Page 66 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
Another tear rolled down Georgie’s cheek, and Tobias gently wiped it away. He could feel the anger building inside of him.
“Has he done this to you before? Why has Miss Harris not intervened?” He kept his voice soft.
What is the point of a chaperone?
“Usually, he just yells. When Miss Harris asked about it… He… He does not like it. This is the first time he was so…” Alistair stammered. “He said that this is how everyone needs to learn.”
“Did he do this to you, too?” Tobias looked at Alistair’s arms.
“No.” Alistair swallowed. “He only punishes Georgie, even when I am the one who makes mistakes.”
“I did not want you to think I was too weak to learn,” Georgie whimpered.
“I would never think that.” Tobias gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “And if anyone, no matter who they are, ever treats either of you like this, you must promise to tell me at once.”
“Yes.” Alistair nodded.
Georgie leaned against her twin. “I promise.”
“Good.” Tobias swallowed past the knot of rage in his throat. “Now, I think it’s best if we end your lessons for the day. I need to deal with Mr. Grey.” He turned to the governess. “Miss Harris, take the children to the Duchess.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Miss Harris moved to the twins and ushered them out of the room.
Tobias watched them go, listening for the sound of their retreating footsteps. He sensed Mr. Grey behind him and curled his hands into fists.
As soon as he was certain they were out of earshot, he asked, “Do you enjoy hurting children, Mr. Grey?”
“Your Grace?” Mr. Grey sounded confused.
Tobias did not turn around, not yet. He took a steadying breath, keeping his voice light, even as a wave of fury crashed over him. His heart beat slow and steady, reminding him of the march of soldiers on a battlefield.
“I asked if you enjoyed hurting children.” His voice was colder than a midwinter frost.
“I was only doing what you asked, Your Grace,” Mr. Grey replied. “I am no monster.”
Tobias turned slowly to face the man and let out a mirthless laugh. It sounded inhuman to his own ears, and he saw the fencing instructor recoil.
“Are you simple, Mr. Grey?” He clasped his hands behind his back, tensing his muscles as he did so.
“I… What?” Mr. Grey took a step back. “Why would you ask that?”
“You claimed to have only done as I asked, which we both know is not true. I never asked you to be cruel to Lady Georgie. Simply to treat her as any other student, and clearly you have not done that.” Tobias continued his slow advance, his hands still clasped behind his back even as his fingers twitched. “For you to attempt to feed me such a lie, I can only conclude one of two things. Either you think I am a fool—in which case you are very stupid—or you think I am a monster like you.”
Mr. Grey swallowed, his eyes darting to the door and back to Tobias. “I… No. Your Grace…”
Tobias’s voice cracked out like a whip. “Does it make you feel powerful to hurt those who cannot fight back? Does it make you feel like a man?”
Their eyes met, and Tobias let his lips curl into a smile. It was not a pleasant thing. It was the kind of smile that could curdle blood. The kind of smile that had sent grown men running.
It was a smile that promised violence.
He took a step towards the man. “You will not find me such easy prey.”
Nineteen
“You will not find me such easy prey.” The coldness in Tobias’s voice rooted Rowen to the spot.
She stood in the corridor outside the training room. As soon as she had seen the marks on Georgie’s arms, she had thought of nothing other than wringing the neck of the man who had done this to her daughter.
