Page 49 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
“Lord Keldbrooke,” Philip called, his voice as cold as marble.
The Earl, slumped in an ornate chair, looked as if he had aged a decade overnight. His once commanding presence had diminished to that of a weary man heavily burdened by guilt and regret.
“Your Grace,” he replied, his voice cracking. “I suppose you have come to gloat.”
Philip stepped closer, grim satisfaction curving his lips. “I have come to collect what is rightfully mine, or my brother’s. Whichever you see fit.”
With a trembling hand, Lord Keldbrooke motioned for Philip to take a seat, but the younger man remained standing, exuding an air of authority that left no room for negotiation.
“Bring forth the papers,” he commanded Whitmore.
The solicitor stepped forward, unfolding the documents with enthusiasm. “These are the terms of the transfer, Lord Keldbrooke. Please sign at the bottom.”
Lord Keldbrooke’s hand shook as he grasped the pen, his eyes darting between Philip and the papers. With a heavy sigh, he scratched his signature across the bottom left corner, yielding the land that had once been the crown jewel of his holdings.
“Done,” Philip said, allowing himself a brief moment of triumph, but Lord Keldbrooke’s voice shattered the silence.
“Wait!” the Earl rasped, desperate. “Can we speak in private?”
Whitmore’s brow furrowed with concern. “My Lord, I must advise against…”
“Leave us,” Philip interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. “I will speak with him alone.”
Whitmore departed reluctantly, casting a lingering glance at Lord Keldbrooke as he closed the door behind him.
The silence hung heavy between the two men.
“Tell me,” Lord Keldbrooke began, his voice low. “How is Aurelia? Is she well?”
“Aurelia is thriving,” Philip replied curtly, staring at his fingernails, wishing to sever any lingering connection between father and daughter. “She does not require your concern.”
Lord Keldbrooke’s eyes darkened. “You are keeping her from me. You are depriving a child of her father. How can you justify that?”
“Your behavior merits no justification from me,” Philip snapped, his patience thinning. “You do not deserve to be called a father. Your actions speak for themselves.”
Lord Keldbrooke’s face contorted with rage. “You are evil. A monster! You would take everything from me and leave me with nothing!”
Philip stepped closer to him, the tension in the room thickening. “I would remind you, Keldbrooke, that it was you who deprived me of my brother. Your poor choices have led us to this moment.”
The older man flinched, Philip’s words landing with the force of a blow. “You think you are better than me? You are as much a villain as I am.”
Philip leaned in, his voice growling low. “Perhaps I am,” he said with a slight tilt of his head. “Your daughter knows who you truly are now, and it terrifies her. You are unraveling, Keldbrooke, and I will not allow your madness to touch her.”
But he wasn’t done.
“Although I must say, I am quite impressed by your show of concern, considering you sold her off without so much as asecond thought, happy that her exit would pay off half of your debts. Do not speak about her again.”
Lord Keldbrooke’s eyes widened, fear flashing across his face. “You do not understand what you’re playing with. I will not allow you to destroy what is left of my family.”
“Your family?” Philip scoffed incredulously. “You think you still have a family? The ties you once held have been irreparably severed. You are nothing but a dim shadow of a man.”
The Earl moved closer to Philip, “You do not know what I am capable of, Your Grace.”
Philip straightened up, feeling a surge of satisfaction at Lord Keldbrooke’s obvious distress. “I know exactly what you are capable of.”
With that, he turned on his heel, leaving the Earl to mire in his distress. The confrontation had been necessary, a reminder that he was the one in control.
As he exited the hall, Philip spotted John, his employee, or simply put spy, waiting just outside. The man’s expression was grave.
