Page 77 of A Duke But No Gentleman
“Do you plan on tossing it in my face?”He sneered.“Strive for something original.The last chit I bribed into my bed with that necklace threw it at me when I told her that I had grown tired of her.”
“You mean—” The tears that filled her hurt gaze left him unmoved.Her lips trembled.“Do you feel anything for me, Cason?”
“Only that you were a means to an end, my dear lady,” he said carelessly.“Dallying with you relieved the boredom, and for an hour or two, I even entertained the notion of marrying you.I could do worse and with the proper training you would make an adequate wife.”He shook his head.“Then I came to my senses and realized that I could do better.Keep the necklace or leave it.I no longer care.”
He turned his back on her.
It was the final straw.Lady Charlotte screamed and charged Norgrave.There was mild surprise on his face, when he pivoted and she raked her fingernails across his face.He cried out in pain as part of the scab on his cheek was ripped away.Blood coursed down his cheek.
“You bloody bitch!”he roared.Norgrave backhanded her in retaliation.The blow sent the lady crashing into the dressing table.The top of her head cracked the small rectangular mirror.
“Did you honestly convince yourself that you were worthy of a man like me?”he shouted at her.
Lady Charlotte glared at him as she straightened.Her cheek was red from his blow.She tore the necklace from her throat and threw it at him.“I hate you… I hate you… I hate you!”She said the words over and over as she struck his shoulders, face, and chest with her fists.
Norgrave roughly grabbed her, and they fell to the rug.He landed on top, and quickly gained the advantage because he had no qualms about using his strength.To shut her up, he slapped her across the face.By the fourth slap, he was fully aroused and the lady was whimpering.
“Your spirit is astoundingly inspiring, Lady Charlotte,” he said, rolling her onto her stomach and pulling her up so she was on her hands and knees.She tried to crawl away, but he held her in place.Norgrave spat into his hand and grabbed his cock.He pushed the head into the cleft of her buttocks.“Perhaps I am not quite done with you, after all.”
All of the servants halted at the sound of a woman’s screams.It was not an unfamiliar sound in this household, but everyone knew their master had been amusing himself with a lady of quality.She was young and her obvious distress caused several of the footmen to take a courageous step toward the stairs.
“See to your duties or face getting sacked without references,” the butler curtly said.He glared at all of them until they wandered off.
Alone, Starling cast his concerned gaze at the empty stairs, and shook his head in dismay.He hoped the lady’s screams could not be heard from the street.Lord Norgrave would be furious if the watch knocked on the front door.
If anyone made inquiries, he would handle them.He always did.Over the years, he had become quite proficient at cleaning up his lordship’s messes.
***
Tristan waited at the bottom of the staircase for his soon-to-be-bride.After standing in line for several hours beside Lord and Lady Ludsthorpe as they greeted guests and well-wishers, Imogene had slipped away for a few minutes of privacy.His uncle had teased that Tristan should expect to spend the rest of his life waiting for the females in his life, but he did not mind as long as Imogene eventually made her way back to him.
Everyone was waiting for them to enter the ballroom.At the appropriate time, the Duke of Trevett would announce to family and friends Imogene and Tristan’s betrothal.He had already given her a ring, but he had his grandmother’s ring tucked away in his waistcoat pocket.It was a yellow gold ring with seven rose-cut diamonds, the largest stone in the center with two medium-sized diamonds on either side and the smallest stones nestled above and below the row.The ring would initially be loose on her slender finger, but she would be grateful for the ill fit once their child rounded her figure.
And he was convinced she was pregnant.
The knowledge made his cock twitch, which was embarrassing when they had a ballroom filled with people waiting for them.Besides, the damn thing should be sated.He and Imogene had spent the entire afternoon in his bed, and when he was not making love to her, he had taken his time exploring her body.He noted her breasts were slightly fuller and more sensitive to his caresses.There was a glow to her skin and her appetite for all manner of things had increased.Not that Tristan was complaining.He loved the subtle changes, and he looked forward to discovering new ones.
Tristan could not wait until he could place the palm of his hands against her round stomach and feel his son shift within Imogene’s womb.And this child was his.His instincts were never wrong.This child and Imogene were his family, and he vowed to protect them with his life if necessary.
As for Norgrave, he could go to hell.He and his manipulative lies would never touch Imogene again.
The front door opened.Tristan’s expression brightened at the sight his friend Lord Jasper.
The earl sent him an apologetic look as he handed his hat and walking stick to the footman.“I know I am late.Have I missed the big announcement?”
“It was a near thing, but you have arrived just in time.It is good of you to come.”Tristan and the earl embraced.“What the devil happened?Lame horse?”
“Nothing like that.I was delayed at the club, and you would not believe the juicy bit of gossip I have just heard,” he said, his face flushed as if he had run the entire distance.
“What has happened?”
“I have news about a certain gentleman.”Jasper’s brown eyes gleamed with excitement.“As far as I am concerned, come morning it will most likely bury the wonderful news of your upcoming nuptials to Lady Imogene, but it cannot be helped.Not when the calamity that has befallen him is very much deserved.”
Tristan’s expression became shuttered.It was easy to deduce the gentleman was Norgrave.If someone had finally put a bullet or sword in the scoundrel, he would offer a toast to the assassin.
“Is he dead?”
The earl laughed.“No, but I am certain he wishes he was.”He stepped closer so they could not be overheard.“There was a time when you called this gentleman your friend.”
