Page 65 of Love Unraveled
The duke stomped toward him, and Gaston braced himself. But the duke turned and walked away, his arm jutting out abruptly and knocking a vase of flowers to the floor. The glass remained intact, landing on the thick woolen carpet. The roses lay limply as the water bled around them.
“Not quite the dramatic gesture you intended.” Gaston snorted. He’d not meant to, but it escaped him nonetheless and continued into a full-blown guffaw.
The duke swung around, fury making his otherwise acceptable face look much like the dog’s his behavior reflected—which only served to give Gaston’s laughter momentum. He knew he should stop, but once started, he found he could not. His newfound euphoria mixed with his disdain for this man. The absurdity that after everything he’d been through to get to this point, he was supposed to stand here politely while the duke demonstrated his discontent. It was too much. He wiped at his eyes, spotted the purple tones developing in the duke’s cheeks, and doubled over in a fresh bout of laughter.
“I will see you banned from society,” the duke said, waving a finger at Gaston.
“And I will ensure everyone knows you chased my skirts for money.”
Gaston’s laughter abruptly died, and he straightened up. Sophie stood in the doorway, resplendent in an emerald silk.Mon bijou. His jewel, yes, but she was rigid, severe—a diamond that could cut glass with her stare.
The duke laughed disdainfully. “Welcome to the real world, Countess. If you believe anyone will be remotely interested in that little tidbit, you are more of a simpleton than I assumed.”
Gaston growled, ready to fly at the duke, but Sophie barked his name and held up her palm. She did not take her eyes off the duke. “Think of me what you wish. Your opinion is of no value to me. Nor are you.”
“I will see you crawl.”
“And I will see you humiliated.”
Gaston’s head swung between the two. The duke positively apoplectic in color and Sophie calm and regal.
“I know your truths, Your Grace,” she said. “I truly considered marrying you, so I had you investigated. Credit so endless even my money might not bail you out.” Sophie tsk-tsked at him, and Gaston bit back a renewed laugh. “Using an alias to gamble.” She shook her head slowly. “And embezzlement? Whatever will the people who lost money in your little scheme think?”
She tilted her head and arched an eyebrow, and Gaston wanted to run to her and swing her around. He had thought she’d been tempted by the duke, but she had a clearer head than he’d ever had.
“I will see you ruined,” the duke said and took a step toward her.
“Try,” Sophia said, not looking away.
Gaston stopped the duke in his path. They were of the same height, and they glared into each other’s eyes. “And you. I will see you returned to the gutters of Paris,” the duke said quietly.
Gaston grabbed the man by his cravat and twisted it so it tightened. His already purple face darkened to a plum as Gaston raised him to his toes. “Try,” he said, echoing Sophie’s challenge.
“Raimondo!”
Gaston heard the stampede that was Raimondo before the duke was yanked from his grasp. Raimondo held the duke by the scruff of his neck and walked him out of the library. Seconds later, they heard the slamming of the door.
“Was all you said true?” he asked.
“I only recently received a full accounting.”
Gaston held open his arms, and Sophie strode to him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. He was not sure if it was his heart thumping between them or hers. It did not matter. Like their hearts, they were in perfect accord. He held her until her trembling subsided, and she looked at him.
“Nous sommes un maintenant,” she whispered.
“Oui, mon bijou.We are one.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Thy friendship makes us fresh.
—Shakespeare,Henry VI
“Sì,it istrue. There will be gossip.” Sophia repeated Gaston’s earlier words. She had considered canceling Elizabeth and Catherine’s visit but decided she would like them to hear about Gaston directly from her.
“So just like that, you decide to offer Monsieur Durand your guest room?” Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. “There must be more for you to risk your reputation.”
“My reputation?” Sophia laughed. “Bella, you have known me for years. What is this reputation you refer to?”
