Page 78 of Unbound Duchess

“Yes,” he whispered.

Ellen pressed her lips together as she nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“If you do not want to do this, Ellen,” Laurence began to say as he took a step toward her. Then her gaze flicked back up, so quick and cold it made him freeze.

“I do,” she said with quiet determination. “You have no idea how much I want to put my cousin behind me.”

It was the most they’d spoken since the day that she’d so bravely chased Judith away.

Laurence swallowed again, his throat bobbing as he felt disgust roiling off Ellen in waves.

“You will not need to speak to him this time,” Laurence said, feeling the need to soothe her somehow. “He just needs to see you, and be distracted by you enough that we can draw him away from the party. I will be by your side at all times. He will not hurt you again, Ellen.”

Ellen gave a curt nod.

“Very well,” she said stiffly.

Laurence winced internally at her tone. He missed her warmth. Her gentleness. Yet that gentleness brought that feral side out in him, and he had to keep it at bay.

“I suppose after my cousin is arrested, our deal will be done,” she said in that same stiff tone.

Laurence stalled as he searched for the right answer. After several tense moments, he could only say, “Yes, I suppose it will be.”

Something flickered in Ellen’s blue eyes. Something that caused pain to ripple across his chest.

“Very well, then,” Ellen answered with a single nod, her gaze dropping once more to the floor.

He should say something. Wanted to say something that would bring her comfort, but as he searched for the proper words, all he could think of was Godric’s message.

“I have a message for you,” he told her. “From our friend Deborah.”

Surprise flickered through Ellen’s eyes, pushing that guarded look away.

“Yes?” she said, her tone hopeful.

Laurence relayed Godric’s message, hoping that it would make her happy. His heart twisted with pain as nothing but sorrow filled her eyes.

“She is so very kind,” she said softly after a moment. “I hope she finds her happiness as well.”

“I am certain she has,” Laurence replied, hoping to provide her with a small comfort. “Godric says her husband worships her.”

Ellen’s smile was weak and not at all genuine.

“Good,” she choked out.

Torment. Laurence was in pure torment over everything they could not seem to say to one another.

“I am suddenly in need of rest,” Ellen said, her tone tight as she turned away from him. “Please do me the kindness of informing Madalene that I retired early, but that I will see her at breakfast in the morning.”

“Ellen,” he said, hating how quiet and weak his usually firm voice sounded.

“Goodnight, Laurence,” Ellen replied stiffly, not halting a single second on her way to the stairs.

Laurence took a step after her, his body demanding that he follow her up to her quarters. To kiss her until they were both breathless and full of need. To rip her dress off of her body and run his aching hands over the curves and flesh he’d been so greedy to consume, that he had yet to take the time to worship. To tell her that he too was as consumed by his wife as Cedric was with his.

Instead, he forced that step he took back into place, and instead of following her, he moved down the hall to find Madalene.

CHAPTER THIRTY