Page 102 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
“You want the truth?” he asked, his voice deep. “Fine. Nathan’s debts are bigger than I imagined. The money Bailey gave him is only the tip of the iceberg. If your brother’s dealings aren’t stopped, it will not be him paying the cost.”
Her breath clouded between them. “What do you mean?”
Magnus leaned into her ear and lowered his voice so only she could hear. “I mean, Duchess, that the kind of men he owes money to do not collect cash alone.”
Her heart sank to her stomach, his words echoing in her mind. She swallowed noisily, her throat going dry.
“Then we need to find him,” she whispered shakily.
“Iwill find him,” Magnus corrected, his tone firm. “You will stay here, where it’s safe.”
“And if I don’t want to be safe?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Magnus’s eyes darkened at that before something dangerous flickered in them. But it disappeared when he said, “Then you are a greater fool than I thought.”
The words stung instantly. For one moment, Lily wanted to reach out to him, to shake him angrily and accuse him of being so frustrating. But she couldn’t even lift a finger.
Although the same couldn’t be said for him. He was already stepping back, pulling on his gloves with finality.
“We’re done here,” he declared, turning toward the stables.
As he walked away, she stood there, watching him mount his horse before riding out through the gates.
“I will find him.”
She remembered his tone; it made it seem as though she were incapable. As though she had no part in the danger they were both in.
Despite the weather outside, the club was warm, the murmur of conversation floating over the clinking of glasses and smoke floating in the air.
Ironically, Magnus always found the place peaceful, familiar, and predictable.
But nothing in his life felt predictable now.
He spotted Edwin at a corner table as the man dealt cards to himself in idle practice.
“You look like hell,” Edwin remarked as soon as he noticed Magnus approaching.
Magnus slid into the chair opposite before responding, “Good to see you, too.” He gestured to the waiter. “Whiskey. Leave the bottle.”
Edwin raised an eyebrow. “Married life is already driving you to drink before luncheon?”
Magnus’s lips twitched into a humorless half-smile.
“She is… spirited.” He took a deep breath.
“That is one word for it,” Edwin said, before dropping the cards and leaning back in his chair. “I heard that Ronald Bailey is back.”
Magnus fell silent for a moment. He didn’t want to explain anything because saying it would also require him to be honest about how he had been treating his wife.
“That’s not even the main issue.” He took another deep breath. “She wants to involve herself in matters that could put her in danger. She thinks her brother’s mess is hers to fix.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Of course not.” Magnus’s gaze sharpened. “It’s mine now.I’ll fix it.”
Edwin paused, studying him for a long moment before picking up his cards.
