Page 17 of His Forbidden Duchess (Forbidden Lords #3)

Chapter Seventeen

F elix knocked on the Danridge family’s front door. He had spent all morning worrying about Eloise. She had disappeared so quickly from the ball. The moment they had shared had been wonderfully intense, and he wagered that, had it not been for Lord Mortcombe’s announcement, Eloise would have left the ball happy.

He needed to speak to her. He wanted to understand what was truly going on—why she wanted Mortcombe and how she felt about him.

He shook his head of the thought. As much as pursuing her appealed to him, he had to remember Jeremy. Besides, he was a rake. He had no reputation worthy of a lady like Eloise.

But maybe…

“They are in the parlor, Your Grace,” the butler said as he let him into the Danridge townhouse. “But?—”

“Thank you,” Felix said. He didn’t allow the man to finish and strode across the tiled floor toward the parlor.

“Your Grace!” the butler called, but Felix had no time for propriety.

Besides, he had been here often enough. As his mother had liked to tease him, he’d nearly lived here as a child.

He heard the crashing long before he reached the parlor, and his steps slowed, so he could listen more carefully.

The low grumble of a man’s voice was intermingled with cries of despair from Lady Danridge. He could hear the sounds of items being smashed against the floor.

His footsteps sped up again. Eloise . He had to get to Eloise. He had to make sure she was safe.

“What in the blazes is going on?” he demanded as he rounded the corner, and the sight he found made his heart freeze with terror.

Eloise. His Eloise. She stood with her head raised and her shoulders pushed back in defiance—a bear protecting her home, while some brute of a man leered over her, his finger beneath her chin.

Felix felt sick; he would not tolerate this brutality, and neither would he allow his beautiful, brave Eloise to handle this alone.

“Who are you?” the man snarled. His teeth were rotting, and his scalp was balding. Felix had a flash of recognition.

“I have seen you before,” Felix said simply, stepping into the lion’s den with little care. “In the gaming hells. Causing trouble.”

Carlisle. That was the swine’s name.

“Claiming what is mine as I am doing here. Are you her brother? Marquess Danridge?”

“I am the Duke of Kingswell,” Felix replied through his teeth. “And I demand that you let go of her immediately.”

The man dropped his finger, and Eloise scurried to Felix’s side.

“Leave,” Carlisle said. “This matter does not involve you.”

“I beg to differ,” Felix replied. “I have been a friend of the family for as long as I have been alive. Now, tell me, Carlisle. What is your business here?”

“Oh! Oh! Your Grace!” Lady Danridge cried.

Felix ignored her and pushed Eloise behind him protectively. He wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her, no matter the consequences.

To his surprise, Carlisle laughed, his mouth twitching grotesquely. He stepped forward as if to claim what was his, but Felix put a hand up, shielding Eloise from him.

“You don’t understand, Your Grace. These people you consider your friends have reneged on their agreement to repay their debt. Danridge did not even have the decency to remain alive.”

Felix gritted his teeth. He’d heard about Carlisle’s business and the way he conducted himself.

“How much do they owe?”

Carlisle sniggered. “Five thousand pounds, and it’s increasing by the week.”

“Five…!” Felix turned, wide-eyed to look at Eloise. She merely nodded, her expression sheepish. “Good Lord! That is more than some men earn in a lifetime.”

“You understand my concern, then, Your Grace.” Carlisle smiled as if the pair were now friends. “If you’d let me and my men continue with our business, then I shall have no reason to interfere with yours.”

“Please, Mr. Carlisle,” Eloise said from behind him. “I am certain we can come to some sort of arrangement.” She jumped as another ornament fell to the floor, and Felix looked around in horror at the destruction they had already caused. “There must be something I can offer you in return for a little more time. My brother?—”

“Oh, there’s something you can offer me all right,” Carlisle said, openly eyeing Eloise like a piece of meat.

Felix clenched his fists by his sides.

“I will pay,” he said simply.

He didn’t even need to consider it. Five thousand was a princely sum indeed, but he could afford it twice over for Eloise and her family.

Carlisle looked from Eloise to Felix then threw his head back and laughed. “Good Lord, Your Grace. You must really value her if you are willing to part with that amount of cash.”

“As I said,” Felix replied through gritted teeth, “they have been like family to me since I was born.”

Carlisle examined his fingernails, his lips pursed as he considered the offer, but finally he laughed and looked up again. “I’m afraid I cannot accept your money, Your Grace, as gracious as it was for you to offer.”

“And why not?” he demanded.

“Because it was written into the agreement, you see, that the debt could only be paid by a family member.”

Felix scoffed, his arm rigid as he held Eloise back. “What utter nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense,” Carlisle said with a sneer. “And I am such a stickler for the rules, you see. I am sorry, but that’s the way it is. Now, if you do not get out of my way, Your Grace, I’m afraid I will have to consider you to be collateral damage. The Lady belongs to me now.”

“Oh! No! Please, do not let him take her,” Lady Danridge cried from her cowering position on the chair.

Never.

“I am as good as family,” he said, his mind racing through the options.

Carlisle let out a bark of laughter. “As you well know, there is only one way you could be part of this family, Your Grace.”

Yes, I know.

“I certainly do know,” he said. “And that is why you should be aware that Eloise and I are engaged to be married.”