Page 41 of The Duke of My Desire

“You can and you will,” Lovelace replied. “Justina is mine. This does not concern you, Paxton.”

“But it does. You see, that is my betrothed you’re holding at knifepoint, and I am not prepared to give her up so easily.”

Justina swallowed and kept very still, trying not to reveal her surprise at the lie. She only hoped Gregory knew what he was doing.

“Well, consider your betrothal severed,” Lovelace said, his grip on her arm so tight now it was sure to leave bruises. “Justina belongs to me until I decide I’ve finished with her.”

“She is finished with you,” Gregory said calmly. “Be a gentleman and concede defeat before anybody gets hurt.”

Gregory took a step toward them and Justina whimpered when the knife blade dug into her flesh.

“Come any closer,” Lovelace hissed, “and I will make her bleed.”

Gregory froze and held his hands up in a gesture of acquiescence.

“Nigel, please—” Justina whispered.

“Shut up,” Lovelace spat. “You have only yourself to blame for this. I told you I wasn’t finished with you, but you didn’t listen. And now I’ve been forced to take drastic measures.”

Fresh tears threatened to fall as she looked at Gregory, his usually boyish face hard like stone, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. She knew he felt helpless, just as she did, but she tried to hold onto the hope that she would somehow break free.

“What do you intend to do, Lovelace? Lock her away? Hold a knife to her throat indefinitely?”

“I won’t need to. Justina will come with me willingly.”

“She won’t. She’ll fight you.”

Gregory’s gaze met hers and the certainty there, the admiration, the love, made her feel strong.

Yes, she would fight this. She would never give in.

“She won’t,” Lovelace said. “Not if she wants to keep her sister safe.”

Justina’s gaze shot to Lovelace, and she found him watching her with cold eyes. She felt the blood drain from her face as Lovelace’s mouth curved into a smug smile.

“Oh, yes,” he murmured, “I know where your dear Lizzie lives. And I would hate to disrupt her comfortable little life in Cheshire.”

In that moment, Justina hated him more than she’d ever hated anyone or anything in her whole life.

The man had detected one of the few things that would keep her under his control. He knew she would never put her sister’s life at risk. She would have to do whatever he asked.

The realization broke her, and she fought the tears that threatened to spill, willing herself to be strong.

“Now, I think we’ve done enough talking,” Lovelace said. “It’s time we were on our way. Paxton, move away from the door.”

Gregory looked at Justina as he stepped aside, the regret in his eyes splintering her heart.

With the knife at her throat, Lovelace pushed her towards the door, his grip biting into her arm like a vice.

“Open the door,” he ordered her. “Slowly. And if you even think about shouting for help, I will see that you regret it.”

Nodding her understanding, Justina reached for the knob but just as her fingers touched the cool brass, a sharp knock sounded at the door.

This was her chance.

She could not hesitate.

“Come in,” she called out, ignoring the sting of the knife at her throat.