Page 84 of His Forbidden Duchess
She thought she had imagined the loud noise at first, but she was proved wrong when she heard it again.
“HOW DARE YOU!”
This time, it was angrier, louder. Clearer.
And Eloise recognized the voice instantly.
“Jeremy,” she breathed out, her heart suddenly beating at a dizzying rhythm.
She quickly set down her book, her stomach lurching with growing anxiety, then hurried out into the corridor towards the commotion, hoping it was all in her anxious head.
But as she arrived, all her hopes were crushed.
She gulped.
There he was, clear as day.
Jeremy.
Her brother was back.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Jeremy?” Eloise called, her eyes wide.
But her brother didn’t turn, his eyes locked on Felix, who was standing with his arms by his sides—a defensive stance—every line of his body taut.
“YOU!”
Jeremy pushed past the footmen, his face crimson with anger, his thick black curls dangling in his eyes, his hat discarded. He marched straight toward Felix.
“I told you, Jeremy,” Felix said coldly. “When you calm down, we can talk about it. But I will not entertain you until you approach this like a gentleman.”
“My sister? Are you out of your mind?” Jeremy’s voice was thick with fury, his eyes latched on Felix with a heat Eloise hadn’t seen in years.
Her heart raced, desperate with the need to explain everything to him. She was certain he would be grateful, if only he knew what had really happened.
“Jeremy, would you please come inside and have a cup of tea?” she tried.
The footman grasped for him but missed. “Sir, I must implore you to?—”
“Leave him, Jenkins,” Felix said without taking his eyes off Jeremy. “I will deal with it.”
The footman bowed uncertainly then stepped to the side, observing the scene unfold as Eloise watched from the other end of the corridor.
“How dare you take advantage ofmy sister, of all people?” Jeremy screamed.
“Jeremy, stop this at once!” Eloise stepped forward, but her brother waved her off, his attention fixed solely on Felix. “Please. There is so much more to this than meets the eye.”
She glanced at Felix, hoping he would know how to fix this calamity. His expression remained unreadable, but he took a step forward, his voice calm and low, his stature intimidating.
“I understand you are upset, my friend,” he said, “but you are out of line.”
“Out of line?” Jeremy spat, his fists clenched as he advanced. “I trusted you, Felix! And this is how you repay that trust? By dragging my sister into your life as though she is just another one of your casual pursuits?”
Felix’s jaw tightened, and Eloise could see the storm clouds gathering in his eyes.
“Be very careful with your words, friend,” he warned, his tone still restrained but carrying a sharp edge. “If anyone is insulting your sister here, it is you.”
