Page 46 of To Ensnare a Duke

Istare at the dance floor, watching as men pick up their new partners. Four dances now, and not one glimpse of Augusta or her aunt. Gritting my teeth, I watch as Lord Harhall shuffles about, his eyes darting to and fro.

What is that conniving abuser up to? I watch as he stalks the walls, making as little conversation as possible. The cad certainly looks guilty enough. I nudge Norhaven in the side and jerk my chin in the baron's direction.

"Have you seen Miss Hunt or her aunt?"

"Not since they left."

"Keep an eye out for them. I'm going to follow this prick and see what he's up to. If you find them, detain them. I will make sure they go home at once. I've had enough of this. There's far more important things I could be doing than watching my best friend's little sister."

"I'm sure," he murmurs, smothering a smile.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing other than I know the look of an alpha smitten with an omega."

"Bah, what would you know of it? I want to thrash the girl, not bed her."

"For us," he teases, "it is often one and the same."

I shove my friend away, refusing to acknowledge his point. "Just find them."

Once he takes off, leaving Miss Campbell with her chaperones, I stalk after Lord Harhall. Something about this just doesn't seem right. If he were planning on having a clandestine meeting, would he really be so bold as to do so here?

He makes his way down a lit corridor, his eyes darting back every so often. He's certainly up to something. Keeping myself to the shadows, I do my best not to alert him to my presence. Oddly enough, the door he takes leads to the outside.

Certainly no good will come of this. I know it in my gut. Yet, I still cannot keep from propelling myself forward. He's nowhere to be seen. The only other thing out here is a tall hedge surrounding a garden. Soft noises come from behind the plants, but I cannot make them out.

Dread drips along my spine as I step closer, picking out a soft, feminine sound. I know that sound. I hear it deep in the night as I try to go to sleep. I hear it bouncing around my skull as it follows me into my dreams.

Augusta.

No one should be drawing those gasps from her lips. Not even me, and certainly not here. Bursting into the garden, I hope to take the man unprepared. By the end of this, there will be pistols at dawn. I will kill anyone who dares to compromise this woman.

Yet, she's all alone. Her eyes widen as she sees me. But I know that look. It's the same look I've seen on the whores at The Rose and Thorne. What does she mean by this false sense of modesty?

"Where is he?" I growl, pacing about.

"Where is who?"

"Do not play coy with me. I know you came out here to meet the man. Now where is he?"

"In truth, I know not what you mean. No one else is here, save me."

My eyes drift over every inch of the garden, peering into the shadows as I do my best to make sense of every clump of branches and bits of overgrown grass. We are alone, it seems, as she says.

"What on earth are you thinking, being out here unchaperoned? Anyone could come and take advantage of you."

She drops her lashes against her cheek. "But there is only you here, Your Grace. Should I protect myself from you?"

Enough of this show. Storming over, I grab her elbow and haul her toward me. "What game are you playing at? I demand to know the meaning of your actions." When she stays silent, I grip her shoulders and shake her about, demanding she see reason. "Come, I must take you inside before someone sees us out here."

"It's far too late for that," Norhaven groans, motioning toward the growing crowd behind him.

Augusta's aunt hobbles over, her mouth hanging agape with shock. The others have similar looks interspersed with glee and malice. I knew tonight had an ill omen hanging over it.

Rubbing my hand against the back of my neck, I glower down at Augusta, who preens as prettily as the cat who lapped up all the cream with no remorse.

"You will stay silent and allow me to handle this."