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“Patrick, you came back?” Lydia appeared wide-eyed with Aunt Augusta behind her.

“Patrick dear, what are you doing? This is not the proper way to say hello to your family you have not seen in so long,” Aunt Augusta scolded lightly.

“I am not here to say hello to my family. I am here to settle a score with the backstabbing man the Duke of Huxton is!”

Penny bit down on her lower lip in an attempt to quell her anger.

“Where is Rhysand?” Penny asked her sister. She shook her head. Meaning he had not returned yet.Thank the heavens.

“Rhysand is not home, Patrick.”

“Then I shall stay right here and await his return.” He was determined to cause real damage to the man, and he would not leave until he had done it.

“What is with the ruckus? Voices can be heard from a mile away.” That deep voice belonged to the man who was not supposed to be here, not at the moment.

Rhysand had returned.

“Good to have you back, Huxton!” Patrick chuckled bitterly.

“Patrick Hislop? Fancy seeing you here.”

Penny shook her head. Rhysand did not know how grave the situation was.

“Is it another ball? It is a bit early for that…” Another head appeared behind Rhysand. The Marquess of Angleton was present too.

Good.Penny thought, at least the marquess would help diffuse the situation.

“You do not have the right to plaster that smile on your face, Huxton,” Patrick spat, “I know what you did!”

Rhysand narrowed his eyes at him. “What are you on about, Patrick?” Rhysand asked and Patrick scoffed.

“You fabricated the entire situation to take advantage of my sister. What is this? Penny is the Duchess of Huxton?”

“Why? Do you have a problem with being the brother to a duchess?”

If it was possible, Penny saw her brother burn hotter in his anger. He had inherited their father’s temper.

“I have a problem with you taking advantage of Penny after fabricating lies to put my father behind bars, and I demand compensation. Choose your seconds. We shall meet at dawn.”

“Patrick, no!” A bewildered cry escaped Penny’s lips.

“It does not have to lead to that. We can have a conversation about this,” Rhysand tried to reason with him. He was Penelope’s brother after all, and he could understand why he would be angry at him.

“Have you laid with her?”

Penny swallowed as the entire room went silent. Rhysand met her teary eyes. It was then his features hardened.

Patrick scoffed bitterly. “In that case, there is nothing to converse about. I have made up my mind.”

“Very well then. Let me remind you, Patrick, you are at more risk than I am. I have a family to protect and as such, I shall come out of this duel unscathed. But you…” Rhysand shook his head. He had a wicked glint in his eyes, just like when she met him for the first time. “You have made my wife cry, and I will not let that slide. It is best if you say your final goodbyes now.”

“Rhysand ple—”

“You dare threaten me, Huxton?” Patrick took a dangerous step toward Rhysand, who did the same.

“Patrick, stop this madness!” Penny took hold of Patrick’s shirt, but he swatted her hand away.

“I do dare. You cannot touch a hair on my skin. You have a horrible aim, or did you forget that after you fled?”