Page 93 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“And do you feel the same way for my brother, Lady Northbridge?”

She glanced at Marcus, seemingly at a loss for words as she nodded her head. “I do,” she whispered.

“I know there will be a great scandal,” Marcus said, his tone exasperated. “I had intended to go abroad, and then Althea would join me later, sparing you from all this. But with the accident, my plans were blown apart. I would not have made you all worry for nothing.” He shook his head. “I do not understand what happened to the letter.”

“I might explain that,” Christian said, a memory suddenly resurfacing in his mind. “Fenwick brought me several letters in the Earl’s presence. It was a few moments before Louise kicked him out of the house. I thought at the time I should have had Fenwick escort him out. He could have easily recognized yourhandwriting and stolen the letter, learning of your plans before I could.”

Marcus looked down at the Earl as though he intended to finish what Christian had started. But the older man looked quite pathetic, sitting awkwardly on the floor, his face covered in blood.

Marcus scoffed and seemed to change his mind. “Much good it did him in the end,” he muttered.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hallway, and they heard the raised voices of the butler and another man.

Ah, I see my note was delivered.

“Jarvis!” Christian called.

Jarvis appeared in the doorway before he entered the room, his hulking figure dwarfing everyone else.

“Would you please take this man to the constabulary?” Christian asked, gesturing toward the Earl. “I believe there is a place waiting for him in debtors’ prison.”

The Earl spluttered against the handkerchief he held to his nose and tried to protest, but Jarvis was already pulling him to his feet effortlessly.

Jarvis nodded to Christian, and without a second glance, he dragged the Earl out of the room.

Christian watched him go and then turned back to his brother.

Marcus’s eyes were guarded, shielding Lady Northbridge with his body as though to protect her from Christian’s wrath.

Christian studied their entwined hands, surprised to find that he was not angry with them for their conduct. He was relieved that his brother seemed to have finally found happiness.

He stepped forward, and Marcus lifted his chin, ready to face whatever venom Christian might spew at him for ruining their family name and destroying his reputation.

Instead, Christian turned to Lady Northbridge and bowed low.

“My Lady, I can think of no one more worthy of happiness than you. To have experienced so much and come out the victor is a feat, indeed.” He glanced at his brother. “Though, youwillhave to put up with my brother for the rest of your days, which seems a hollow victory.”

Marcus’s shoulders relaxed as Lady Northbridge clung to his arm, giving Christian a grateful smile. “Thank you, Your Grace. I am sorry for any hardship this will cause you.”

Christian smiled. “I have been through worse, My Lady.” He glanced at Louise, meeting those crystal-blue eyes. “Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to have a word with my wife.”

CHAPTER 36

“Where are you taking me?” Louise demanded as Christian led her down endless corridors. “This is not even your house.”

“I am taking you where people cannot hear us,” he muttered darkly.

Louise worried her lip with her teeth as he chose a door to his right and pushed it open, before dragging her inside.

He closed the door and turned to face her, the dark determination on his face making her heart race. He had clearly woken up and thrown on any clothes he could find. His shirt was open, revealing a bit of his chest to her hungry eyes, and his hair was loose and falling about his face.

“Would you care to explain yourself?” he growled.

She raised an eyebrow. “Explain myself? For what?”

He advanced on her menacingly, his fists clenching and unclenching. “For leaving the house in the early hours of the morning to creep across Londonalonewithout so much as a note to explain your absence?” he thundered.

“And what would you have done if I had told you? This is my family—they are my responsibility.”

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