Page 68 of Her Runaway Duke
“Y-you are cruel,” she stammered out. She had heard of evil within people of course, but never had she actually seen it.
He shrugged, unaffected by her words. “Call me what you want. We all get our joy from different places.”
“Did the former duke know about this joy you found?” Siena asked. “What did he think of it?”
“He knew nothing of it,” McGregor scoffed. “How could he?” He began pacing back and forth, his agitation growing. “Enough of all these questions. Your father should be here by now.”
“I actually doubt it.”
“Of course he will!” McGregor burst out. “That was the plan! Then I will receive my money and my vengeance.”
“He will not return me to the household until he knows that my marriage is annulled or…” or she was widowed. But she couldn’t say that aloud, for she didn’t want to put the idea into the air. “I suppose you are my jailkeeper for now.”
“I am no such thing,” McGregor said haughtily, just as she hoped he would. “Stay here. I will go find him myself.”
Siena raised a brow, wishing she could see the reaction when he realized that the viscount would not appear and sully himself until he knew that this had all been taken care of.
“Don’t. Move,” the valet commanded, pointing a finger at her, before he backed out of the door and shut it behind him. Siena listened to see how he might lock it, but from the scrapes and grunts she heard, it seemed as though he had, instead, pushed a piece of furniture against it, preventing her from opening the door.
Left alone, Siena crumpled to the ground, all of the strength that had been keeping her upright flooding away from her as she no longer felt the need to keep up the façade of fearlessness. For the truth was, she was terrified. Terrified that Levi wouldn’t find her in time. Terrified that McGregor would succeed in killing him. Terrified that her father would find a way to interfere and ensure that her marriage was annulled.
It was a marriage that she hadn’t even realized she had wanted.
But one that she would now fight with all her might to keep.
Levi thunderedthrough the front door and through Lord Sterling’s townhouse, practically pushing aside servants or men of business who stood in his path.
“Where is she?” he bellowed as he slammed open the viscount’s study door.
Lord Sterling jumped, which momentarily satisfied Levi, before his expression turned into a sneer, as though he had seen off-putting food.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come for my wife.”
“Lost her already, have you?” the viscount bit out. “Did she finally see your entire face? Or does the rest of you match that scar and one look sent her running?”
Levi allowed the words to flow over him, imagining them sliding down his back, just as Siena had said they should.
“If you have allowed anything to happen to her—” he growled out, but the viscount held up a hand to stop him.
“Then you will do what? Others might be scared of the Duke of Death, but I assure you that I am not. Besides, what I do with my daughter should not concern you.”
“She is my wife now,” Levi said, even the thought of it causing a warm glow to wash over him. “If you commit any crime against her, then you are committing one against me.”
As he finished, a woman stepped into the doorway of the room. She looked like Siena, only older, colder, and far less joyful.
When she saw Levi, she stopped and visibly shivered, her lips puckering in disgust.
“Do we have a visitor, my lord?” she asked her husband, but he waved her away.
“No one worth concerning yourself with,” he said, but Levi stepped forward and smiled.
“I would be your son-in-law,” he said, enjoying the look of horror that crossed Siena’s mother’s face. “The Duke of Dunmore.”
“Son-in-law?” she exclaimed. “How?—”
“Siena has done something stupid, but I am fixing it,” Lord Sterling muttered. “Do not concern yourself.”
