Page 84 of Duke of Silver
The girl’s face drained of color, and she gave a slight, terrified nod before the footman released her and escorted her out.
Elizabeth let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing. “Thank you,” she said quietly to Percy, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”
Percy offered a faint smile, though there was a glimmer of smugness in his eyes. “What would you two do without me, eh?”
Alexander shot him a look but couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Despite the gravity of the situation, they all shared a brief, tense laugh.
“There’s somewhere we must go,” Alexander said, his demeanor serious and guarded.
Elizabeth blinked with a sense of unease. “Where?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied, offering no further explanation.
She followed him, apprehension settling in her stomach as their carriage made its way across town. But when they arrived at the familiar gates of the Winston residence, Elizabeth’s heart sank. Why on earth were they here?
The butler showed them into the drawing room, where they waited in tense silence. The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention, and moments later, Georgianna swept into the room, her expression triumphant.
“Oh, Alexander,” she purred, a knowing smile on her lips. “I knew it would only be a matter of time before you came to your senses and changed your mind about our relationship.”
Elizabeth’s heart twisted painfully at the insinuation, but Georgianna’s next words were cut off by Alexander’s sharp words.
“We discovered your little spy, Lady Winston,” he barked, his voice full of restrained fury. “And we know that you concocted and spread all those rumors about us in Town.”
Georgianna faltered, her steps slowing as her eyes darted between Elizabeth and Alexander. “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, but the panic in her voice was unmistakable.
Alexander took a step forward, his gaze hard and unyielding. “Enough with the lies,” he growled. “We know everything. You’ve meddled in our lives for the last time.”
Georgianna’s face twisted in anger. “Fine,” she snapped. “Yes, I did it. I spread the rumors, I paid your maid. But I did it because I know what your marriage truly is—a scam! And you,” she sneered, turning her venom on Elizabeth, “have failed miserably to keep your husband’s affections.”
Alexander’s fury flared, and he took another step toward Georgianna, his fists clenched. The Countess, realizing the danger in his posture, instinctively stepped back. Elizabeth, seeing the rage in his eyes, quickly placed a hand on his sleeve, her touch grounding him.
“I could ruin you, Georgianna,” Alexander said in a low, threatening voice. “I could have you exiled from society in an instant, and don’t think I won’t if you so much as whisper my wife’s name again.”
Georgianna’s defiance faltered, and for the first time, Elizabeth saw real fear in her eyes. She had always known Alexander held power, but to witness it so clearly now, she realized just how dangerous he could be when protecting the people he loved.
After a long, tense silence, Alexander turned to Elizabeth, his expression softening instantly, as though the storm inside him had suddenly vanished.
“Shall we leave now, darling?” he asked, gentle and tender, as though nothing had happened.
Elizabeth stared at him, utterly shocked at the abrupt change in his demeanor. One moment, he had been a seething volcano of rage, and the next, he was the tender, loving man she had come to adore.
Good heavens, he’s like a man with different personalities,she thought, her heart swelling with affection even as her mind struggled to keep up.
Without another glance at Georgianna, Alexander led Elizabeth out of the house, his hand steady and reassuring on hers. And as they stepped out into the fresh air, Elizabeth couldn’t help but marvel at the man beside her—a man full of contradictions, but one whose love for her was now undeniable.
EPILOGUE
Elizabeth stood on the ship’s deck, her hands lightly gripping the rail as the sea breeze danced through her hair. The salt air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of the ocean, and she closed her eyes for a moment, letting it wash over her.
It was calming, soothing, and as she looked out over the expanse of water stretching towards France, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling up within her.
They were on their way to France, as Alexander had promised. She smiled at the thought of seeing the French version of the performance she had grown so fond of. And, of course, there was the invitation from the Marchioness of Delle. As if that weren’t enough, just before they left England, a letter had arrived from Lady Compton, who had apparently decided to rusticate in the French countryside, and she had written to say she eagerly awaited their visit.
A thrill of anticipation coursed through Elizabeth at the thought of seeing old friends. But more than that, there was something else—a more personal excitement, a secret she had been carrying, one she was eager to share with her husband. She’d been waiting for the perfect moment, and now, perhaps, that moment had come.
As if summoned y her thoughts, she felt Alexander’s arms slide around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his chest. His breath brushed her ear as he whispered, “Dinner is served, darling.”
Elizabeth smiled, leaning into him. “I am quite hungry,” she murmured, though her hunger was more for the conversation they were about to have than for the food itself. Still, the idea of sitting down with him, away from the deck’s bustle, seemed just right.
