Page 2 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
“I don’t think you should be so proud, not when your father owes every gambling hall in the city a great deal of money,” he sneered at her, clearly having taken offense at her reproach.
One of the men chimed in from behind their boss, “Yeah, at least we do honorable work. Your father spends his nights gambling away his fortune. You might want to ask him if you still have a dowry, Princess.”
“Papa?” Aurelia frowned in confusion as her father suddenly tensed up.
A moment of loaded silence filled the air before the leader rolled his eyes. “We don’t have time for this. You can have your little family moment once we have collected our debts. Stay if you must but keep out of our way.”
He placed a hand on Aurelia’s shoulder and pushed her back against the wall, causing her to stumble before she regained her footing.
Her eyes filled with tears of frustration as the man turned his back on her and pointed his knife at her father, advancing on him like a predator in the night.
“Aurelia, please go back to bed. I will handle this…” her father pleaded with her, his eyes never leaving the blade that inched closer to his face as the leader hunkered at his side.
The other three thugs seemed to derive a great deal of pleasure from his discomfort, and their eyes flashed with enjoyment.
“I don’t believe any of it. My father is a respected man amongst the Ton! He would never frequent a gambling hall. You had best leave before I scream!”
Her father winced away from the tip of the blade.
What is going on?
Her heart raced with fear as the men now ignored her presence.
This has to be some kind of mistake. Father has been a pillar of strength and guidance in my life as far back as I can recall. There is no possible explanation other than this being a horrible, horrible mistake. The men had gotten the wrong address, or perhaps they were lying to make me leave.
Hundreds of possibilities raced through her mind as she kept a close eye on the blade.
The leader tutted as he pressed the point of the blade to her father’s cheek, making a dent in his skin without drawing any blood. “Not very fatherly of you to lead a double life, Lord Keldbrooke. Perhaps the boys and I should take care of your daughter. We won’t hide anything from her. How old is she now? Twenty? Almost beyond a marriageable age. I could make an honest woman out of her.”
Aurelia began to breathe even harder as the tip of the blade reddened her father’s skin. She needed to do something, even if it was only a distraction to allow her father time to escape.
Glancing at the dagger in the man’s hand, she judged the distance between her and her father. Even if she threw herself between them, she could at least buy him some time.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the tips of her fingers against the wall at her back, readying herself.
The door to the study suddenly opened, making everyone look up in surprise.
Aurelia let out a breath and braced herself, feeling slightly faint.
The butler took a step back, seemingly startled at the sight. His pale brown eyes darted from the Earl to the men holding him down.
“What is it, Jameson?” The Earl swallowed hard, relieving his skin from the blade for a split second.
“Forgive me, My Lord, but there is a visitor… Should I…”
The butler barely finished speaking when a large hand landed on his shoulder, pushing him aside. His stick-like figure stumbled back into the hall.
Aurelia’s mouth fell open as a formidable figure stepped into the room.
The man’s short, wavy hair had a subtle, effortless texture, with strands that gently curled to frame his face. His tall, muscular figure filled the doorway, blocking the butler from view as his deep green eyes scanned the room.
Her heart skipped a beat as something deep inside her fluttered. She could barely make out his features from the side, yet he exuded danger. A strong sense of attraction pulled her toward him, like a magnetic force.
His eyes suddenly fell on her figure beside the door, lingering for a moment as he took in her form. His eyes briefly paused on her chest, where the edges of the shawl had fallen open, exposing her milky white, slender neck.
Realizing that her chest was exposed beneath the thin fabric of her night dress, Aurelia hastened to cover herself. Glancing back at her father, she noted the paleness of his skin. Something about the man’s presence seemed to have frightened him even more than the blade pressed against his cheek. Or perhaps his presence had brought him comfort, allowing the shock of the situation to sink in.
She had no idea how to read the room.
