Page 83 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

“I shall remove the gag.” Lord Verimoor reached towards her and then paused. “Screaming will do you little good. We are miles away from civilization.”

Rose glared at him.

You vile, hateful beast.

Lord Verimoor stroked her cheek, and only the fabric in her mouth kept her from trying to bite him. Tears threatened to spill over, but she held them back.

“You are so very beautiful.” Lord Verimoor sighed. “Now, as I said, it is unlikely that anyone will hear you scream, but I do not care for the sound. And I would hate to have to drug you again. It is rather tiresome, riding in a carriage with an unconscious woman.”

He dug his fingers into her chin as he tilted her face up. His blue eyes were cold and icy.

How could I have ever thought him handsome? The man is a monster.

“Do you promise not to scream?” He smiled, showing his white teeth.

Rose nodded her head.

“Good girl.” He removed the gag and leaned back in his seat. “I would apologize for the restraints, but it seemed only sensible. You are rather wilder than I had anticipated. No doubt some of that vile Duke’s character has rubbed off on you. We shall have to purge it from your system.” He smoothed back his hair absently and smiled at her. “No matter, I have broken far wilder creatures than you.”

“Why are you doing this?” Rose’s voice was hoarse, her throat dry and aching. “What can you possibly hope to achieve?”

“I have already told you. I wish to make you my wife.”

“But why? You could have your pick of any woman of the ton.”

“I could. But I wantyou. And I always get what I want.” Lord Verimoor shrugged nonchalantly. “Of course, I would rather have had you unspoiled, but well. Even the best-laid plan is not foolproof.”

Rose spat at him. A crack rang out, and she was flung against the side of the carriage. Her face stung. Her eyes filled withtears. Lord Verimoor shook out his right hand, cursing under his breath.

He slapped me.

Fury filled Rose. She wanted to bite him. To hurt him.

Stay calm.

The ropes around her wrists dug into her skin. Belatedly, she realized her legs and feet were also bound.

“If you so much as think of doing that again, I will inflict such pain on you that you will wish you were dead.” His eyes were cold and empty, his voice dangerously calm. “You are restrained. Completely and utterly at my mercy. And I do not think you are a fool.”

Rose swallowed. Something about his tone niggled at the corners of her mind. Her mother had taught her how to read people from a young age. Lord Verimoor may have been blessed with a cherubic face, but there was something dark and twisted in his soul.

This man enjoys the fact that I am powerless.

No, that was not quite right. It was not that Rose was powerless. It was that she was at the mercy ofhispower. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.

“This is all about power, isn’t it?” she breathed.

Lord Verimoor laughed and clapped his hands together. “Oh, very good. I knew you weren’t like the other simpering fools of the ton. Yes, it is about power. Power and status—the only two things that matter in this world.”

Rose shook her head. “You want to marry me for my position and influence. But that will not work, not while Alexander lives.”

Alexander will find me, and when he does, you shall rue the day your mother set eyes on your father.

“Your Duke is dead.” Lord Verimoor glanced at his pocket watch. “My man will have killed him by now. Just like he killed his father.”

Rose gasped.

Alexander cannot be dead. He cannot be dead. But wait. His father? How does he know?