Page 90 of A Duchess to Unravel
“It is Your Grace, actually,” Alistair corrected him. I am Alistair Harleigh, Duke of Caldermere.”
The man bowed respectfully, keeping the kerchief tucked tight to his face.
“And, yes. You can help me,” Alistair stated, taking a calm step toward him, “I am looking for a nobleman by the name of Boyle. I believe he has committed a heinous crime.”
The man’s eyes grew large in apparent surprise.
“Oh, dear,” he replied, “A heinous crime you say?”
Alistair nodded, taking another step closer.
“My wife was kidnapped last night. My staff beaten. One even shot.”
Alistair could have sworn he saw the man’s lips twitch toward a smile, something wicked twinkled in his dull brown eyes.
“Heaven’s thatisheinous,” the man replied. “Well, I am afraid I have seen nothing of that sort here,Your Grace.”
The apparent venom that slipped into the man’s voice upon stating Alistair’s title was not missed, and Alistair stepped to the left, beginning a slow circle.
“What happened to your face?” He asked, keeping his tone steady as he took another step.
The man mimicked his movements, keeping his eyes on Alistair at all times.
“This place is falling down around me, Your Grace. I was moving some equipment when a chain swung down,” the man replied.
Alistair grunted, knowing he was lying.
“So you have not seen anything? I did not even describe my wife,” Alistair went on, slowly curling his hands into fists as he kept the man moving in a circle, “Beautiful woman. Tall. Thin. Thick, brown curls. Brilliant blue eyes. A scar beneath her left eye. A spitfire of a woman. A fighter.”
“I have not seen her or any woman,” the man said hastily, a bite in his tone. “Though she sounds like quite the lady. No wonder you want her back.”
“Indeed, I do” Alistair agreed, growing closer with every step. “And I will stop at nothing to get her back.”
Challenge glittered in the man’s eyes, and he drew the kerchief from his face. Alistair noted the dried blood at his nostrils, the swollen bottom lip that looked as if it had a chunk missing. Offensive bruises. Alistair stopped moving, easing into his knees.
“Are you sure it was a chain that did that to your face?” Alistair asked. “I have been in a fight or two myself, and it looks like someone did that to you.”
“Sounds as if you are in love, Your Grace,” the man said, more venom coating his voice as he ignored Alistair’s question. “It must hurt quite a lot to have lost her to someone else.”
Alistair grit his teeth, tempering his rage at the goad.
“You would know, would you not?” he asked.
Anger flashed in the man’s eyes, but before he could say a word, a loud thumping sound came from the end of the darkened hall.
“Alistair!” Theo’s voice echoed “Alistair is that you?!”
The man turned with a snarl toward the noise, and Alistair made his move. His fist sailed toward the man’s turned face, making contact directly with his cheek just as he moved to turn back toward Alistair.
“Theo!” Alistair roared as the man stumbled. He then raised his fists, prepared to knock the kidnapper out cold, but the man suddenly lunged forward, headfirst, and rammed himself into Alistair’s midsection.
Alistair fell onto his back with a grunt, but as the man attempted to climb atop him, he kicked at him and sent him flying backwards. On his feet in an instant, Alistair barreled toward the staggering man and was barely able to stop himself as the assailant pulled out a knife aimed directly at Alistair’s stomach.
“You took her from me,” the man snarled, holding the knife out as the two men once more began to circle one another. “Her brother kept her from me. The lot of you don’t deserve her.”
“Maybe not,” Alistair said through panting breaths, looking for his next move, “but you certainly don’t either.”
The man let out a feral snarl as he lunged with the knife, so fast that Alistair felt the slice of his blade against his side as he sidestepped. He seethed in pain as he clasped both hands together then drove them down to the man’s back, making William crumble to his knees. The knife fell with a sharp clatter, and Alistair was quick to kick it away.
