Page 53 of Her Duke Next Door
The Duke had once said he and his daughter shared a love of cakes. Part of her wished to buy him a gift as an apology for leaving without warning that day. A more bitter, petty part of her wanted him to know how it felt to be left without a farewell.
Before she could take a step toward the bakery, a hand snagged her wrist and yanked her back. She yelped as a hand smothered her mouth, dragging her down the side of the bakery. Mary’s eyes went wide as she recognized the scent of the man immediately by the thick cigar smoke that clung to every crevice of his disgusting body.
Hugh.
“Did you think you would escape me so easily,Your Grace?” He sneered at her title as though he had zero respect for it. “I promised that you never would be able to, you ungrateful woman.” He tightened his grip on her mouth and she made a muffled cry behind his palm, kicking out as much as she could while he cornered her.
He had been watching them, she realized. For how long?
Just like his nephew, Mary thought bitterly but she could not ignore the deep tremors wracking her body.
“I am surprised you have not shared the same fate as the Duke’s late wife already,” Hugh spat. “It is what you deserve. You are truly ungrateful, Mary. I will always be here, always watching. You think the Duke and your countryside estate can keep you safe but the moment you are back in this city, you aremineto watch.”
He met her eyes and shoved her away. But she refused to give up this easily.
You are not a scared widow anymore, she told herself.You are a Duchess and it is about time you remind him of this.
“I am not yours, Lord Yore,” she told him, reducing him to a distant title.Pull back any knowledge of this wheedling man who tries to intimidate me. “I am nobody’s but my husband’s. I am a Duchess and you will do very well to remember that the next time we meet, although I do hope it is not ever. I do not want you to approach me again, Lord Yore. If you do you shall experience the consequences.”
Hugh only laughed, unfazed in his own ego and power. “I shall do as I wish. You are a Duchess but do not pretend that you are now above me.”
“Ah, but I am,” she reminded him. “And if you wish to meet with my husband to remind yourself then you shall.”
Hugh smirked. “And where is he now,Your Grace?” He said her title with disrespect. “Word around is that he has left once again. I suppose he has not changed for you?”
Before she could answer, Hugh reached out and snagged her upper arm. But as he went to pull her back, her other hand snapped out. She slapped him across his face and stepped back angrily.
“I will demand respect,” she told him. “Good bye, Lord Yore.”
As he recovered, yelling obsceneties at her, she strode away.
Mary made it to the fabric store to gather the two girls and herded them back to their carriage. She was halfway back to Livingston Castle when she realized she had not bought a cake for Dominique.
They returned in time for dinner and Mary ushered the children inside while she stood in the foyer, breathing in deeply, in and out, trying to steel herself before she saw Dominique. She was never good at hiding her emotions. She wore them on her sleeve.
“Mary.” Dominique’s voice echoed through the hall. She strode ahead to the dining room, nodding at the housekeeper. In the dining room, she saw that candles had been lit and Katie was showing off her new ribbon. Mary mustered a smile before sinking into her own chair opposite Dominique.
Around them, dinner was served but she felt Dominique’s eyes boring into her.
“You left without notice this morning,” he noted. “Did you have a nice trip?”
“Quite,” she answered. “I took the girls to visit my sister.”
“How was it?”
I told her I have fallen for you. “It was pleasant.”
He cocked his head at her. “Mary, you are pale. Are you all right?”
“Indeed,” she said before she picked up her spoon and began to eat her soup for something to distract herself with. Anything to stop him from gazing at her so intensely, as though he might figure out that Hugh had tampered with her day once again.
They all ate, with Katie and Eloise talking about their visit to London.
He did not know that Hugh had sent her a letter while the Duke had traveled last week, more threats, empty promises of harm that she had to trust were little more than threats.
“We had a lovely day!” Eloise chirped. “We brought back some apples for you, Your Grace.”
“Please, he is your papa now too! I heard him say that your mama ismymama so he isyourpapa,” Katie said, smiling smugly.
