Page 5 of A Rescue by the Rakish Duke
Who is this man, and why is everyone in the room so afraid of him?
“Why are you here, Your Grace?” Timothy asked.
The duke smirked and took a step forward.
“Ah, I’m glad you asked that question again. Now, I can tell you and everyone in this room that I have solid proof that you rigged the games at the Devil’s Draw,” he declared. “And more!”
Chapter Two
“What dealings?” Timothy huffed a forced laugh, but it sounded hollow to Gwendoline’s ears.
“Do not act coy, Montrose. I know you’ve been dealing with Jimmy and his gang,” the duke snarled. “And now, you are hosting an auction of flesh and blood. I wonder what that would sound like to a judge.”
“Jimmy and his gang?” one of the suitors echoed. “What does he mean by that, Montrose?”
“I don’t know what he is talking about,” Timothy insisted, his eyes wide with a panic that Gwendoline recognized all too well.
“Surely, the duke could not just have made such an accusation,” another suitor grumbled, looking uncertain.
“Y-Your G-Grace, as I s-said earlier, this is a family m-matter. Not an auction. No, no! I am merely trying to secure my cousin’s future.”
Even as the words came out of Timothy’s mouth, Gwendoline saw her ‘suitors’ avoid the duke’s gaze as he glanced over at them, finding an unusual interest in the threads of the carpet beneath their feet.
“It is best that you take your leave, gentlemen,” the duke addressed them with sheer disdain, glowering at each of them.
“Your Grace—” Timothy protested, but the duke glowered at him.
“Do. Not,” he said hoarsely.
Timothy clamped his mouth shut.
“Oh, yes, yes. His Grace is right,” one of the suitors agreed after clearing his throat, drawing the attention of everyone else in the parlor.
The duke stepped forward. “And if I hear a single word about what transpired in this room, I will hunt down each and every one of you. Do you understand?”
The men mumbled amongst themselves, nodding to him as several gulped.
“Good. Now get out of my sight,” the duke growled.
Each of the men bowed stiffly before making their hasty exit, rushing out the door like a pack of skittish sheep. If it weren’t for the fact that her situation was still dour, Gwendoline would have laughed.
“Your Grace. This is my house, and you have overstepped. You come here, waving accusations and driving my guests away. I cannot abide this!”
There was no hiding Timothy’s fury now. He seemed to no longer care that the man before him had a higher rank.
“Your house? Do you really want to be remembered for what you have here?” the duke asked. “Corruption. Depravity. You have no qualms about putting your own cousin on display like a piece of meat.”
Timothy could only glare at him. The fact that he had quieted down made Gwendoline wonder just how true the accusations were. He was a terrible man, but could he also be a criminal?
She was surprised when the duke turned to her, his expression softening. “Lady Gwendoline. You can stay here, remain a slave to your cousin, or you can leave with me. The choice is yours.”
“What?” Timothy spluttered. The rage that he had been holding back burst forth. “You cannot just?—”
“You know I can,” the duke said in a voice so cold and commanding that Gwendoline knew this was a man who was used to getting his way.
She wondered if she would fare well with such a man after she had already endured Timothy’s tyranny for so long.
“Uh,” was the only thing that came out of her mouth.
