Page 50 of The Duke's Hellion

“Idon’t know her? How can you say that?Youdon’t even know her.” Rudolph’s arms were frantically gesticulating to random spaces in the room, including the area in which Mimi remained standing as still as one of his garden statues that his dog liked to pee on.

Sam was too furious to notice her stillness, and far too beyond rational to see the analogy for what it fully meant.

He was well aware of one thing though. He recognized how little he knew Mimi, but he knew her enough to know she was his and no one was going to take her away from him. Up until this point in time, Rudolph had been a wily weasel, secretive about his effort to take Sam out to try and inherit the dukedom. But of course, just like other men in his family, his cousin was an expressive, impulsive idiot when it came to women. He thought he could take one look at Mimi and claim her? He had another thing coming.

This was beyond the pale. A man couldn’t come outright and claim another man’s wife.

“I know enough,” Sam finally ground out. “And she’s mine.”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but whatever reason you think she’s yours, you’re insane. I cannot, in any conscience, duel a madman.”

Sam growled before lunging at Rudolph. The two toppled over, with Sam pinning Rudolph to the ground. He grabbed his cousin’s lapels and was shaking the man.

Mimi was now at his side, “Sam, please stop. We’ll figure this out.”

“This idiot thinks he can make attempts on my life and get away with it. Fine.” He throttled Rudolph for good measure. He wanted to make sure his words were sinking in. “But if he thinks for one second he can come in here and take my wife from me—”

“Your wife?” Rudolph shouted.

“Yes, my wife.” Sam turned his full attention to his cousin. “If you think you can take her—”

A laugh belted out of Rudolph as he dropped his head to the ground. The laughter rumbled through his body, causing unwelcome vibrations to course through Sam’s body.

“What the bloody hell is so funny, you idiot?”

But Rudolph was laughing too hard to answer him. It took a moment for the shaking to cease, and only after Rudolph wiped the teary laughter from his eyes did he finally reply.

“I’m not interested in your wife,” he said with a solemn face.

“You said you loved her.”

“I do—”

“In my books love screams of interest—”

“I do love her.” Rudolph’s words were cut off by Sam’s growl. “Well, nother.” He canted his head in Mimi’s direction. “I love a woman, who shall remain unnamed for now.”

“For God’s sake man, why didn’t you say that to begin with?” Sam loosened his hold on his cousin, feeling a tidal wave of relief surge over him.

“I thought I did,” Rudolph said while rubbing his throat. “At the very least, I never said I lovedher. I don’t even know her.”

“My point precisely,” Sam grumbled as he stood up. “Get up.”

The two men straightened themselves and their attire, and as Sam turned to face Mimi, Rudolph mirrored his actions.

“This is my wife, Mimi.”

“Lovely to meet you.” Rudolph bowed as if he always acted the perfect gentleman. “And though it pains me to confirm it, I must confess, I do not love you.” The man smirked at his feeble attempt at a joke.

“Don’t be an arse,” Sam grunted at his cousin, pulling his wife into his side.

“Alas, I must admit I am in love. I believe this is a most singular experience in my life.” His eyes turned dreamy, and Sam realized that this was the first time he had ever seen his cousin in this way. It was hard to put it into words, but there was no malice in his eyes. No bitterness. Something was missing and had been replaced by love. So the man claimed. Sam was not entirely convinced.

“I’m happy for you and your unnamed woman.”

“Thank you.” Rudolph shone a large smile at him. “I wanted to share the good news with you before I go and start my new life.”

Sam merely acknowledged the man with a nod.

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