Page 74 of The Duchess Debt

“No!” Helena cried out and grabbed his arm, then stepped in front of him to save Adam’s life. She could feel the fury pulsing through Gabe as her fingers dug hard into his bicep. “Don’t!”

Gabe sucked in a hard, jerking breath, and she could see him battling the urge to step around her and pummel his brother.

“Don’t hurt him,” she urged him. “You had faith in me when you entered the room. Keep that same faith now and know that I’m right that hurting him will solve nothing.” She cast a grimace at Adam and muttered, “No matter how satisfying. Just let him go. Please.”

Gabe slipped his arm around her and pulled her to his side, taking a moment to rest his mouth against her hair. Hiseyes never leaving his brother, he murmured, “I would never doubt you, Helena.”

The quiet words pierced her with profound relief. For the first time, Helena was certain he no longer searched for his late wife in her. Clarissa’s ghost was finally gone.

But Adam was a living monster who needed to be dealt with. And from the brimstone burning in Gabe’s eyes…God help him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“Leave,” Gabe ordered his brother through clenched teeth as he tucked Helena safely behind him to keep the bastard away from her, although Gabe would murder him with his bare hands if heevertouched her again. “Now.”

When he’d entered the library and found her on the settee with Adam, her dress mussed and his brother’s clothes half-removed, and he knew… This wasn’t one of Clarissa’s assignations, not with the fear on her face, and certainly not with the scent of her still lingering on him from making love to her less than half an hour ago. This was Adam’s duplicity.

And the only thing that had stopped Gabe from killing him was Helena.

He stared at Adam, but the ties of brotherhood that had once been between them as boys no longer existed. Now when he looked at Adam, all he saw were lies and deceit.

“Fine,” Adam snapped out as he buttoned up his fall and scrambled into his waistcoat. “But I want what I’m owed.” He pulled on his jacket and yanked his sleeves into place. “And I’m taking what’s mine.”

Gabe reached into his inside breast pocket and withdrew a stack of banknotes. “I planned on giving this to you tonight so I wouldn’t have to see you at the wedding tomorrow, since the money is all you care about.” He held out the notes. “It’s more than worth it to be rid of you.”

Adam snatched the notes from Gabe’s hand. “I meant Alice.” He shoved the notes into his waistcoat. “She’s mine, after all. And she’s surely worth something to Clarissa’s family. Just think what raising the daughter of a duke will do to their social status.”

Gabe’s heart skipped. “Leave Alice alone.”

“What do you care? You don’t want her.” He shook his head. “As soon as she’s old enough, you’ll send her away to school in Scotland or to distant relatives in Cornwall whom you can pay to take her off your hands. Any place far enough away that you won’t have to deal with her or even think about her.” Adam shrugged. “Or you can make it easy and pay me to take her off your hands right now. I’ll leave with her in the morning, and you’ll never be bothered with her again. After all, thatiswhat you’ve wanted all along, isn’t it? For me to step up and claim responsibility for my mess.”

Gabe’s fists tightened at his sides, and he clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth ground together. But he couldn’t have said what he was furious at—Adam for his demands…or for being right. He had wanted exactly that, for years.

“She’ll only be in the way here and never be missed once she’s gone.” Adam gestured at Helena. “You and the lightskirt will surely whelp several brats of your own and easily replace her.”

Gabe swung. His fist landed hard against Adam’s chin, snapping his head back and sending him reeling to the floor.

A loud gasp went up from the doorway. Gabe glanced up—

Nanny Potts stood in the hall, her hands clamped over her mouth and her eyes wide as saucers, her round face white. She stared at the three of them for a silent moment, then spun on her heel and fled back toward the nursery.

Gabe let out a muffled curse of frustration in her wake, knowing a new nanny would most likely have to be hired. Or the pay doubled for this one.

“You’ve caused enough problems in my house,” Gabe bit out.And in my life. “Leave. Andnevercome back.”

He strode across the room to the bell pull and gave it a vicious yank. Uncomfortable silence filled the room as Adam slowly rose to his feet and rubbed at his chin, a trickle of bloodseeping from the corner of his mouth. Helena did her best to stand straight-spined and brave, but Gabe could still see her trembling, along with the pallor gripping her face, even in the shadows of the dim lamplight. Her eyes were fixed on the rug at her feet so she wouldn’t have to see the way Adam sneered at her as he wiped the blood from his lip. Gabe didn’t blame her. He never wanted to set eyes on his brother ever again either.

A footman rapped his knuckles on the open door. “Your Grace?”

He nodded at Adam. “Please help my brother to pack up all his personal belongings in his room.” The footman stiffened, knowing what Gabe meant. Do not let my brother steal anything that isn’t his.“Then make certain he’s helped into the carriage and driven to the village inn. This will be his last visit to Grangely Park, understand?”

The footman nodded, his suspicious gaze darting to Adam. “Yes, Your Grace.”

With a fierce curse, Adam shoved past the young servant and stomped out into the hall. But the footman dutifully followed after like a good watch dog.

Helena stepped forward to close the door after them, then leaned back against it to block it, as if afraid Gabe might leave her after all. Or go after Adam and murder him.

Instead, Gabe softened his gaze on her and silently held open his arms.