Page 64 of A Wallflower to Seduce the Duke

Sir Baker guffawed, “Well, at least you are generous with your winnings!”

The other gentlemen echoed the same sentiments, and much later, after several more rounds won, they stood up to adjourn to another more private room for the whiskey and cigars that Lord Caney had promised.

Gregory, still flush with his success with Emily and his winnings for the night, had relaxed and let his guard down when a ruckus at the doors called their attention.

“Your Grace, you cannot just barge in!” one of the staff blustered indignantly. “This is a respectable establishment—”

Gregory froze, and when he slowly turned around, he found the Duke of Gilleton striding in through the gambling tables, his cold, implacable features stamped with fury. Before he could say anything, the Duke had drawn his fist and punched Gregory squarely in the jaw.

And then, chaos erupted.

* * *

Anger coursed through his veins, along with a goodly amount of spirits. Otherwise, Daniel would have never thought of marching into Boodle’s and punching the lights out of Gregory Pratt.

No, it was certainly not in his nature, but there were certainly many others who would rejoice at the misfortune of the Viscount—many of them were young ladies that had previously been subjected to his manipulations.

And if Benedict had known of his plans, he would no doubt have joined in on the fray. The Earl of Hardy was hardly discreet in his dislike for his sister’s betrothed.

However, Daniel did not tell his friend of his intention to teach—or beat—a lesson into the hapless Viscount because he wanted the satisfaction all to himself.

That was for Emily, he thought to himself, standing over the fallen Viscount with a great deal of satisfaction. Still, he was not done.

He hauled Gregory Pratt by his collar and punched him a second time, sending the Viscount sprawling on one of the card tables, much to the consternation of the staff.

That one was for myself.

“Gentlemen, please!” the manager wailed, trying desperately to hold Daniel off. “Can we not take this outside?”

Daniel just regarded him coolly, and the poor manager choked on his words.

“Now, see here, Your Grace!” Sir Baker blustered, puffing up his chest in a comical display of dominance. It would have a much more significant effect if his own belly was not protruding way more than his own chest did. “You cannot just barge in like that and beat up people! Where is your sense of civility—”

Daniel aimed his glare at the old knight, cutting him right in the middle of his tirade. “Sir Baker,” he said in a soft, dangerous voice. “Your very presence offends me.”

Sir Baker gasped, backing off and stumbling over a chair in the process. It would have been a comical sight if it had not spurred the rest of the club’s patrons to vacate the premises immediately, leaving Daniel alone with the Viscount of Caney.

“What the hell, Gilleton!” the Viscount spat out, his lip bleeding from a cut or two. “What was that for?”

Daniel frowned at one of his knuckles. He must have caught the man’s tooth when he threw the last punch. A pity he did not managed to loosen it; Lord Caney would have looked better with a few teeth knocked off his smug face.

“Lord Caney,” he spoke calmly. “I heard of a saying from somewhere in the East that if you do not understand the reason for your punishment then you deserve another one.”

The Viscount gasped, his dark eyes widening in horror. “You have gonemad.”

“Maybe I have.” Daniel tilted his head and gazed at Gregory somberly. “Would you care to test out that theory?”

Daniel took one step forward, and Gregory Pratt scrambled back, kicking a chair and some fallen cards in the process. His face, which had earlier been smug and gloating, was now marked with fear.

Between the two of them, Daniel was a little shorter, but he exuded a terrifying aura that was almost suffocating. Rage infused his frame, and he had no qualms with punching the Viscount to within an inch of his life.

I would be doing the entire world a favor if I rendered this man incapacitated indefinitely, he thought to himself.

“You have made a grave error, Caney,” Daniel told him softly. “You should not have done what you did.”

“Well, she chose me!” the Viscount roared, finally finding the bravery he had misplaced a few minutes ago. He tried to throw a punch, and Daniel barely managed to dodge it.

A feeble attempt, Daniel decided,and that was the wrong answer, too.

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