Page 77 of Her Duke Next Door
Mary nodded. “I hope you are right.”
“In the meantime, spend time with your sister. Discuss… Whatever you ladies gossip about all day long. I shall still look with Alexander today just in case but otherwise, Mary, are you willing to go to this meeting? You shall never be truly alone. I shall even have Alexander escort you in the carriage.”
Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Who knew what awaited her at the Silver Vanity? For Katie, she would do anything to find out.
* * *
At eight o'clock, the street outside the lavish Silver Vanity was empty, save for one swinging lantern above the sign. Patrons milled around inside, bedecked in soft, feminine colors. Mary wasn’t sure where to go or who she was to be meeting.
But then the lantern swung, hit by something emerging from the shadows, and the tap of a cane in the dark alleyway beyond made her shiver. Alexander had escorted her in the carriage, and Dominique was inside the restaurant, waiting to emerge, but at that moment, Mary only peered into the darkness as thetap, tap, tapof a cane sounded in the evening.
“Well, well, you did show up alone.”
The voice skittered down her spine, terribly familiar. Part of her was not surprised but a larger part of her was determined that she could handle this. Even as Hugh’s shadow emerged, the tap of his cane echoed, she lifted her head.
“You do not scare me, Hugh,” she said. Her eyes strained to stay on him, rather than glance to the Silver Vanity, hoping Dominique would come out with the constables, as they planned.
Trust him, she told herself.Prove that what you have told him about trust and love is true. He has finally trusted you, now you must do the same.
“Oh, I am not here toscareyou,” he laughed. “I simply wanted you alone. That is all I have ever wanted, Mary. You. You burned my letters, rejected my advances, and ignored my proposal. Now you have met the consequences of your ignorance.”
“Hugh, do not play these games with me. You will not win.”
“Yet,Your Grace, I think I will. See, I am a respected gentleman of the Ton. You are simply a whore wearing a pretty title, given to you by a man who was shunned by London’s society. A man who was always guilty of murder, no matter what the constables said. Do you know who you share a home with, Mary? With whom you share your bed?”
“Your intimidation will not work on me.”
But then he was there, grasping her wrist, yanking her into the shadowed alleyway. He slammed her against the wall, and Mary gasped.
“Really?” he asked, laughing darkly. Her heart rate increased.Trust Dominique, she reminded herself.He will not let anything bad happen to you. “It looks as though it might. Tell me, what tastes better: the money he gives you, or the pleasure he enforces on you as his wife?”
He sneered at her.
Mary spat in his face. “He is more the man you couldeverhope to be. I did not marry him for money. And he does not force anything. He does not hurt me. It isyouwho has no respect for women, Hugh.”
“Ah, ah, ah,” he tutted. “Do not be stupid, Mary. Come with me quietly or you shall face the consequences.”
“I am only here to do as your letter requested. I have come alone, now, let me see Katie home and safe with her father.”
Hugh’s eyes glimmered. “And if I do, what do I get in return?”
“Nothing,” she said. “I have done as you asked. You had your chance to make any requests.”
He snarled, snagging thick, pudgy fingers into her hair and tugging. “You are a whore, nothing more, Mary. You disgrace your family and my nephew’s memory. But face the consequences, then. I shall show you exactly what you missed by not marrying me.” He pulled back as Mary’s eyes darted around. Where was Dominique?
Hugh let out a laugh. “Oh, no. Did you think your protective Duke would come to your rescue again? Do you not recall what happened to his first wife? That will be your blood spilled next, do not mistake him as someone who is gentle and kind. I already have heard the Ton talk about your injuries. But do not fear, Mary, you do not have to be scared of me. I can protect you far better than he can.”
“He was protecting me fromyou,” she spat.
But Hugh only let out a rough, angry noise, and then his mouth was on hers, forceful and wet, and Mary gagged.
“Stop right there!” A voice rang out from the mouth of the alleyway. “Let go of Her Grace or I shall shoot.”
Mary kicked Hugh off and fled before he could catch her once again. She stumbled, running toward the lights at the end of the alley until she barreled right into a broad, firm chest. Then Dominique’s arms were around her.
“I have got you,” he whispered against her cheek. “You are safe now, Mary. I have got you. I am right here.”
The constables swarmed around Hugh, who tried to run.
