar of rage, his eyes narrowed murderously at Eleanor and bared his teeth in disgust.

“You littlewretch,”he growled, stalking toward them, “You willbegme for forgiveness and mercy after I-”

Xander was between them in a heartbeat, staring the man down. This time, Eleanor made no move to stop him, and as Victor drew nearer, Xander raised a dagger from his pocket and lodged the tip to the man’s double chin. It was small, discreet so that anyone in the gathering crowd would think that Xander was just holding his fist to him- but with the proper force… Victor stopped immediately, his face going sheet white.

“If you finish that sentence, it will be your last,” Xander warned. His tone was low. Calm, even. But yet somehow full of menace.

“You would not hurt me here,” Victor tried to argue, but Xander only pressed the dagger in a little more.

“My wife knows you carry a pistol, I am merely defending us,” Xander replied in a calm tone, smirking. “Seeing as how every member of theTonknows how aggressive you can be, no one will negate me.”

Realizing his options had completely run out, a look of resignation crept across Victor’s face, and he nodded.

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