For all his cruelty, he had wanted her afraid. No, he hadexpectedfear. But she would not give it to him.
“Oh, you will regret that.”
Hartenshire sneered down at her, lifting his hand, but before he could strike again, the door burst open. Both of them froze.
Isadora knew who was there before she even turned her head.
Evan.
He stood at the threshold, looking angrier than she had ever seen him before. His gaze locked onto her—her bound wrists and the angry mark left by the hand to her cheek.
Then his eyes shifted to Hartenshire.
The Marquess had been smirking only moments before, but now, that smug expression was wiped away instantly.
“Marwood! So, you have decided to arrive finally.” Hartenshire tried to sound menacing, but he seemed to wither at Evan’s arrival.
It was the last thing he managed before Evan lunged.
A feral growl ripped from his throat as he crossed the room in a blink, his fist colliding with Hartenshire’s jaw in a brutal punch. The Marquess reeled backward, crashing into a wall.
“Youdareto touch my wife?”
Hartenshire had barely regained his balance before Evan was on him again, grabbing him by the lapels of his coat and slamming him against the wall.
Hartenshire wheezed, his hands scrambling uselessly against Evan’s grip.
“P—perhaps we can?—”
Evan didn’t let him finish, and another punch connected to his jaw. This time, Hartenshire spat out blood.
Isadora could only gasp as she watched the scene unfold around her.
“Did you really think you could take her away fromme?” Another punch. “Do you think a small man like you has any power totakeaway what ismineand then threatenme?”
Evan was pounding away at him, and the only other sound was Hartenshire’s screaming.
“Please—” he pleaded, “I?—”
“So, you’ve come to your senses now, you bastard?” Evan shook him against the wall. “Finally in your place? Do you even knowwhoyou’re threatening when you threaten me?”
Isadora had never seen Evan like this before. The fact that shewas behind his anger made her flutter both with unease and a love so profound that she did not know where to place it.
Evan drew back his fist again?—
“Your Grace!” A sharp voice rang out from the doorway.
Isadora turned, barely able to process the sight of uniformed constables flooding into the room.
“We shall take over from here,” one of the men announced.
Evan held Hartenshire there for a moment longer but then released him. He slid down to the ground, holding the side of his jaw and concealing the sight of his now bloodied face.
Evan shoved him toward the officers without a second glance. “Take him before I do something unforgivable,” he growled.
The constables seized him immediately, restraining his arms.
As they restrained the Marquess, Evan spun to Isadora, already reaching for the ropes binding her wrists. Relief like never before flooded her.
