Page 105 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
“You let her go alone?” Lucien demanded angrily, turning on his heel.
He raced out of the house, towards the forest, his skin clammy with both the effects of too much brandy and panic.
Heavens, please let her be all right. Let them both be all right.
If she was hurt…
If it was because of his letting her walk away…
Lucien tore into the forest, shouting his wife’s name.
“Nicholas?” Edwina croaked as she sank to her knees, shaking.
She could not lose her brother. No. Not her big brother. She had come too close to losing him too many times before.
Her hand shook as she grabbed his shoulder, giving him a push to roll him over. His eyes were closed, his mouth slack. Her heart stopped in her chest at the sight of a deep gash cutting through his forehead to the side, right above his eye. Blood dripped into his hair, making him look ghastlier.
Her stomach lurched, but she shook him harder, relief flooding her when hiseyes fluttered. They barely opened, but it was enough for her.
He is alive.
She sobbed harder as she cupped water in her palm and let it trickle over his face, into his mouth, over his wound.
“Nicholas,” she said urgently, thinking of Lord Stockton’s threat. “Nick, you must get up.”
Her brother groaned, peeling his eyes open. His face was as white as bone, and heblinked at her, confused. “Winnie?”
“We must go, Nick,” she repeated, tugging on his hand, as if she was a little girl again, trying to persuade him to be mischievous with her. “Please.”
Confused, Nicholas let himself be pulled up, frowning as he squinted around.
The momenthe was on his feet, he staggered and leaned heavily on her. He groaned again, pressing a hand to his head. He winced when it came back red.
“Heavens, what has happened?” he muttered. “I… I was taking a walk and then… well, I recall falling, but that is all. I must have hurt my head. Oh, Winnie, everything is spinning.”
“You have cut yourself rather badly,” Edwina explained, trying to pull him along. “Come, wemust get you back to the house before?—”
“Oh, Lord Montgomery.” The voice that echoed through the trees was not one she recognized. “You should have stayed down.”
A twisted, snarling face emerged from the branches, hands wet as he aimed a pistol. Rage colored his cheeks and hardened his eyes, and Edwina gasped in fear.
“Lord Stockton sends his regards, My Lord.”
“And the Duke of Stormhold sends his,” Lucien’s voice came from behind the man.
Edwina’s eyes darted past the stranger, widening at the sight of her husband. Pain and relief flooded her chest, and she let out a sob. Nicholas was still leaning heavily on her, but she was too busy staring at Lucien, who was staring down the stranger.
“Perhaps I shall deliver mine in person, though,” Lucien purred, before he slammed hiselbow into the man’s temple, felling him immediately.
Lord Stockton’s man crumpled to the ground, the pistol knocked out of his hand. Lucien instantly dove for it, his eyes briefly meeting Edwina’s. Behind him, two footmen hurried forward and crouched down to pick up the fallen man.
“Hold him in the drawing room until the constables arrive,” Lucien ordered.
The command in his voice made Edwina remember their last moment together and shiver with the echoes of pleasure. Pain surged alongside her desire.
Lucien turned to her, his eyes darting between her and her brother. “I will help youtake him back to the house.”
It was not a request, but Edwina nodded regardless.
