Page 52 of My Darling Rogue
A laugh bubbled up in Celia’s throat, incredulity chasing away her panic.His valet? The man Robert referred to was at least seventy years of age. Far past the prime age to assist in a kidnapping.
When Celia choked on her giggle, her fear subsiding quickly in light of such absurdity, Robert harrumphed in her ear.
“This is most certainly no laughing matter, Celia.”
She bit his hand in response when it slipped from across her mouth.
“Owww!” Robert snatched his hand away, glaring at her in recrimination. “Whatever did you do that for?”
Celia took a huge gulp of air. Taking advantage of his shock, she jerked free of his hold. Bolting forward, she placed an overstuffed brocade upholstered chair between them as a barrier.
“You were suffocating me, you dolt.” She glared at him in the dimly lit room. “Just what the Devil do you think you are doing? Grabbing me like that in the corridor?” The demand was accompanied by the gesture of her hands settling on her hips.
“Rescuing you, of course. I’ve come to carry you away from the dangers of marrying beneath your station,” Robert replied with arrogant conviction. “To save you from being ostracized. Or worse, being made a laughingstock.”
“Do I appear in need of rescue?” Celia bit out. “And my future husband is a marquess. So, it’s you who should worry of being ostracized byhim.Rosenthorne will soon be capable of destroying a man with just a few simple words.” Her head tilted. “Rather than just by using his fists.”
Robert waved a hand in her direction. “He would never lift a hand against a nobleman. He wouldn’t dare. The bastard would swing from a noose if he tried.”
Celia’s head tilted, remembering the rumors she’d heard in the past of Gabriel’s aid to the Earl of Ravenswood. And then there were his own words of warning just days ago, threatening the life of any man she happened to show an interest in. Robert Harvey had no idea the danger he was currently in.
“You foolish man. Don’t you realize what will happen if he should discover us? He will most certainly kill you if he discovers us like this. And I can’t say I would blame him for it. You have no idea what he is capable of, although surely you’ve heard the same rumors as I.” Celia crossed her arms over her chest, giving Robert her sternest look. “Now, you will step aside from that door and allow me to go on my way. While I haven’t any idea how you managed sneaking into the earl’s home, you’d best pray neither he nor Gabriel catches you here.”
“I won’t have my plans of rescuing you disrupted, Celia. And I’ll not leave you behind to marry a monster,” Robert replied with exaggerated patience. “You will thank me for this one day, I promise you. When we are husband and wife, this will be nothing but a horrible memory.”
Celia stomped her foot. “You thickheaded imbecile. I don’t require rescue and I most certainly willnotmarry you! Now, open that door before I take matters into my own hands.”
“That’s precisely what I like about you, Celia.” Robert grinned. “That feistiness is one of your better qualities.”
“Open the door, Robert,” she demanded again, fists clenching into little balls. To think she enjoyed kissing this man before Gabriel laid claim to her. He seemed silly and inconsequential compared to the man she would soon marry. And his inability to appreciate the danger of this situation confirmed her suspicion that he was quite possibly simple-minded as well.
“You have no idea what is best for you, Celia. Your infatuation with that man has clouded your judgment and I—”
A thunderous roar sounded from the other side of the locked door. Celia winced, her heart pounding with recognition and a shiver of fear.
“Celia. Unlock this door at once.”
It was Gabriel. The unmistakable fury in his voice made her somewhat nauseous.
“I cannot, Lord Rosenthorne. The way is blocked,” she shakily replied. To Robert, she hissed, “Now, see what you’ve done? Move away from the door before you are struck with—”
Before she could complete the warning, the door splintered apart, flying open and sending shards of wood sailing through the air. Celia wasn’t sure if Gabriel kicked it open with his booted foot or simply pounded one of his massive shoulders into it, but the door now hung crooked on its hinges, the wood shredded and in pieces.
A chunk of the wood had struck Robert’s arm, ripping a hole in his coat and leaving a bloody gash above his elbow. He stared stupidly at the wound and turned to see Gabriel coming through the mangled door.
“Look what you’ve done, you beastly bastard,” the younger lord accused while picking a shard of wood out of his hair. “You’ve ruined a perfectly fine suit coat and…”
The words trailed off as Gabriel strode quickly toward him. A huge hand clasped around Robert’s throat, strangling anything else he might have said.
Celia stared at her fiancé. A roiling thunderstorm of anger, possessiveness, and blood lust surrounded him as he held Robert aloft until the man’s toes barely grazed the floor.
“You fucking dared touch what is mine, Harvey?” Gabriel’s melodic voice came out in a low, guttural snarl. Then, as if she were an afterthought, he directed his next question at Celia. “Are you harmed, Celia? Did he hurt you in any way? Because if he did, I will kill him right here. This very second. And I will enjoy making him suffer.”
Gabriel obviously tightened his grip on Robert’s throat because the man began wheezing in the most horrible way. Celia shook herself from her stupor. If she didn’t do something, it was possible Lord Robert Harvey might die right before her eyes.
Rushing forward, she clutched Gabriel’s bicep. It was like grabbing a hunk of solid iron.
“I am unharmed. Please, Gabriel. Please let him go. You are choking him.”
