Page 24 of Unbound Duchess

Solomon’s voice was cold and curt. Laurence stood in the doorway of Solomon’s Wynter estate. The Duke of Wynter’s gaze was even colder than his voice.

Laurence figured he deserved that.

“I am here to offer you both,” he replied, tilting his chin up as he boldly met his friend’s cold gaze.

Solomon narrowed his eyes at Laurence as he kept his hands in his trouser pockets and his body firmly planted in the doorway for a moment longer. Then Solomon rolled his eyes, pushed away from the doorframe, and inclined his head as a subtle invitation as he walked back into his house.

“You revealed yourself last night,” Solomon scolded.

“I know.”

“You played into the auction. You supported their disgusting business and paid a handsome fee for it!” Solomon spat out, sounding angrier as he led the way to his study.

“I did.”

“You attacked Benedict!” Solomon boomed, whirling around to glare at Laurence just as they reached the study.

Laurence gave a curt nod of acknowledgement.

Solomon’s lips twitched. Then he huffed a laugh as he slid his gaze to the side.

“I suppose I might have enjoyed that part,” he muttered.

Laurence smirked.

“I certainly did,” he admitted.

“But did you have to do it there?” Solomon snapped, his moment of amusement clearly over. “After you slid your mask up and revealed yourself? After you clearly went after him in front of all of those men? Do you have any idea how quickly this could ruin our plan?!”

“Solomon, please,” Laurence sighed, holding his hands up in surrender. “I understand all of these things. But what was I supposed to do? Just leave her there? A woman who clearly did not want to be there. A woman with bruises on her face and silent pleas on her lips for me to help her?”

Solomon glared at him for another moment, then his gaze softened and his rigid stature relaxed.

“No,” he sighed. “No, you should not have left her there. Though I am curious as to how you knew one another.”

A jolt moved through Laurence as his mind moved at once to the kiss he’d shared with Ellen. He should tell her, at some point, that it was he who had given her that first kiss. He’d almost hoped, when their faces were so close in the carriage the night before, that she’d recognize him somehow. When she had not, he could not help the disappointment that swept through him, but after the night she’d had, he’d thought it was poor timing to bring up such an intimate confession.

“We met at Benedict’s dinner party,” Laurence said, forcing his tone to stay casually measured. “You left with Madalene before the announcement, but Ellen is… was… Benedict’s betrothed. She caught me rifling through Benedict’s study, and the conversation turned to her.”

Solomon gaped at him.

“Please tell me you are playing a cruel jest,” Solomon pleaded.

Laurence shook his head as he recalled that night.

“You should have seen her, Solomon. When Benedict announced they were to be married, it was a wonder she did not faint. And the way she flinched at him? He has hurt her before. I knew it then, and I certainly know it now. The man’s a monster.”

Solomon’s expression darkened. He turned and went into his study, going directly to the drink cart.

“If that is true and she is—was his betrothed, then why did he have her at the auction last night?” he asked, pouring them both a whisky.

Laurence sniffed at the smoky notes of the liquor but did not take a sip yet.

“From what she told me last night, she tried to tell him to stop the day after the party. Benedict did not take her rejection well, so she tried to run away and he caught her. He took her to the auction to teach her a lesson.”

He downed the whisky, hoping that it would dampen his rising rage.

It did not.