Page 85 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“This is a lie.” She scrunched the letter into a ball and tossed it on the ground by his feet. “And I intend for everyone to know it. In fact, I will write my own letter, one that tells the truth.”

“Will you now?” He took a step toward her.

Once, Caroline might have shrunk back. Now, she stood up to Daniel and sneered. “I will. And what is more, there is nothing you can do about it.”

Caroline fixed her brother in a glare which he returned in kind. He was taller than her by quite a bit, and bigger physically too. If he wished, he could overpower her with ease; something he had done many times in the past. But Caroline wasn’t afraid. After living with Anthony, having stood up to him on many occasions, she almost laughed to see her brother try and intimidate her.

“This is your last chance, Caroline,” he said. “Apologize. Go inside. And I will forget this ever happened.”

“Or what?”

“Or what?” He laughed coldly. “Or this—” He stepped forward and snatched her arm. She cried out and tried to pull free, but he refused to let go. “I did not want it to come to this,” he snarled, spittle flying from between his teeth. “But you leave me no choice. If you will not listen to reason, then I will have to force you to heed my words.”

“Letmego!”

“No!”

“Let mego!” she cried out.

“Or what?”

“I suggest you listen to her,” a voice spoke from behind Caroline. It was not a raised voice. It was not angry. Yet it cut through her and her brother’s arguing like a hammer smashing into the side of a gong. “That is, if you know what is good for you.”

Daniel’s eyes turned wide as he looked over Caroline’s shoulder. “Your Grace!”

While her arm was still held by her brother, Caroline turned about, gasping at the sight of Anthony striding across the garden. Again, he did not look particularly angered. Nor did he hurry. But such was the presence of the man that it was as if he had his own gravitational pull, forcing attention on him fully.

“Anthony...” she gasped.

“Did you not hear her?” Anthony said, coming to a stop several feet back. “She asked you to let her go.”

“This... this does not concern you,” Daniel said bravely. “As far as I am aware, your marriage to my sister has ended! As she tells it.”

Anthony considered this. His eyes flicked to Caroline and behind them she saw something which made her heart leap through her throat. A smile. He fixed it on her, lips pressed together, but that smile in his eyes told her instantly that he was not angry with her as she might have thought. Not even a little bit.

“This is true,” Anthony said. “But you misunderstand me, boy. It is not your sister who I am worried for.” Then, a flicker of a smirk crossed his lips. “Your safety is my concern.”

“What?” Daniel barked. “My safety? What are you on?”

“Handling Her Grace like that is not such a smart idea,” he continued, speaking plainly. “Frankly, I am surprised she has put up with it for as long as she has.”

Caroline looked with confusion at Anthony. What was he doing here? Her first thought was that he had read the letter and it had infuriated him. That he was here to chastise her and her brother for daring to send it out. Not that he was here because he wanted to see her or make up, but to double down on what he had said before.

But again, Caroline found his eyes, and saw that smile in them. This time, it was paired with what looked like regret, a silent plea of an apology which told her the real reason he was here. It told her that she had been right all along.

“Let me go,” she turned back on Daniel. “I will not ask you again.”

He could not have looked more confused. “And if I refuse—argh!” Caroline did not hesitate. Rather, she acted on instinct, slapping her palm across her brother’s cheek with all the force she could muster. He released her instantly, stumbling back and clutching at his face. “You struck me!”

“Ididwarn you.”

Her brother saw red and lunged for her?—

“I don’t think so.” Moving quickly, Anthony stepped between them, his hand snatching out and grabbing Daniel by the arm before he had a chance to attack. Anthony was bigger than Daniel by quite some way, like a bear standing over a puppy, he barely struggled to hold Daniel’s arm back and then shove him away.

Daniel tripped up, not falling over, but stumbling to regain his balance. “How dare you!”

Anthony stood between Caroline and her brother. Calm. Collected. In total control. “The other night when you were in my home, I overreacted,” Anthony said. “For that, I apologize.”

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