Page 29 of Unbound Duchess

“Not without a chaperone, you will not,” Laurence countered quickly, fixing his sister with a warning stare.

Ellen flinched at his gruff tone, immediately sending guilt spearing through his chest, but Madalene only rolled her eyes.

“Relax, brother. I am staying at our cousins’ home and taking the guards and maids that you have approved,” Madalene sighed. She then looked back to Ellen and whispered, “He is so protective. Overly so, in my opinion. Alas, there is not a thing we can do to dissuade his nature, though. I have tried and failed many a time.”

Laurence ground his teeth, fighting the urge to lecture his sister on the dangers of the men of the Ton. Again, for the thousandth time, he reminded himself that Madalene was not Annabel, and he kept his warnings to himself.

“Would you please give Ellen a tour of the estate and introduce her to the staff before you go?” he said instead, “Make it short, though. She needs rest.”

Ellen gave him a grateful look, but Madalene narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

“You are abandoning your duties as a husband already, brother?” she asked with clear disappointment. “Is that not your responsibility?”

Her gaze turned apologetic as she looked to Ellen and said, “Not that I mind in the slightest, sister. I just want my brother to understand the importance of his husbandly duties.”

“I would,” Laurence interjected, flicking his gaze over his shoulder, just in time to see the plain carriage coming up the drive. “But I have some business to take care of that is most pressing.”

“Brother! On your wedding day?” Madalene scolded.

“It is quite alright,” Ellen interjected before Laurence could tell Madalene to calm herself. His brows rose as Ellen cast him a kind glance before turning her face to his little sister. “As he said, I am quite tired, and I would love the opportunity to speak with you a little before you take your leave.”

Laurence watched as his sister’s annoyance faded upon hearing Ellen’s words, and she leaned in and gave Ellen another hug.

“I do not yet know you well, but I can already tell my brother does not deserve someone as kind and understanding as you,” Madalene praised.

Laurence raised a single brow at his sister’s pointed words, but he noted how Ellen only blushed at them.

“Go then, brother, attend to your business,” Madalene said with a sigh as she began to lead Ellen away. “I shall happily show my new sister her new home.”

Ellen turned her head, giving him one more hesitant look over her shoulder as Madalene led her through the receiving hall. He gave her a quick nod, a silent promise that she was safe. He noted how her brows tensed slightly, but then she gave a curt nod in return before shifting her gaze forward.

Laurence watched a moment longer, wishing there was something he could do that could instantly take away the fear still gripping her. Only time could do that, though, and with that in mind, he closed the front door of his mansion and walked to the plain carriage now parked in his drive.

He had sent Geoff and a few others on the search for the two servants right before he and Ellen had gone into the church, and was not at all surprised that his men had been quick to do his bidding.

“Where did you find them?” Laurence asked Geoff as he climbed down from the carriage’s driver’s seat.

“In a garden shed behind Perminton Manor, Your Grace,” Geoff answered, his expression grim. “Half-starved, chained up like dogs and looking like they do now.”

Laurence's lips twitched toward a snarl, but he willed himself to remain calm.

“And how do they look now?” he asked with great effort to sound patient.

In answer, Geoff opened the carriage door, and Laurence found two young, bruised faces staring tentatively back at him. He had to fight his facial muscles not to show his disgust as the couple of early twenty-something-year-olds clasped each other’s hands tightly and flinched away from him.

“Do not be frightened,” he said, willing his voice to be calm despite the rage burning through his blood. “He cannot hurt either of you any longer. You are under my protection now.”

The young man, Jacob, he presumed, tightened his grip on the young woman and put himself between her and Laurence.

Brave, Laurence silently mused.

“I admire your willingness to protect her, but I assure you it is not necessary,” he said aloud.

Jacob did not move from his protective stance as he said, “Respectfully, Your Grace, that remains to be proven.”

Laurence raised his chin, making sure to keep his gaze on Jacob and Jacob alone.

“I have married Lady Ellen Munro. It is by her request that you have been brought here,” he stated.