Page 88 of The Wolf of Mayfair
Amusement dripped from her question.
Wingrave resisted the urge to squirm. For thatwasthe manner of man he’d envisioned.
Her eyes twinkled, and that captivating glimmer knocked the thoughts from his head.
Helia leaned up and in. “He isn’t agothic novelvillain.” Her expression darkened. “He’s areal-lifeone.”
A real-life one . . .
More of their previous discussion onCousinDamian wrenched Wingrave back to the present.
“Never tell me? He locked you in your rooms and denied you meals until you consented to be his bride.”
“He didn’t d-deny me m-meals on a-account—o-on account, he—”
“He didn’t deny you meals on account ...,” he said between clenched teeth.
Confusion filled Helia’s gaze. She shook her head.
“You saidhe didn’t deny you meals on account of ... and didn’t finish the thought. What were the reasons he did not deny you meals?” he bit out.
Understanding filled her eyes. “Oh. You remember that.”
She went quiet again.
“Helia, what were the reasons he did not deny you meals?” He snapped out each syllable of that question.
“He didn’t, on account that he didn’t want a wraith for a bride and couldn’t have me dying on him as he needed my dowry.”
An unholy rage descended over his vision.
A guttural, animallike growl escaped Wingrave. “Did he ever put his hands on you before today?” Because he’d end him. He’d hunt him down and rip Cousin Damian’s beating heart from his chest and make him watch while he consumed it.
Helia must have seen the promise of death in his eyes.
She gave her head a quick shake. “No!” she said with alacrity. “He didn’t. He only locked me in my rooms and ...” She stopped short of giving Wingrave what he sought.
“Surely you don’t seek to protect the bounder?”
“I seek to protectyou, Anthony.”
Protect him.
He drew back at the unexpectedness of a statement that should be ridiculous—herprotecting him.
Wingrave attempted to scoff ... and yet, no one had protected him. His mother had always been a coward—not that he didn’t understand why. Being wed to a cruel bastard like the current duke would do that to a woman. Hisfatherhad himself caned Wingrave both for the slightest offenses and to make his unexpected heir stronger.
He tightened his mouth.
It was also how he’d come to discover he didn’t need anyone other than himself. Armed with that reminder, he dusted a speck of lint from his shirtsleeve. “My dear, I’m from one of the oldest, longest lines in the realm and future Duke of Talbert. I assure you, I do not require protection from anyone.”
Helia’s eyes sparkled. “How very fortunate for you that you may move through life without ever suffering any consequences,” she said dryly.
He gnashed his teeth in frustration.
How could she be so casual? How could she crack quips when they discussed the bastard who’d dared touch her today?
“I would regret you hurting someone on my behalf.”
