Duncan moved at once and grabbed Edward by the front of his coat and hit him. The punch drove Edward back into the table, scattering papers everywhere. Edward clutched his mouth, more startled than anything.
Robert lurched forward, finally making himself useful. “Father….”
But Duncan didn’t look at him. Instead, he caught Edward by the collar and hauled him upright just enough to speak into his face.
“You hit her, and you will not do it again.”
There was something menacing about his tone.
Edward tried to speak, but the words came out thick with blood.
“You….this is…”
Duncan kept hold of his coat, hard enough that Edward couldn’t step away.
“If you touch her again, or if you put your hands on her for any reason, you will regret it.”
Edward’s eyes flicked around the room, as if he expected someone to step in. No one did. Duncan shoved him back, and Edward caught himself on the desk, breathing hard, his face already swelling.
Duncan turned to Charity, “Look at me.”
Charity forced her eyes up, her cheeks burning.
“We’re leaving,” Duncan said.
“My sisters,” Charity managed.
Duncan nodded once and turned toward the door.
“Malcolm.”
Malcolm appeared immediately, his eyes went straight to Charity’s cheek and the blood at her mouth.
He didn’t comment on it, for which she felt thankful.
“Aye.”
“Find her sisters any way possible.”
Malcolm nodded and went.
“You cannot…” Edward coughed, furious and shaken.
“Try,” Duncan said, and he didn’t raise his voice.
“You will answer for this,” Edward’s eyes burned. For all his might, he could not challenge a duke.
But his complaining went entirely ignored. Duncan put a hand at Charity’s back and guided her toward the door. Charity didn’t lean on him, but she let him steer her away.
She felt safe with him, and the realization hit her like a thunderbolt.
CHAPTER 7
“You have to tell me we did not just leave them there…”
The door had barely shut behind them, and her mind was still in that drawing room. Augusta and Matilda were left behind.
“I was not going to stay there a moment longer after he had the audacity to strike you,” Duncan replied in a voice that was calm but still somehow sounded frightening. “I would have done much worse in return, but I held back and thought it would be best to remove you from that situation.”
