Page 16 of His Forbidden Duchess (Forbidden Lords #3)

Chapter Sixteen

“ I still do not understand why you insisted on leaving so suddenly last night,” Eloise’s mother said the following afternoon as she stirred a fourth lump of sugar into her tea.

Eloise looked off into the distance, not truly hearing her mother or genuinely caring. She would normally reprimand her for taking too much sugar, but even that was too much today. She was exhausted. She had barely slept, and her mind had not stopped racing.

Mortcombe was now engaged, and it wasn’t to her. And then there were the complexities with Felix! It was no wonder Eloise was struggling to focus on anything.

“I mean, really . Is it because you thought Lord Mortcombe had developed affection for you? I know you spent some time together at previous dances, but…”

Eloise blinked slowly and looked at her mother. “I was tired. Nothing more. Please do not make a fuss about something that does not deserve it.”

“I never make a fuss,” Lady Danridge huffed. “You have not touched your tea. It will go cold if you leave it sitting any longer. Do you want some sugar?”

“No.”

Eloise’s reply was firm enough for her mother to remain quiet, at least for a few minutes. During her brief respite from her mother’s chatter, Eloise replayed the events of the previous night in her head.

As soon as Felix had let go of her, she had run to the ballroom her emotions a whirl of confusion and anger. In truth, her tryst with Felix—if that’s what it was—had excited her beyond measure, more than she had even imagined.

And yes, part of her was happy to hear that Mortcombe was engaged, albeit after having his hand forced, because it meant that she would not have to put up with his pompous face and his arrogant attitude for the rest of her life.

But that was her heart and body speaking. Her mind painted her a far more sinister picture.

Without Mortcombe her plan had come to a screeching halt. Her family now faced certain ruin, for time had nearly runout. He had been her last hope. Felix had indeed taught her well, but could she really hope to find and woo another man in one week?

Most certainly not.

“It was a beautiful announcement, though, was it not?” Lady Danridge said. She snapped a biscuit in half and a cascade of crumbs fell on the plate.

“I beg your pardon?” Eloise said, looking blankly at her mother.

“Lord Mortcombe and Lady Arabella. He seemed almost coy. It was sweet.”

Horrified, more like.

Just as she had entered the ballroom, she saw Mortcombe and Arabella on the stage announcing their engagement. Arabella had beamed across the crowd, her prize won, but Mortcombe had looked every bit like a frightened lamb. In other circumstances, Eloise might have found it in herself to pity him.

“I suppose,” Eloise muttered.

She picked up her teacup and raised it to her lips, only to discover that she had no energy left to drink it. She lowered it again, making it crackle against the saucer.

“Do not worry, dear girl. There will be plenty of other gentlemen, just you wait and see.”

Not if we are ruined, Mother.

Eloise couldn’t say the words she was thinking or explain the situation to her mother. She so often felt like their roles were reversed. And now, at the brink of their imminent destruction, she felt it more keenly than ever before.

If only Jeremy was here. He would know what to do.

She had been so determined to fix the problem herself, but all she had done was waste time. The burden still weighed heavily on her, but now she had no more opportunities to lighten it. It was crushing her.

To make matters worse, Felix had twisted her mind and her body to such an extent that she found herself unable to even think of a solution without picturing his body pressed against hers.

She repeatedly imagined the sensation of his manhood pressed into her thigh, her hands forced above her head. He had trapped her there, and the truth was she had liked it. She would have given him anything in that moment, handed herself over to him entirely.

And, given the chance, perhaps I still would.

She sighed and picked up her teacup again, this time taking a sip. She sneered at it as she swallowed and quickly put the cup down again.

“Did it grow cold?” her mother said, looking down her nose at her. “Do not say that I failed to warn you. I do not know what has gotten into you today. Just the same as last night. I do wish you would tell me what was going on in that head of yours.”

“You would not wish to know,” she muttered in reply as her mother raised her eyebrows.

“No, perhaps I would not. Regardless, there is another ball this weekend—at Hambly House this time—and I thought it might be the perfect opportunity for you to send your best wishes to Lord Mortcombe and Lady Arabella. No hard feelings and all that.”

Eloise groaned. Could she tolerate another ball?

She was about to open her mouth to retort when the butler entered, his face pale.

Eloise’s eyes widened. There was only ever one time when she saw that expression on their butler’s face: when trouble was afoot.

“Lady Danridge, Lady Eloise. Mr. Carlisle and his companions are here.”

He bowed, but before he could straighten himself up, the three men bowled past, almost knocking him to the floor.

Lady Danridge let out a loud cry immediately, but Eloise could only stare open mouthed. The two brutes accompanying the creditor were different from last time. Bigger and more intimidating. Mr. Carlisle, meanwhile, wore a cruel expression.

“Good afternoon, My Ladies. How lovely it is to see you enjoying a cup of tea—one at my expense, no doubt,” Mr. Carlisle said.

Eloise raised her chin into the air, defiant despite the trembling she felt inside.

“You are a week early,” she said.

“Oh! Oh my,” Lady Danridge cried. She flicked out the fan she always carried on her person and began to fan herself furiously. “Goodness me! Oh, my nerves, my nerves!”

“Mother, please,” Eloise hissed.

Mr. Carlisle wandered toward the table, his lips pursed as if curious. He picked up the teapot and examined it.

“Wedgewood,” he said as he read the name on the bottom. “I should imagine this cost a pretty penny.”

He looked up and smiled expectantly. Lady Danridge attempted to answer, but he opened his hands. The teapot dropped to the floor and shattered, sending bits of porcelain careening across the hardwood floor while the Turkish rug soaked up the remains of the tea.

“Oops,” he said simply.

“You are a week early,” Eloise repeated.

Her body shook. Her heart raced. Her mouth had turned entirely dry.

The man was early. That was all she could think. A week was not long to find a solution, but it was still a week—and he had promised them that time.

“Oh, am I?” Mr. Carlisle sniggered. He pulled his pocket watch from his waistcoat and clicked it open, peering at its face as if it might tell him what date he should have arrived. “Ah yes, so I am.”

He chuckled then nodded to his henchmen. They began to circle the room, knocking ornaments from shelves and digging through drawers for treasures that Eloise knew they would not find.

“Oh! Please no!” Lady Danridge cried.

She fell back in her chair, one hand pressed dramatically to her forehead, and whimpered continuously.

“The thing is, My Lady,” Carlisle said, directing his words to Eloise. “I have received word that you have been attending social events as if nothing was wrong. Dallying around town. Dancing, even!”

“And what of it?” Eloise asked.

They had to keep up appearances. Perhaps a man like Carlisle didn’t understand such things about the Ton.

He laughed cruelly. “Well, you can imagine my surprise, Lady Eloise! Indeed, imagine how much it grated. You told me there was no money to be had, that you needed time to find it.”

“And that was nothing but the truth,” she said quickly.

He snorted, shaking his head. “I do not believe you. If you can gallivant so comfortably around society, then surely there must be some money hidden somewhere in this house. And so, here we are!”

He stretched out his arms and smiled.

Eloise’s breath came rapidly, her eyes not straying from Carlisle. Surely she could reason with him. Surely even a man such as he would be rational and kind in the face of two innocent, harmless ladies.

She stood up and sauntered over to him, remembering Felix’s words about how a man liked to be approached. She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t notice how shaky it was.

“Here you are indeed,” she replied, looking him boldly in the eye. “Of course, I can appreciate your confusion, Mr. Carlisle, but I assure you that is not the case.”

Her attempt at soothing him did not go as planned. He bared his teeth and growled at her menacingly. He leaned in so closely that she could smell his rancid breath as he spoke.

“I am not confused . I am never confused. Do not mistake me for one of your foolish gentlemen who do not know how the world works.”

Eloise held her breath against the stench, but she refused to step back or back down from him.

“Oh! Oh!” her mother cried, cowering in the chair, her wailing a percussion to the drama drowned out only by the sound of Eloise’s heartbeat in her ears.

“I didn’t mean confused , Mr. Carlisle,” she tried, smiling sweetly at him. “Please forgive a silly girl for not having the large a vocabulary which you possess. I only meant to say that I understand how you must have felt upon hearing that. But we had good reason to attend such events. A man as… well put together as yourself must understand the importance of appearance.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, his anger radiating from him.

“Your appearance is not my problem,” he snarled. “Your debt, however, is. Tell me, do you have my money?”

“Oh, dear Lord!” Lady Danridge cried. “Whatever will we do? Oh, my nerves!”

Eloise glanced quickly at her mother then returned her attention to Mr. Carlisle. She had hoped to make him feel like he was the only man in the world, but it had not worked. Or if it had, he didn’t care for it.

“I am afraid to say that we do not have your money quite yet, Mr. Carlisle, though we are working tirelessly to ensure that we have it by?—”

“Dancing, drinking and feasting?” he sneered. “Is that how one works tirelessly ? No, I will not have it.”

A loud crash erupted behind her as another ornament shattered. Eloise winced, and her mother cried out again.

“If only we could have a little more time, Mr. Carlisle. Even just the week we were promised. You are surely a man of your word, Mr. Carlisle. A man of honor.”

He took another step closer to her so that their noses almost touched, and he spoke in a low, cruel voice.

“I am indeed a man of honor, Lady Eloise, but only where it is warranted. I do not like liars, and I do not like those who refuse to pay back their debts. Your time has run out. Jack and Reggie will search the house for anything worth taking, and if there is not enough to repay what is owed, my pretty girl…” He curled a finger beneath her chin and jeered. “Well, then I shall have to take you .”