Page 19 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
“I said that I cut ties with your brother, not that I didn’t care if he was injured or hurt.”
His eyes roamed over her, flickering with an unfathomable emotion, as if there was another reason why he insisted on joining her.
After a moment, he spoke again. “And I will make sure that you are protected, as I promised.”
With that, he retreated to his rooms. The door did not swing shut quickly enough to prevent her from seeing the muscles in his back flexing as he reached for his shirt.
Her cheeks burning, she turned her thoughts back to her brother.
It was only as she dressed and descended the stairs that she realized that the Duke of Stormhold had sworn to protect her. She frowned. Was this his choice, to see her safe? To care for her while disguising it as looking out for her brother?
She pushed the thoughts aside as soon as the Duke strode past her, out of the door, using the servants’ entrance so they could avoid as much detection as possible.
Lady Edwina did not ask about Lucien’s declaration of protection. He had threatened Lord Stockton, but he could curse himself for letting his guard down back in the hallway.
He was a rigidly strong man, yet the sight of Lady Edwina flushed, in her thin nightgown, had slowly undone him until he craved to stay next to her for far longer.
He was not happy about Nicholas’s disappearance, but his concerns were more directed at the duress the selfish bastard kept putting his sister under.
Something else was afoot, and Lucien was not sure what it was. Both siblings seemed so intent on keeping it to themselves. All he could do was try to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
As they ventured into the city center, Lucien had questioned Lady Edwina on her brother’s usual haunts, while filling in the gaps of her knowledge with his own, as outdated as it may have been.
“And you’re sure these are the only places he frequents?” Lucien asked. “An earl often networks extensively, covering as many locations as he could. Limiting himself to a handful is most unusual.”
He caught her lowering her eyes as she nodded.
“If there is more you are not divulging, then you are only slowing down our investigation and your brother’s safe return.”
He pushed open the door to one of the gambling dens Lady Edwina had mentioned first. She had claimed that her brother had been somewhat desperate when he inherited the earldom, trying to earn money without soliciting investors. He had light coffers as it was; he could not afford to invest.
But he could afford to gamble.Honorable to do such wasteful things with his inheritance.
Lady Edwina said nothing, only preceded him inside. Upon entering, she stiffened as she looked at the clientele.
“If you still think your brother deserves a thousand pardons,” Lucien murmured, “then do enlighten me.”
However, Lady Edwina only met his gaze with a steely intent and walked deeper into the den.
Lucien detested places like these—dark corners and shady deals, money for favors passed under tables while just as much cheating took place over tables. Fights went unchecked, and most debts were accrued here.
Lucien, despite his resentment towards Nicholas, hoped that they would not find him there. If Nicholas was indebted to anyone in there, then funds were never collected with patience or grace.
They were collected with fists and weapons if no payment was made.
He met the glare of every lowlife gambling what little worth they had and was surprised by the number of well-dressed men in there.
“If they have money,” Lady Edwina murmured, “why do they frequent places like this?”
“Because they need more power to socially climb, but they have likely been barred from every respectable gambling hell in London.”
“I hope my brother is not here,” she muttered as they moved through the tables in the dark establishment.
“My Lady, are you lost?” one man called out from the table next to them, searching the shadows.
He grinned in a way that made Lucien take a step closer to her. His eyes flicked to Lucien, only to return to Lady Edwina.
“Don’t want no pretty lady getting lost in places like this one. Dangerous, they are.” As he spoke, he stood up.
