Page 86 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Who- Wha- Do you meanthisworm?” the duke let out with a scoff. “Well, raising his cane against you is certainly an interesting way to show it.”

The duke’s foot must have increased its pressure once more because the other man squirmed and grasped at the heavy weight that bore down on him. When this proved unsuccessful, he instead began to claw for his cane.

“Isthathow you would have treated her once she became yours?” the duke roared, using his other foot to hook the cane and kick it further away. “And given the ease with which you were about to commit such an unspeakable act, I’m certain this isn’t the first time you’ve hit a woman, is it?Is it?”

The earl’s face looked up in fear, his silence betraying that the duke’s assumption had been correct.

“I thought so, you bastard...” snarled His Grace, his fists clenching at his sides.

Unsure of what else to do, Penelope wrapped her arms around the duke, holding him tight as she begged for him to calm down. Her shaking frame against his, the only word she could muster through her sobs was: “Please...”—a prayer she helplessly repeated as she pressed her tear-stained cheek flush against his sturdy back.

An eternity seemed to pass between one heartbeat and the next. But when it had finally lapsed, she could feel the duke gradually slacken in her grip, giving her the courage to open her eyes once again.

The next thing she knew, the duke was wrapping strong arms around her, steadying her because she was still clinging to him as he took a step backward, finally releasing the man he had pinned below.

“Get out,” His Grace coldly commanded. “This is the last time you have the privilege of being in Lady Penelope’s presence. If you dare approach her or her mother again...” his eyes momentarily drifted to Penelope before resuming, “...well, I pray you never have to find out.”

The older man said nothing in response, focusing his efforts instead on scrambling to his feet as best as he could, grabbing his cane, and then hobbling towards the coach.

Without meaning to, Penelope held her breath until the coach turned the corner and wasfinallyout of sight. When she finally exhaled, both her breath and whatever strength she had left seemed to forsake her as she fell to her knees, a hand clutching her chest to still her throbbing heart.

“Are you all right?” the duke gasped, sinking to the ground with her as frantic questions poured out of him. “Was I too late? Did he hit yo-”

“N-No, Your Grace,” she replied, her breath hitching in her throat at the sensation of his hand gently cradling her face, a stark contrast to the ruthless fury he had displayed earlier.

“Thank Providence,” he exhaled, his head falling backward in relief.

Penelope missed the warmth of his hand the moment it fell away from her face. But the warmth soon reappeared, this time when his hand squeezed hers.

She eyed their interlocked fingers in curiosity before raising her eyes to meet his once more. His blue eyes screamed at her, but seemingly in a language that she was unfamiliar with.

“You can't keep doing this to me...” he choked out, his voice painfully hoarse.

Penelope opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but the question lodged in her throat as her world suddenly went black.

CHAPTER29

Penelope gradually became aware of the sounds of quiet sobbing.

She screwed her eyes tighter before slowly opening them.

“M-Mother?” she called out weakly.

“Oh, my poor darling!” the older woman sobbed, practically jumping up from her chair to kiss Penelope’s forehead and temple. “I’m so, so sorry... so sorry,” she continued to babble.

Her mother’s sobs elicited a lump in Penelope’s already painfully dry throat.

“D-Don’t apologize, Mother, please...” Penelope lifted a weak hand to brush away the stray locks on her face. “None of this is your fault.”

The older woman didn’t reply, only reaching for a nearby glass of water as she made a gesture with her free hand. “Are you strong enough to sit up, my darling?”

“Yes, Mother.” Penelope shuffled herself carefully, but quickly—eager to prove that there was nothing for her to worry about.

After gulping down her water, Mother immediately took the glass out of her hands and replaced it with a bowl of soup, “Eat as much as you can stomach, darling. You need to replenish your strength.”

Mother closely eyed each of Penelope’s movements, her pupils following the spoon as it dipped into the soup and was brought to her lips.

Eventually, Mother’s demeanor began to relax, and Penelope decided it was finally safe to ask, “What happened?”

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