Page 82 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“Roland,” she whispered, dropping his mask to the floor.

“Did you miss me, darling?” Her former betrothed asked, pulling her closer. “I need something from you. And you are going to give it to me.”

“Get off of me!” She seethed, pushing at his chest. It was no use. His grip was much stronger than hers, and he pinned her to his body easily.

“I missed you,” he went on, ignoring her outburst. “You wouldn’t believe what that little harlot did to me overseas.”

“Whatever she did you deserved it,” Amelia shot back, still struggling against him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Roland replied, a sick amusement glittering in his eyes.

“All this time I thought you were a prude. So you see I was quite surprised when I arrived back in London and find you not only here, but a favored visitor to theDevil’s Masquerade.Menlovedwhen you came here, even when you gave them nothing but charm and conversation. When I saw that, I simply had to start talking. Let people know once and for all you weren’t as innocent as you acted.”

The pit in Amelia’s stomach worsened for many reasons. Him? It washimthat started the rumors? That had caused chaos in their lives? And now he was here, revealing himself to her and demanding what she had refused all those years go.

Still she lifted her chin, refusing to show her fear.

“I should thank you, Roland,” she replied icily. “The rumors you spread only served to bring my husband and I closer.”

“Oh, really?” He scoffed, “Where is he then?”

Amelia lost some of her bravery, realizing that she truly was alone. Even with her shouting, no one had come out of the rooms to check on the raucous. And since Dominic had no idea where she was…

It is not what you think,” she told him, her trembling tone betraying her. “I am not here to offer anyone anything.Especiallyyou. Now you are going to let me go. I am going to find my friend. And then I am going to leave.”

Roland’s blue eyes grew dark as a sneer formed on his thin lips.

“You mock me, woman?” He asked, giving her a shake that made her gasp with fear. “Every one can have you but me, is that it?”

“Myhusbandis the only one that can have me!” She shouted, “And he will destroy you if you do not let me go right now!”

Roland’s sneer deepened as his grip on her remained firm.

“He must not be much of a husband if he allows to you frequent places like this alone,” he replied, then tilted his head as he raised a brow.

“Or have you made him a cuckold as you so obviously made me?”

Fury sparked through Amelia’s veins at Roland’s words.

If you are going to square up to a man you better make your first hit good. It will probably be your only one.

Dominic’s words rang clear in Amelia’s mind, and as he taught her, she pulled the energy of her anger into one precise move, and swung with all her might.

It was vastly more difficult than her training, as Roland was holding most of her body captive against his own. But Amelia’s fist managed to find some momentum from her side, and her knuckles connected powerfully to the bottom of Roland’s chin. Pain screamed through her fist as bone connected with bone, but the shock of the hit was enough to jar Roland.

He stumbled back, letting go of her waist, and she immediately lunged away from him. His grip on her other wrist never broke though, and before she could get very far, she felt pain surge up her arm as he roughly yanked her back to him.

“Teasing whore,” he seethed through bloody lips, capturing her jaw with his other hand.

“I’m going to make you pay for that.”

“The hell she is,” a familiar voice came from behind, and as Amelia began to weep with relief, Dominic’s arm care around Roland’s neck, dragging him backward.

* * *

“Dominic!” He heard Amelia cry as he dragged the disgusting man from his wife. From around the corner came Tristan and Everett, who quickly worked to free Amelia from Roland’s grip.

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