Page 88 of The Beastly Duke's Christmas Bride
It would upset Isabel, though. I wouldn’t want that. Would it be worth it to protect him? But after all that happened last night...
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Ronan opened the paper and revealed a particularly crude political drawing of two men fighting over a woman. A woman with light hair and big curvy lips that almost looked familiar.
He snatched up the paper and reviewed the page. Scanning it for any sign of a name, he finally tossed it down to stare hard at Ronan. “What is the name?”
“The name?”
“Her name.” Sebastian swallowed hard. There was something hard and sharp in his throat. He wanted to yank it out and hold tight. Especially if the suspicion growing in his mind in that very moment might turn out to be correct. “What is the name of the mistress?”
After staring at him a moment, Ronan gave a slight disbelieving shake of his head. “I thought you still read the gossip rags at last. She’s been all the rage lately, hosting scandalous parties for all sorts of folks these days. It’s like she wants everyone to know who she is. Her name is Annabelle von Lacey.”
Cursing loudly, Sebastian stood and slammed his hands on the table. The loud noise shuddered through the room. His friend visibly braced himself before hastily grabbing his tea cup to keep it up right.
“What is going on with you?” Ronan asked.
“It was all a trick.”
“What was? The mistress? I don’t understand. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a few tricks up her sleeve…”
“A trap,” he snarled.
How could I have been so blind? I was so ready to believe everything in the moment. I know better than to panic. But I was such a fool. I didn’t give her another thought, I didn’t…
“Sebastian?” asked Ronan warily.
Stepping into the hall, Sebastian hollered for the horses to be readied. Then he stomped back into the dining room to explain everything to Ronan. In a rush, he explained through his rage just what had taken place with Annabelle and Thomas.
Ronan’s eyes grew wider and wider. “How much did you pay him?”
“Half,” Sebastian grimaced. It was difficult to accept what a fool he had been. But it was over, he told himself. They had to move on. He stopped paced for a moment and added, “I’d gladly pay the other half if I can remove him from our lives forever.”
“There are a few ways to do that,” his friend offered before raising a hand and a pointed look. “But you’ll want to be prepared.”
Shaking his head, Sebastian told him, “I have waited long enough. I should have stopped him from ever intervening in our lives. But I won’t let him hurt her. He won’t get away with this.”
I made a promise to Isabel, and by God, I shall keep it no matter what happens next.
CHAPTER 31
It was the crash that Isabel first heard where she sat in the Eastwynd library.
She was reading a confusing letter from Emilia right then, how her friend was urging her to listen to Thomas––almost like Emilia had already known what was happening. Which wasn’t possible, because no one had said anything about what happened at the ball three nights ago.
Maybe I’ve misunderstood her. Or she misunderstood… something?
But Isabel forgot all about it when there was a loud bang and crash, heavy objects colliding against one another. She jumped at the sound. Heart pounding, she heard a cacophony of noise follow and immediately hurried toward the front hall to see what on earth might be happening.
Voices were a raging rumble until she neared, finally able to start sorting out the noise.
“You’re a liar!”
“Get your hands off me! Someone help! Unhand me!”
There was a growling tussle and then glass shattered loudly, making her instinctively duck. She passed a servant doing the same thing in the hall. After ushering the girl away, Isabel hurried to the drawing room door––
The door was gone.
Rather, part of it was still hanging on a single hinge. The rest was gone. Splinters streamed into the room, all scattered about. She supposed that was the first of the large noises. As for the glass…
