Page 67 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
She had made sure that they were settled in the kitchen and then charged off in the direction of the training room. Fury had lent her speed.
But before she could enter the room, Tobias had taken charge, sending the children away and then rounding on the man. She could see the ripple of his muscles, hear the barely contained fury in his voice.
The fencing instructor clearly saw it too, as all the color drained from his face, and he took a hasty step back. “Your Grace, I think there has been a misunderstanding.”
Tobias took a step towards him, reminding Rowen of a wolf stalking its prey. “Clearly. I thought I was hiring an instructor for my children, not a violent thug with a penchant for sadism.”
“I am no such thing. You asked for a tutor, and I said I would not give her special treatment. I am a man of my word. But there is a natural order of things, and the girl is clearly defective. She is a perversion, a deg?—”
Tobias grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Consider yourself lucky that there are children in the house and that I have no wish to scare them.”
The instructor let out a gasp, clawing feebly at Tobias as his face turned deathly pale.
Rowen’s heart leapt. Anger and awe warred within her. She caught the thunderous look on Tobias’s face.
She had never seen him this angry, and yet, even though his voice was clipped with anger, she could see the tight control in his movements. He had grabbed the man in a way that would leave no marks. Though he had slammed him against the wall, he had only knocked the wind out of him.
Would I have such control?
A part of Rowen still wanted to tear Mr. Grey apart. To rip him limb from limb for daring to so much as think an unkind thing about her daughter.
“Men like you are all the same. You prey on those you think are weaker than you. You delight in causing pain because it makes you feel strong.” Tobias’s lip curled in disgust. “I served with men like you. Animals who craved nothing but violence. And do you know what I did to them?”
“What are you going to do to me?” Mr. Grey’s voice shook even as his eyes narrowed.
“Far less than you deserve.” Tobias’s voice sent a shiver down her spine.
“You cannot threaten me!” Mr. Grey squeaked.
Does he have a death wish?
Tobias let out a soft chuckle that sent more shivers down her spine. It was the coldest sound she had ever heard. Mr. Grey’s face, already deathly pale, turned ashen.
“This is not a threat; this is a promise,” Tobias hissed. “You are finished. Your career is over. You will never find work again. You will never so much as look at another child again. I will ruin you. Your reputation, your work, any hope you had of making something of yourself—that is all gone.”
“I will tell them the truth. I will tell everyone just what kind of deranged, fre?—”
Tobias slammed his fist against the wall, inches from the man’s head. “The fact that I am letting you leave with your legs intact is mercy enough as it is, but do not think to try my patience further.”
Rowen could see the muscles in his neck tense.
“You are only a man,” Mr. Grey spat.
“I am a duke.” Tobias shrugged, still holding him by his collar. “And I have connections that you cannot even dream of. There is nowhere you can go on this island that is beyond my reach.”
Tobias locked eyes with Mr. Grey, who was trembling now, his wide eyes darting from him to the door and back again, but there was no escape. Rowen swallowed.
“If you so much as think an unkind word about my family, I will tell the ton how you took advantage of my daughter and make it clear that you are not a man to be trusted around children.” Tobias grinned, and the sight of it set Rowen’s teeth on edge. “Your career being over will be the least of your worries.”
She knew what he was implying, and judging from Mr. Grey’s bulging eyes, it was clear he understood as well.
Such a thing will have him shunned from society at the very least.
“And once I have done that, I will find you, Mr. Grey, and I will make sure that when I do, we are in a place where no children are present.” Tobias flung the man towards the door. “Now, get out of my sight.”
Rowen stepped out of the way as Mr. Grey scurried past her. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest, and she held herself straight as she watched him leave.
“I thought you were with the children.” Tobias’s voice was so strained that she almost did not recognize it.
