Page 35 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

"Once I noted that Eugene was getting weaker, I started whispering in his ears about how important it was to hand over the affairs of the dukedom to me, pending the time of your return.

Of course I was sure you were not coming back but I had to be discreet, you see.

I even managed to get him to sign a clause that said I could take over the title if you did not return in a month after his death.

"I had no plans to look for you of course, I just planned to wait it out until the month was gone and I could take over the title without suspicions from outsiders. It was a perfect plan. I was so sure that it would work the way I wanted it to. For the first time I had complete control over my fortune. I was so happy.”

Theo watched the man he had grown fond of and thought the only family he had speak of him as a mere inconvenience and felt his heart shatter with each word that came out of the man’s mouth. He had thought of the man to be more of a father than his own and yet…

"The day that Eugene died was the happiest day of my life.

For once, nature helped me achieve my goals.

I was beyond ecstatic, it was all I could do not to break into dance at his funeral.

You have no idea how difficult it was to pretend to mourn my hateful brother, but the power I gained after that was worth it.

I changed the decor of the house. I had always hated the dark colors that my brother favored.

I used brighter colors. My tenure was a breath of fresh air, the servants were happier under my rule. Life was great.

"Unfortunately I had underestimated just how like our father my brother was. Apparently, he had instructed his solicitor to look for you behind my back. I was so surprised to see you that afternoon walking into the castle like you never left."

"You must have been so disappointed,” Theo said bitterly.

"Disappointed," Cuthbert agreed, "and a tad bit impressed. You had far too many scars and looked haggard but you were mostly intact and alive. That was impressive for an untrained young English gentleman who was forced into war."

"You looked annoyed as if you loathed the fact that you were forced to come back to take the title.

So I held on to the hope that you were different from your father.

You hated the man, after all. I was wrong.

After exchanging greetings with me, you swiftly announced that you will be taking over the affairs of the dukedom.

I would have been content to at least manage the accounts at least, but you relegated me to the background, electing to pay me an allowance like an elderly maid. "

"I thought I was helping you," Theo snapped in frustration. "I was grateful for how beautifully you had managed the affairs of the estate. I did not want to bother you anymore."

"That was an excuse," Cuthbert roared. "If you truly loved my meticulousness, you would have suggested that I continue. You are just as selfish as your father, afraid of anyone coming close in fear that they might steal your dukedom."

"I never suspected you. Perhaps the reason you think I was protecting my title was because you had plans to steal it," Theo shot back.

"Oh no, I might have wanted that at the beginning, but when you cast me out of the castle, I was already too tired and old to start formulating another plan to take over the dukedom. I had a better plan," he replied with a smug smile.

"Please enlighten us," Theo said dryly.

"I figured that if I could not get the title, I could destroy it and all its charms. If I could not be duke, I wanted to do my best to destroy the properties entailed in the title but every time it survived until I was almost going crazy with frustration.

Then you sought to introduce me to your friends.

I finally had my fingers deep in the family affairs again, I thought of the best way to embarrass you the best way I knew.

To make you feel even a tiny fraction of the pain I felt.

The answer came to me eventually. I realized how attached you were to Blackmore's sister. I came to the answer.

"I would take away the love of your life, knowing that you would not be able to speak of it, because of the forbidden nature of your relationship.

I sent for Hector, my son. He seemed to be of sound mind and he reminded me of my younger self.

So hungry for parental approval. That was why he was a little too easy to manipulate.

The plan was simple. He would approach Cecilia and charm her into marrying him and get a hold of her fortune so that you had no access to them.

To make sure you had nothing to fall back on when I eventually wrecked your finances.

It was a fool proof plan. Or at least I thought it was," Cuthbert finished, slanting a murderous look towards his son where he knelt on the floor.

"I trusted you, Uncle Cuthbert," Theo said quietly, his voice thick with hurt.

"That is why you resemble your mother so much," Cuthbert said, turning to him with a cruel smile. "After all, her blind trust was the reason she ended up married to the monster that was your father."

"I would make sure to never repeat such a mistake," Theo replied hatefully. "You are a monster."

"Are not we all?" Cuthbert replied with a dark chuckle.

"You are definitely not as innocent as you pretend to be.

I am sure your friend has no idea that his innocent looking sister had been sneaking off to your estate this past month.

I am willing to bet they whatever you two got up to at night, it was definitely not innocent. "

Theo felt the blood drain from his face, he could not bear to face Magnus and the anger that he was sure to be there.

There was a long pause.

Theo could swear that he could hear the gears turning in Magnus' head. He found himself counting the seconds until hell broke loose.

When chaos came, it was dangerously quiet.

"Cecilia," Magnus called quietly, his disappointment bleeding through his voice "It is not true, is it? You did not sneak away to Emerton's house, did you?"

Cecilia was silent. He could see her clasping her hands tightly, her eyes cast down in shame.

That posture annoyed him to no end. She had no reason to be ashamed, he was the one who had seduced her, if anyone was to feel ashamed it was him, and his manipulative uncle who wanted to use this as a way to divert attention from his own faults.

"I do not think it is any of your business what happens between me and Lady Cecilia," he said firmly, meeting his uncle's eyes, enjoying the speed at which the smile disappeared from his face, when he realized that his attempt at distraction had not quite worked.

"We have yet to decide what to do about your numerous crimes.

The constables should be on their way now.

I sent William ahead to bring them. You will pay for your crimes.

I will make sure that you stand trial and pay for everything you have done," Theo finished, enjoying the bloom of fear in his uncle's eyes that replaced his smug smile from earlier.

Unfortunately, he should had never underestimated his uncle, because in next moment, Cuthbert was dragging Cecilia into his body, so that she shielded him, his eating knife at her throat.

Theo's heart thudded painfully in fear.

"I will kill her, if you come close to me," he growled, his eyes darting widely now on search of an escape route.

His uncle was a desperate man now, and desperate men were very dangerous. He could not afford to gamble with Cecilia's safety.

"I will kill you, bastard," Magnus growled in anger. "Unhand her."

That threat did not go down well with Cuthbert. He pressed the knife down, breaking the skin of Cecilia's neck. The spill of red blood that poured from that tiny cut, scared Theo, he swore that his heart will beat him to death.

He had to think of something if he did not want Cecilia to be sacrificed in this fight.

"Cuthbert," he said in a cajoling voice, raising his hands, palms facing forward in surrender. "I will let you go. You just have to let her go first."

"You think I am a fool?," Cuthbert chuckled nervously. "I do not trust the lot of you," he hissed, swinging the knife in that direction.

Cecilia must have thought that was her chance because she jerked her head back so it hit his nose, while at the same time, driving her elbow into his chest. He released her in reflex but before she could move an inch away, he grabbed hold of her hair, using it to keep a hold of her while he raised the knife to stab her.

Theo reacted on instinct, throwing himself forward to cover her, hissing in pain as the knife found its mark underneath his shoulder. At least Cecilia was fine.

He could hear Cuthbert cursing, men shouting. It seemed the constables were finally here. Good timing for such tardy fellows.

Realizing that he must be crushing Cecilia beneath his weight, he pushed himself up on his elbows, his strength fading with every breath. His body was shutting down with the accumulated pain of the whole night.

Cecilia was watching him with concern, tears shining in her beautiful eyes. She was stunning now, even with the bruises and cut on her neck. She was alive and that was more than enough.

Raising a shaking hand to her face, cradling the soft skin of her cheeks. He forced a smile, his lips stinging where they were busted.

"You are safe now, my love," he managed to say.

Her face was blurry now and his head felt too heavy. The last thing he heard was the sound of Cecilia sobbing before his vision went dark and he knew nothing.