Page 56 of Unbound Duchess

Benedict’s eyes narrowed as he took in the three of them, and a small sneer had his lips drawn back as he took another step up the stairs and away from them.

“You will beg me to rescue you, one day,” Benedict warned as he took another step up the stairs. “You think you are with good company, my Sweet Ellie. But you are wrong.”

Benedict’s gaze raked down again. Not over her this time. Over Laurence.

“The ones that try to appear so very good are often the ones with the most despicable tastes,” Benedict bit out with clear disgust.

Behind her, Laurence grew stiff. She could feel his rage vibrating through his being. Then his arms tightened around Ellen’s waist, and he pressed another soft kiss, this time to her temple. Ellen tilted her chin up and coolly replied, “I would rather keep company with a pack of feral dogs than keep company with you, cousin.”

Laurence’s chuckle was low and approving behind her ear as she felt him trail the tip of his nose up the nape of her neck, and she could not help the smug smile that drew across her lips as she stared challengingly at the man who’d once abused her.

“Come along,” Laurence murmured into her ear, giving her a gentle tug. “This weak man has wasted enough of our time, and I want to dance with my wife.”

Benedict’s expression shifted to one of pain as Ellen took an obedient step back, and as she turned her back on him to follow Laurence, she wagered she’d never felt more satisfied—or terrified—of how she had just acted.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Laurence,” Ellen breathed as he swept her down the stairs.

“Laurence, wait!” she hissed under her breath. “I cannot dance!”

It was the truth. She was far too young to start learning when her mother had died, and after just a few lessons from an instructor her father had paid for, she had downright refused to learn any more. It was one of the many reasons why she had stuck to the wall during her years as a debutante.

“You do not need to know how to dance, Ellen. You simply must allow me to lead. I will do the rest,” Laurence answered as they reached the dance floor.

He then pushed her away at the waist, twirling her out. She gasped, thinking for a moment that she might lose her balance and fall in front of the entire ball, but then Laurence’s hand gripped around hers, and he twirled her back into him, drawing her to an abrupt stop just as she was about to slam into his chest. She looked up at him, wide-eyed as she braced both hands on his chest, wondering how on earth he had just made her body perform such a graceful act.

“Left hand on my shoulder,” he instructed, a bit of rage still dancing in his green gaze, “right hand in my left. Deep breath.”

His other hand was still settled on her waist as he stepped forward, and without thinking twice, she took a step back and allowed him to lead. For a moment, they both just listened to the slow, sweet sounds of the violins as Laurence led her into the dance, moving her effortlessly in graceful circles around the dance floor.

Something twinged and mewled inside her as she gave him control, as if her body wanted to give him more. Yet she couldn’t. She felt too guilty.

“I failed,” she whispered, looking up at him with apologetic eyes.

Laurence’s gaze was as steadfast as always as he led her through the steps.

“You did no such thing,” he replied, his deep voice still holding a bit

of the enraged edge.

Ellen shook her head.

“I did not ask him the right questions. Did not find out anything new. We had an opportunity, and I wasted it,” she whispered.

She began to bow her head in shame, but Laurence’s fingers lifted from her waist and caught her chin, stopping her. The pressure in his fingertips was gentle as he nudged her head back up to meet his eyes, where she found that same sternness from before.

“You were not ready,” he replied, his tone still tinged with coldness.

His thumb smoothed tenderly over her chin before he dropped it back to his waist.

“You should not have given in to Solomon’s insistence,” he chastised.

Irritation skittered through Ellen’s veins, and she frowned.

“I needed to,” she whispered. “This was the plan. I could not back away just because I was afraid!”

She scowled at him, at his handsome face that looked even more alluring than usual as he held onto his obvious rage.