Page 105 of A Tempest of Shadows

Despite this, I could tell he considered himself above me and didn’t want to touch me because of it. He stepped aside to let me enter the shadowed interior of the luxurious carriage that somehow still managed to shine despite the dust its wheels kicked up on the drive here.

I bit back the fuck you on my lips as the footman stared straight ahead like I wasn’t there. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know he’d gotten to me.

Grasping the railing on the side of the carriage, I pulled myself up and climbed the steps. I ducked low to enter the elaborately decorated, perfectly immaculate carriage with thick red seats.

The red curtains drawn over the windows blocked out the light, but I immediately spotted the duke. He sat against the back wall of the carriage with his hands folded on his lap and his chin raised as he looked down his nose at me.

I loathed this man, but his resemblance to his son momentarily made me forget this. There were differences between them; the duke’s hair was a dark shade of blond and his eyes a pale green, but their features were strikingly similar.

When the door closed behind me, I resisted the impulse to gulp as the duke lifted a hand and waved at the seat across from him. I settled onto the plush cushion, clasped my hands on my lap, and lifted my chin to stare back at him.

His gaze ran disdainfully over me, and his lips curved into a sneer. The fact he looked so much like his son was especially disconcerting.

When Ryker looked at me, only joy and happiness shone in his eyes. When this man looked at me, it was clear I was a bug he planned to squish.

I’d very much like to squish him too. However, there were roles to play in our society, and I had to be pleasant no matter how much I’d prefer to bring lightning down on his ass.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT

Ellery

“Milord,” I greeted dryly.

“Ellery Marian,” he murmured. “I remember you from when we were forced to stay in this hovel years ago.”

My jaw clenched. While my home was nowhere near as big or elaborate as his castle, it was far from a hovel. “I remember you too, milord.”

“It seems you especially remembered my son.”

I didn’t respond as I restrained my hands from fidgeting in my lap. I didn’t want to fear this man, but I couldn’t deny he terrified me.

The duke wielded so much power in this realm, and he clearly hated me. He could do anything to me, and no one could stop him. Ryker would try, but he wasn’t here, and by the time he returned, it would be too late.

“It took me a few days to place who you were after seeing you in my son’s bed,” the duke continued.

I inwardly winced at the reminder of the mortifying situation that had brought him here. And I was sure it wasn’t to congratulate me and Ryker on finding happiness with each other.

“I knew you looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite remember how,” the duke continued. “Did you enjoy fucking my son in my home?”

His blunt, vulgar language shocked me so much that it knocked the breath from me as surely as his fist would have. I’d never expected to hear this refined, dignified man talk in such a way.

At first, I didn’t know how to respond, but then anger surged up my chest and burned into my throat. I stopped myself from telling him, yes, I’d enjoyed it… a lot.

Instead, I recalled my mother and Scarlet standing outside. It wasn’t only me this man could destroy.

“It was inappropriate of me, milord,” I murmured. “I shouldn’t have been there.”

“At least you have the decency not to deny it.”

I didn’t say anything.

“What are you doing with my son? Why are the two of you involved with each other at all?”

I debated how to answer this but decided on the truth: we weren’t doing anything wrong. “I’ve been helping him search for the Hooded Robber. Having grown up on the edge of the Revenant Woods, I know them well.”

“I see.” His gaze went to the wall behind me as he pondered this revelation. “So, he hasn’t let that robbery go yet, but of course, he wouldn’t. He’s always been stubborn.”

He glanced toward the curtained window and pulled it back a little. I couldn’t see what he did, but I knew he had a view of Scarlet and my mother.