Page 53 of Unbound Duchess

Laurence shifted his gaze down to Ellen once more, and his heart slammed into his ribs as he saw the apparent fear in her wide eyes.

“I do not know.” The words were out of his mouth before he had time to even realize he was speaking. “Perhaps this is not the best idea.”

Solomon’s brows furrowed as he looked at Laurence as if he had lost his mind.

“This was your idea,” Solomon insisted. “All of ours, remember? Ellen’s too.”

Solomon’s gaze shifted to Ellen.

“You still want to stop your cousin, do you not?” he asked.

“Solomon,” Laurence snarled quietly under his breath.

Solomon was not looking at him, though. His steadfast gaze was on Ellen, waiting for her answer.

Ellen swallowed, her throat bobbing as she reached up to her bodice and plucked a kerchief from, to Laurence’s surprise, her cleavage. A kerchief, he noticed at once with a startling amount of pleasure, that was his.

She pressed it to her nose, inhaled, and the fear in her eyes transformed into determination.

“I do,” she said, her tone assertive as she lowered the kerchief from her face. “You are right. Now is the time. We cannot waste the opportunity.”

Pride speared through Laurence’s chest as he heard the determination in her voice, and he could not help the devilish grin that spread across his lips as she clenched his kerchief into her fist.

“Go get him,” he whispered encouragingly into her ear. “We will be close by if you need us. We will not let you out of our sight.”

Appreciation shone in her eyes as she looked up at him and gave a determined nod. She squared her shoulders and walked with grace toward the stairs.

Laurence watched closely, taking in her straight back and clenched fists as he held his breath.

“What is going on?” Solomon murmured.

Laurence said nothing as he watched Benedict’s eyes first widen, then narrow as he saw Ellen approaching him. He stopped talking to the rotund fellow and set his eyes fully on Ellen. The possessiveness that gleamed in the earl’s eyes had Laurence clenching his own fists, and his stomach tightened in knots.

“Laurence!” Solomon snarled quietly, elbowing him.

“What?” Laurence hissed through gritted teeth, unable to take his eyes off of his wife and her cousin.

“I ask again, what is going on?” Solomon demanded.

Laurence sucked his teeth.

“What are you talking about?” he muttered, growing annoyed with the distraction.

“This was our plan. From the start, this was our plan, and now that we are finally able to use her, you almost let her back out?” Solomon questioned.

His friend’s quiet voice was filled with rage, but even so, Laurence did not take his eyes off Ellen.

“Something is going on between you two,” Solomon went on when Laurence did not answer. “Something more than just a deal.”

It was a second, just a mere second, that he flicked a warning glare toward Solomon before his gaze found Ellen again.

“You are being paranoid,” he gritted out. “All is well.”

Solomon scoffed at his side.

“You might believe that. Ellen might believe that. But I do not. Rein in your passions, friend,” Solomon warned. “Or it will be you who will be choked tonight.”

CHAPTER TWENTY