Page 109 of Ravished By the Beastly Duke

William was at his wits’ end. He had been so determined to get to his wife and take her back home that he had forgotten that her sisters would not take kindly to his return.

“Ava, I know I have wronged Eveline,” he began.

“You certainly have,” Ava sneered.

“You not only wronged her, but you also hurt her terribly,” Stella added.

William took a deep breath as he considered the best way to convince them.

“I promise you, Ava. I will never hurt her again,” he promised.

Ava nodded. “I know you will never hurt her again.”

William was happy. Finally, he was beginning to get through to Eveline’s older sister.

“Because you shall never see her again,” Ava continued. “Now, leave this moment!” she ordered, pointing at the front door.

William was shaken by her words and the fire in her eyes. Her eyes were narrowed with anger, and it was obvious she disliked him at that moment.

“Ava… I…”

“Leave!” she shouted.

William knew there was no use trying to appeal to her when she was so upset. There was only one thing he could do.

“Can you at least give her this?” He held the bouquet out to Stella. “They are her favorite flowers.”

Stella shrank back from him as though he had just tried to infect her with a deadly disease.

“You think a bouquet of tulips would right your wrongs, don’t you?” Ava drawled.

“I could never be presumptuous enough to think that,” he replied. “I only wanted her to have it.”

“Eveline wants nothing from you. Now, leave!”

He turned on his heels and walked out the front door. As he stood outside, he watched Ava go to the butler.

“Do not let him in again!” she ordered the man, before walking back into the house.

William stared at the closed door, feeling defeated. His carriage was only some steps away, waiting to take him home.

The next course of action, of course, was for him to accept defeat, return to his estate, and hope that the heartfelt letters he would send his wife would convey his emotions and convince her to return to him.

However, he refused to do that. He had made a decision, and he was determined to stand by it.

He was at Notley Manor to take his wife back home, and it would take more than two angry sisters to make him give up.

“EVELINE!” he called at the top of his lungs.

Eveline was somewhere in Notley Manor, and no matter how much her sisters tried, he was determined to speak with her.

“I SHALL WAIT HERE UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SPEAK WITH ME!”

His voice echoed back.

He scanned the windows on the first floor, hoping to catch just a glimpse of his wife.

He saw the curtains move in one of the windows, and he knew then that his wife was there. However, he could not make out anyone, as it was too far.

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