Page 67 of The Duke of Pain

Gideon removed his hat and his gloves and unbuttoned his greatcoat. He tossed his gloves in the hat and threw them both to the settee. He could use a damned drink; however, there were no decanters in the room.

The door opened, and Olivia glided in, head held high. She wore a rather plain gray gown, her hair pulled back in a severe knot. She appeared pale and drawn. But that was not all.

His fists clenched. So much for staying calm and collected.

“Who hit you? He will cease to draw breath!” he roared.

Though Olivia tried to hide the bruising with makeup, it was apparent someone had battered her lovely face. Her lip was slightly swollen, a jagged cut visible in the plumpness.

She halted, her eyes blinking rapidly. “You act surprised? You ordered this abduction and beating!” she cried.

Gideon pointed to the man standing at the entrance with his arms folded. “Get out!”

“He stays. As protection,” Liv sniffed.

The words, at last, began to sink in through his fury at seeing she had been harmed.

Abduction and beating?

The rage rushed out of him in a whoosh.

“I do not know what you are talking about,” he began, his voice calmer. “I came home yesterday to find you gone. Do you honestly believe I would have you seen from the premises in such a way? You think me an animal?”

Perhaps Gideon was an animal, for he wanted to rip someone to shreds. Anyone. And that son of a bitch hovering at the door just may suit. A growl escaped his throat.

“Your Grace, are you telling me you had nothing to do with me being pulled out of your bed, told to pack in haste, and dumped into a dirty alley in Whitechapel where I was beaten and threatened?”

Good Christ, no wonder she thought him a base beast. After what had happened to her in the past, she thought he would instigate such an action?

Her accusation tore at his heart. The heart that only came to life the moment he had met her.

Gideon took two tentative steps toward her, and she backed up, fear flickering ever so briefly on her face.

“Liv, I swear, I had nothing to do with what happened to you. I came home yesterday with roses and plans for our future. Why would you think I would do such a thing?”

Olivia rubbed her forehead. She turned toward the man. “Gordon, leave us. I’ll ring if I need you.”

The man gave a quick nod, stepped out into the hallway, and closed the door behind him.

Olivia staggered to the large wing chair and sat down, shock showing on her features.

“I-I don’t understand. Those men told me that you wanted me gone, that you had your fill. That you did not want to see me ever again,” she whispered.

Gideon dragged the matching chair across the carpet until it stood opposite hers. He sat.

“You believed them?”

“Not at first. With each blow, those men convinced me otherwise. If a group of women hadn’t entered the alley, I would have been raped, I’m sure of it. I would not have survived it.”

Gideon leaned forward. “May I take your hands?” he asked.

Olivia nodded.

Clasping them gently, he said, “I swear I had nothing to do with it. I would never hurt you. My God, Liv. If you cannot accept my trust, how can you ever accept my love?”

A few stray tears rolled down her bruised cheek. “I did not want to believe it. But as I told you more than once, my trust has been battered. Perhaps beyond all repair.”

His insides roiled with a multitude of emotions. Gideon raised her trembling hands to his lips and kissed them passionately.