Cassandra elbowed Caroline. She reluctantly curtsied and dutifully wished Duke Kendall a pleasant evening, then left on Cassandra’s arm. After Matthew lost his sisters in the crowd, he turned his attention to Duke Kendall—grinning from ear to ear.
“Lead the way, Your Grace,” Matthew said.
And without another word, Duke Kendall led him from the ballroom, through the same winding halls. But no. Matthew frowned. These halls were different. Unlit. Instead the hall to Duke Kendall’s study, they seemed to be in a guest wing.
Identical white doors lined the walls, and ahead, two silver candelabras illuminated one door.
And Matthew wanted to run. He wasn’t going in there. Didn’t wish to know what happened behind closed doors in this manor, or why Duke Kendall vibrated with energy when they stopped in front of the room. Like a magician, Duke Kendall flicked his wrist, and a key appeared between his fingers.
“Your present awaits inside.”
He held out the key, but Matthew hesitated—he didn’t want whatever Duke Kendall offered. Wouldn’t walk right into a trap. Shaking his head, he stepped back, but Duke Kendall reached for him and pressed the key into his palm.
“You should make haste,” he whispered, “While you can properly enjoy her.”
Her.
Hands shaking, Matthew placed the key in the lock and opened the door. Duke Kendall followed him inside. Matthew’s eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, with only one flickering candle in the room. On a table near a bed. A black canopy bed. At first, he saw nothing. Nothing but a lump in the middle of the mattress. Then itmoved. And he saw her, with her black hair and black dress flared out beneath her.
He bounded to her.
“Jasmine!”
Matthew sat on the bed next to her. He tried to lift her, but her head lolled back. He tapped her cheek. “Jasmine, love, wake up. Open your eyes for me.”
But she didn’t. She sighed, and her breath carried the scent of alcohol.
He set her back down and snarled at Duke Kendall. “What did you give her?”
“Laudanum. Two drops in her punch and two under her tongue,”Duke Kendall instructed. “Now you can have what herdearest papadenied you,” he cooed. “But alas, time is ticking. All sleeping princesses wake eventually.”
Matthew ground his teeth together. Blood rushed in his ears, drowning out his thoughts. With each breath, the thin shred of his sanity slipped. He stood, met Duke Kendall’s gleeful grin—as pleased as a cat who brought home a dead mouse.
And hesnapped.
Matthew charged at Duke Kendall. The other man’s eyes widened, and he released a surprised shout. Grabbing Duke Kendall by his collar, Matthew lifted him and shoved him against the wall.
Duke Kendall grunted as the air left him, and Matthew did it again. Gold brocade ripped under his grip as he kept Duke Kendall aloft. The Duke’s feet kicked in the air between them, and Matthew lifted him by his throat. Duke Kendall choked. He pressed harder on the Duke’s windpipe—fighting every instinct to break it.
“What did you do to her?!”
“Nothing,” Duke Kendall hissed.
“Did youtouchher?!”
“Why would I touch her?” Duke Kendall croaked. “She’syourgift.”
“Answer me! Did. You.Touch. Her?!”
With each word, Matthew asserted more pressure until Duke Kendall’s face turned purple.
“No.” Duke Kendall met his gaze directly, eyes bloodshot and bulging. “Release me, or I’ll have you hanged.”
Jasmine groaned, Matthew loosened his grip, and Duke Kendall pushed him off. Matthew moved to Jasmine, and she seemed to reach for him.
Then her arm slipped off the bed, and she lay limp.
Kneeling on the floor next to her, he held her hand—warm to the touch, even under her silk gloves. Duke Kendall shook his head andlaughed. He wagged his finger as if Matthew had played a prank on him.
