Page 67 of Daring the Forbidden Earl
“I said, do not speak!” Mark bellowed.
Hugh’s expression hardened. “I was forbidden from having a family because of your father, and while he might not be around anymore, you are. And you’ll do the right thing, to make amends for the appalling life I had to lead, while you were allowed to be happy, never wanting for anything.”
Out of nowhere, a pistol shot cracked, bringing the conversation to a sharp ending.
For a moment, Mark thought he was the one who had pulled the trigger, but as he looked at his pistol, his finger was nowhere near. Confused, his head snapped up as averyfamiliar figure strode out into the warehouse clearing.
Chapter Forty
Is he hit? Did Mark fire?
Johanna slowly eked open her eyelids, having squeezed them shut instinctively when the pistol shot had erupted through the tense atmosphere. In truth, she had expected to find her captor bleeding, but he appeared unscathed. Nor did he have a pistol in his hand, so it could not have been Hugh who had fired.
Her head twisted to look at Mark, but he had not moved, and did not seem injured either. If it had not been for the bindings that held her wrists together, and the threat of tumbling over if she tried to stand, she would have run to him and thrown her arms around him. For he had come for her, as no one had ever done before.
Please, let this be over soon. If it is money that this man wants, then I shall give him everything that Peter left to me.
In truth, she had not yet had time to comb through everything that had been said. Nor did she know which party to believe. Although, despite herself, much of what Hugh had illuminated bore a keen resemblance to the Peter that she had known when she was married to him.
It would certainly explain why he never had any interest in me. Our marriage was merely a façade, I suppose, to hide the fact that he loved another.
At that moment, she saw the newcomer step into the fray, wielding a pistol that smoked faintly.
“Lord Dresday—why are you here?” Hugh snapped, his demeanor switching from victorious to suspicions in the span of a few seconds. “I thought I’d made my feelings toward you abundantly clear.”
Lord Dresday stowed away the used pistol and removed another from behind his back. “You did, but you are still under contract with me. As such, you cannot simply walk away from our agreement because you do not like your orders.” He squared his shoulders and cast a wry glance at Mark. “I must say, I did not expect you to be so popular today, Hugh, though I suppose this is fortuitous. I can deal with the two of you at once.”
“I won’t do it,” Hugh replied, though Johanna did not know what they were referring to. “I’ve worked too hard, and given too much, to just throw away my reputation for the sake ofyourwealth.”
Lord Dresday shifted the barrel of his fresh pistol between Mark and Lizzie. “You will do as you are told, or you will suffer the consequences.” He smiled drily. “But who shall it be, Hugh? Who do you care for more—your betrothed, or your brother? I ought to thank you for being so candid. I had no idea you had such respectable ties in society.”
Hugh hurried toward Lizzie, and swiftly pulled her behind him, using himself as a human shield to protect her. Meanwhile, a stone of dread sank in Johanna’s stomach, for if Hugh had chosen to save Lizzie, then who was left to protect Mark? She rocked forward, trying to drive herself up onto her feet, but her legs had gone numb. Even if she could stand, she knew her knees would simply give way.
“Or perhaps I should use this as a different opportunity,” Lord Dresday continued, turning the barrel of the pistol toward Johanna. “This is your paramour, I suppose. Lady Clevedon or, rather, Mrs. Carlton.” His lip curled in a sneer. “Tell me, Lord Sinclair, would you marry my willful wretch of a daughter in order to save the woman you love? It would be rather fitting; do you not think? You would suffer the same fate as your mother, and maybe that would serve as justice for the sad life Hugh endured.”
Evidently, Lord Dresday had been listening for quite some time before making his dramatic entrance. And now, he had plenty of ammunition to use against both Hugh and Mark.
But he only has one pistol shot left. It will take him much too long to load it again.
As such, the question was,whowould Lord Dresday use it upon? Which opportunity did he want to seize, more than the other? Or was he merely bluffing, in the hopes it would gain him what he wanted?
“You cannot manipulate me, Lord Dresday. I thought you would have come to realize that by now.” Mark turned the barrel of his own pistol toward the Baron. “If you so much as threaten to harm my beloved again, I will pull this trigger and you will achieve nothing but a cold grave.”
Lord Dresday scoffed. “I have heard of your prior endeavors in the art of dueling, Lord Sinclair. You would be more likely to hit your beloved, by accident, than succeed in wounding me.”
“Don’t seek to ensnare my brother in your misdeeds, you snake.” Hugh kept Lizzie behind him. The poor girl cowered against her love’s spine, clinging to the back of his shirt in terror. No doubt she feared for the safety of their unborn child far more than her own life, and it broke Johanna’s heart to see such a thing.
“Brother?” Lord Dresday laughed. “He does not want you. He thinks you are a liar.”
Hugh narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care if he believes me, or if he desires to have me as a brother. He is my blood, and you won’t harm him. You won’t harm anyone.” He took a small step away from Lizzie. “I will grant you one warning—leave this warehouse, and don’t attempt to pursue me or my brother again, and you’ll live.”
“I gave you your glory!” Lord Dresday snarled. “You were nothing when you came to me. I have crafted a wondrous name for you, and you would seek to betray me.”
“I will not throw a fight for you and your acquaintances!” Hugh shot back.
Finally, Johanna understood. Nora had spoken of such cheating in boxing matches, and it seemed Lord Dresday had asked just that of his best prizefighter. By the looks of it, that request had not turned out in the Baron’s favor.
“Then what use are you?” Lord Dresday took aim at Hugh. “I am tired of disobedience. I will not tolerate it from my daughter, and I certainly will not tolerate it from a bastard like you.”
