Page 82 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

It was occupied by a small number of men. A few of them were grouped together, speaking quietly to one another. Several were drinking whiskey or smoking cigars. It was a quiet and peaceful environment which Christian very much expected he was about to irrevocably disturb.

The footman held out his arm, indicating a tall figure beside the fireplace. The Earl. He was speaking to someone whose face was turned toward Christian. The other man looked deeply uncomfortable, frowning as the Earl made quick, jerky motions with his hands.

Another man he owes money to, no doubt.I wonder who he lost Louise’s dowry to. Knowing the way he gambles, I wager it was on a single bet.

Christian slowly navigated the chairs, maintaining a steady pace as he approached them. The other man spotted him and hastily took his leave. The Earl watched him go, bewildered, until he turned to find Christian standing before him, intense fury contorting his features.

The Earl clicked his fingers at a footman. “This man is not welcome here,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “Escort him out immediately.”

Christian did not move, meeting the Earl’s gaze without flinching. The footman, who had stepped up to him, glanced between them, evidently uncertain how to proceed.

“Are you sure you wish to throw me out, My Lord? I believe you wished to speak to me about the deed to your townhouse,” Christian stated loudly. “Or perhaps it was about the money you asked me to lend you?”

A man to their right let out a scandalized gasp and lowered his paper to look at them.

Christian raised his eyebrows at the Earl, but he had not anticipated the outburst that would follow.

The Earl surprised him by raising his fist and swinging it at his left eye. Christian ducked sideways, his own hand rising to block the blow. His fingers tightened around the Earl’s fist, and he twisted his arm up against his back.

The Earl growled in outrage as Christian shoved him unceremoniously against the wall.

There were sharp gasps from the men a few chairs to Christian’s right, and they hastily rose from their seats, making noises of outrage before walking out of the room.

But they did not try to help him.The Earl is running out of allies.

“I would be very careful how you choose to act next, My Lord,” Christian growled in the Earl’s ear. “I do not wish to break your arm, but I will if necessary. You will leave my wife out of our business, is that understood?”

The Earl cried out sharply as Christian twisted the offending limb even further, briefly letting his anger take control. The Earl whimpered, and Christian relaxed a little as the fight seemed to drain out of the man.

He stepped back and glared at the footman, who was still hovering nearby. He was a young fellow and seemed to be in two minds as to what he needed to do. He quickly retreated to the far wall and kept his eyes trained on the floor.

“This is a disgrace,” the Earl hissed, turning around and rubbing his wrist. “I would expect nothing less from the son of a nobody.”

Christian let the barb wash over him, a sense of deep satisfaction blooming in his chest as he realized that the Earl had nothing left to threaten him with.

“What is adisgrace, Sir, is you coming to my house, demanding a word with my wife, and then telling her to steal something from me that is no longer yours.”

“It is my house!” the Earl gritted out.

“No, it is mine. It has been mine since you foolishly lost it, and it will remain mine for the foreseeable future—unless you canprove to me that you have changed. If you involve Louise again, you will suffer the consequences.”

The Earl scoffed. “Thick as thieves the two of you, aren’t you? Managed to worm your way into her good graces quickly enough—but then you always did have a reputation. WhereisLady Carruthers, by the way? I am sure Louise would be thrilled to meet her.”

Christian glowered at him, even as fear shot through him. The thought of Louise learning of his old arrangement with Lady Carruthers filled him with acute shame—shame that he had neither expected nor welcomed.

Guilt flooded him, and he tried to push it away as swiftly as he could.

“I would caution you against bringing up my past behavior. I believe Louise would be just as interested in your history and how you almost brought your family to its knees because of your greed.”

The Earl’s eyes were darting around the room now as he began to sweat. Christian could feel the remaining men watching them with interest. It would not be long before the whole ton knew about the Earl’s situation.

I thought I would feel gleeful when I won the toss against this man. But now I can only think about how Louise will take the news.

Christian cleared his throat, taking another step back. “As I said before, Sir, you will not return to my house again,” he declared, a hint of smugness in his voice. “If I wish for you to enter, I shall send you aninvitation. It seems fitting. Were those not your original terms?”

With a condescending glance at the rest of the room, he walked out, happy in the knowledge that the Earl of Northbridge would no longer be a problem.

Louise was sitting with Jack on her lap when she heard Christian’s voice outside. Placing the kitten in the little bed she had made for him in the library, she swiftly walked out to find her husband.

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