Page 101 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
Thomas made a noncommittal sound and shrugged his shoulders.
“Actually,” Thomas said, as though just thinking of the idea. “He’s here today. We often do business together and so you’re sure to meet him, once we start working properly together. Shall I call him in?”
“Please do,” the Earl said, looking almost excited. “I’d be interested to know if I have met the fellow, or even seen him around Salsbury Manor.”
“Oh, I’m sure you have,” Thomas said as he reached for the bell pull at his side.
The door opened almost immediately, as Thomas knew it would. Luke had been just outside the room, listening in.
He strode in, dressed in one of Thomas’ most finely tailored suits. It fit—just—although Luke’s muscles bulged tightly against the fabric.
The Earl smiled for a moment, entirely unaware. Not surprising, really, given that he only ever saw the status and never the man. It was when Luke saidGood afternoonthat the Earl did a double take, narrowing his eyes as he looked closely at him.
“You know, I do think I recognize you,” he said, without even uttering a greeting.
“Do you?” Thomas asked, a false note of surprise in his tone. “This is, as I said, my brother, Mr. Luke Jones.”
Thomas stood from his seat and went to stand next to Luke, tall and proud and—admittedly—a little bit smug.
The Earl mouthed the name before it settled into his mind.Luke Jones.
“Luke Jones?” He leaped from his seat, his face red with anger, and he surged forward, only to be grabbed from behind by a servant. “It’s you,” he screamed, spittle flying from his mouth. “You’re the rascal who—”
“My brother, as I said.”
“Why, you pair of deceiving, disgusting, low-born rapscallions.”
“Goodness,” the Duke said, chuckling. “That’s quite the insult, coming from a man such as yourself.”
The Earl tried to pull himself from his binds, but another servant rushed up to help him, all of them having been previously briefed on what was to happen. And Thomas had no doubt that they would enjoy the task, after listening to the way the Earl spoke of servants.
“Let go of me,” the Earl snarled, the two male servants had him held tight, one at each arm.
“Did you get all that?” Thomas called to the open doorway.
“Who are you talking to, you scoundrel?” the Earl snapped, the muscles in his neck standing taut as he strained to move.
“He’s talking to me, Lord Belmont,” the Constable said as he strode through the door, his thumbs hooked around the waistband on his trousers. “And yes, thank you, Lord Denninson. I heard every word.”
“It’s lies,” the Earl snapped, “all of it.”
With a final, guttural scream, he launched himself forward. His arms had slipped out from his waistcoat and he stumbled forward, suddenly free. He glanced back at the two servants, who were left holding only the waistcoat and looking at each other confused, and then he pounced.
Luke fell to the ground with a thud, the raging Earl on top of him, a knee on either side. Luke looked up, alarmed, but he had his fists in the air, ready to fight.
“Get that crook off my brother,” Thomas roared, gesturing wildly at the Constable, who in turn nodded to the doorway and in streamed his men.
They pulled the Earl away, dragging him half-standing, half-lying, across the carpet and throwing him against the couch. Three stood around him, looming over his prostrate body and glaring down at him.
Thomas helped Luke to his feet. Luke brushed himself down, half-laughing in shock.
“I knew he wouldn’t be happy,” Luke said. “But I did not expect quite that reaction.”
“Quite entertaining, wasn’t it?” the Duke asked, raising an eyebrow. Luke chuckled.
“Are you all right?” Thomas asked.
“Yes,” Luke said, waving a hand, “and even better now that we’ve got him.”
The Earl snorted with laughter behind the row of guards.
“You may think you’ve won, boy, but Salsbury will never believe you. You’ve always been a mere servant to him, and you always will be.”
Luke walked up to the guards and peered over their shoulders, down at the Earl of Belmont, disheveled and on the floor. He grinned down at him.
“He won’t need to believe me,My Lord,” Luke said.
The Earl opened his mouth to reply but before he could, another man strode proudly into the room.
“I won’t need to believe him because I heard it all for myself,” the Duke of Salsbury growled. “Now take him away! See that he is punished for the theft of my antique letter opener, and for the attempted murder of my daughter!”
