The duke threw another punch. Crack. He cried out, sucking his knuckles. “You broke my hand.” With gathering alarm, the duke stared as Zachary stood unfazed and grinned. To overcome his humiliation, the duke attempted to step around Zachary to grab Elizabeth.
Zachary blocked him. “Big mistake. You will never lay another insulting hand on Miss Spencer...unless you want your other hand broken.”
Shock registered on the man’s face, making him blanch before his eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, his teeth bared. Desperation pushed men to desperate measures. “I’m a duke. A peer and cousin to Queen Victoria. You cannot stop me. Elizabeth is my fiancée. She is of lesser status and needs to learn from her betters.”
“Lesser status? Miss Spencer is way above a worm like you.” The duke never saw it coming. Zachary hauled his arm back and struck the queen’s cousin in the jaw. The duke’s eyes widened. He staggered, then toppled to the floor. The audience broke into applause. Zachary glanced over his shoulder. The audience was not watching the opera. All eyes were peeled on the
drama in the Spencer box.
“Well, that’s good then,” said Elizabeth, and then peered down on the rubbernecking populace. “We must leave.”
“I have no apology other than embarrassing you. Your parents were irresponsible setting you up with a skulk.” Zachary held out his arm while Elizabeth took it and stepped over the motionless duke.
“I’m not embarrassed. He’s dreadful and deserved more than you gave him.”
In the neighboring box, Mrs. Merriweather gathered her wraps and leaned over. “Oh, my, the duke must have passed out drunk. Good job, Mr. Rourke. We will leave in my carriage. Why is it the two of you make my life so thrilling?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
As soon as he escorted Mrs. Merriweather to her door and bid her goodnight, Zachary broke his fuming silence. “I’m going to speak to your father about the duke this evening. He must know what kind of man he is.”
“No. You mustn’t. I can take care of my father myself.”
“You can’t. He’ll hear the rumors and deny what happened. He may expedite your marriage to that degenerate.”
“Must we spend our time arguing?”
He felt her study of his face. It prickled over his cheek and settled on his mouth. “You are a feebleminded fool to believe your father would champion you over the title. What’s worse is that he sent you there with a worthless chaperone.”
“My sister?”
“Exactly. She is as useful as a milk pail under a bull. She should have defended you.”
He was so angry he wanted to punch something and keep on pummeling it. He knocked on the side of the carriage to stop. “Let’s walk from here.”
Elizabeth took his hand and alighted. He held her hand and started walking fast. “That bastard,” he said flashing his even white teeth. Gaslights lit the street, the light from the flames licking over his features in flattering adoration. His deep cobalt eyes were fathomless as ever, zeroing in on her with the weight of the immense emotion she imagined this man was capable of feeling if he ever let himself go.
“Zachary.”
He stopped walking, grasped her to break her inertia.
Elizabeth straightened. “I’d hoped to talk to you tonight, but you seemed busy with all the women in your box. You do seem to have your admirers.”
He grinned like a Cheshire cat, kept hold of her wrist. “Jealous?”
She’d succumb to thumbscrews before she’d admit that truth. “Not at all. Other than Amanda, they had a hint of brazenness about them.” She’d seen the women’s behavior and how they sought measures to gain his attention. “One of them was bold enough to give you a kiss. How untoward and in public.”
He stroked his neck. “You caught that. I must admit, they were very entertaining and very beautiful.”
She attempted to tug her wrist from him. “If their bawdiness was to capture your regard, they’ve succeeded. Why Amanda would entertain such companions is beyond me.”
He arched a brow. “I did enjoy them. However, jealousy does not seem to be in your nature, Miss Spencer.”
She huffed. “Far be it from me to tell you what company you keep.”
“It spoils a man to be the object of so much scandalous interest.”
She flashed her eyes, and he laughed.
