“Flights of fancy can be quite common, I believe,” Adrian continued, as his lips curled into a disdainful smile. “It is especially true for men who have become too desperate to save face. I feel terrible that such men may not achieve what they want, unless it’s by force. Business. Social acceptance. Women.”
Adrian did not have to hurl insults boisterously. He spoke with calm steadiness, with a voice that was not even forceful, yet the words that came through were. They were dismissive.
The Duke’s words were followed by uneasy chuckles and nervous coughs. Adrian had managed to reframe the incident. He could already imagine that one of the local gossip sheets would mention the moment between him and Briarwood. They did not have to dig deep to find out that the Earl had been envious. Adrian had managed to shift the attention toward Briarwood.
“Brilliantly done, Your Grace,” Daphne murmured. Again, Adrian could hear pride in her voice. But something else was there too. Relief.
Unfortunately, that relief was short-lived.
Her brother, the Marquess of Grisham, Daniel, rushed to her side. He didn’t look pleased, which seemed reminiscent of the first time he and the Duke had met. He leaned in toward his sister.
“Daphne,” he whispered a little harshly, his eyes flicking at Adrian with suspicion. “Was Briarwood telling the truth?”
“Not here, Daniel,” she whispered back urgently. “Not now.”
Daniel straightened. His face had hardened, taking on the role of Marquess of Grisham, a position left by his father, a cruel man.
“Your Grace,” Daniel addressed his brother-in-law. “I wish to speak with you and Daphne. In private.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The trio found an empty, private room that the Harringtons often made available to guests. Inside, the sounds from the soiree grew muffled but remained audible.
Music. Laughter. Chatter.
The married couple should have been focused on those, but unfortunately, the events at the Obsidian Card had left a mark. In the private room, the initial silence was suffocating.
“Were you there?” Daniel demanded, no longer wasting time. “Were you at the fire? At the Obsidian Card?”
His eyes were like flames directed at his sister. The controlled marquess was gone. It was even harder to see the boy he used to be, the one who was more focused on fun and travel.
“Yes, we were, Daniel,” Daphne admitted unflinchingly. “We were at the gaming hell.”
“What on earth were you doing? Why were you there? Isn’t that what your mother has been telling you to go against? Ruining your reputation?” Daniel roared, the nerves on his forehead popping with anger.
Adrian and Daphne remained silent. Daniel took it as an opportunity to lash out some more. “What were you trying to do? You swore to protect my sister. Now, you drag her, a duchess, to a world of filth and danger!”
Daphne stepped between the two men, trying to stop whatever violence might erupt.
“Stop it, Daniel! You will not speak to my husband that way. I was the one who urged him to bring me to the Obsidian Card. I wanted to see it for myself, experience what his life was like in that little world. I wanted to know him better. He didn’t want to bring me because he wanted to protect me from it. We did get away from it all without any injury. Do you see me now?”
But Daniel ignored Daphne. He was too focused on his fury that he kept on ranting at Adrian. “Do you think your life as a Duke can flow seamlessly without being entangled with your life as a criminal? You are a target, Wolfcrest. You know that. Still, you brought along my sister and put her in danger of becoming collateral damage!”
“Peace, Daniel,” Daphne urged, placing a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “We are doing well. We are fine. I didn’t burn into ash!”
Finally, Daniel turned to focus on Daphne. She knew that he had vowed to protect her and their other sisters. It made sense that he felt terribly helpless now.
“Don’t you ever do that again, Daphne,” he pleaded, cupping his younger sister’s cheeks. “Don’t scare us like that again. How do you think I felt when I realized I had to save you from Briarwood by sending you to another scoundrel?”
She heard Adrian inhale sharply, but he didn’t say a thing.
“I am scaring you? Then, you are much like my mother, Daniel. I am my own person now. Yes, I can understand why you worry, but I also need to be myself and experience what I want. I was too afraid growing up with Father. Too meek under Mother. And y-you’re a man. You had finally realized what it was like to be free when you left for the Continent. Women like me must stay behind, looking pretty for suitors.”
“Please vow to me that you won’t do anything like that again,” Daniel pleaded once more, as if she’d never even spoken.
Daphne imagined her brother’s senses had shut down. All that he could focus on was ensuring she stayed out of trouble.
“I vow it, Grisham,” her husband said, shocking her with his response. He sounded formal, decisive, and resigned. “The duchess will not be put in danger again. I will ensure it.”
