Page 56 of The Haunted Duke

“He is not going to come here,” Evander said, keeping his tone calm as he smoothed a hand up to the nape of Helena’s neck and gave her a comforting squeeze. He loved the way her lashes fluttered as he did so; how she trusted him completely to apply just enough pressure to comfort her. “Lord Ingram. That is who you are thinking of, is it not?”

Helena lowered her gaze, then nodded.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I know you said you would take care of it, but the things he said to me, Evander… I do not know that anyone could stop him. He just seems so… determined.”

Evander leaned down until they were face to face and waited patiently for her to lift her eyes to his.

“He is not the only man here who is determined,” he assured her, stroking his thumb lovingly over her pulse. “Do not underestimate a beast, Helena.”

“Do not call yourself that.” Helena’s face turned into a frown.

He leaned in to her, brushing his lips over hers in a soft kiss. The fierceness with which she defended him made his heart soar.

“Rest now,” he gently commanded, rising up to his full height as he let go of her throat.

Helena’s eyes flicked to her empty bed, and a blush stole across her cheeks as she looked back at him bashfully.

“Would you… lie down with me?” she asked timidly.

He wanted to. So very badly did he want to remove the rest of her clothes and his, and draw her into his arms under the covers. He would, too. Soon enough. But not in that moment. There was just one more thing he needed to take care of.

“Soon,” he promised, and dipped his head to give her one more long, sensual kiss. “Soon we will be together, and no one will get in our way.”

He did not miss the look of disappointment in Helena’s eyes, and he silently vowed to make up for not fulfilling her request. In the future, he intended to spoil Helena terribly, but for now, there was some work that required him to suppress his more human side and give in to the beast that years of torment had shaped within him.

“Where is he?” Evander asked Jeremy casually as he met him on the stairs. “Lord Ingram.”

“In the gaming room playing cards,” Jeremy replied, falling into step beside him. “Did he upset Helena terribly?”

“No matter. We will take care of him tonight according to plan,” Evander said. “What about the other guests?”

Jeremy smirked.

“You know how well I can influence a party,” he stated proudly. “I convinced nearly everyone to partake in a drinking game of sorts. Most of the guests headed to their rooms about an hour ago.”

Evander chortled, not at all surprised.

“And who is in the gaming room?” Evander asked as they reached the first floor.

“I left Lord Ingram playing cards with Adrian and Damien. I did not tell them everything, but they know just enough to make their blood boil. They are waiting for my signal to leave.”

“Excellent,” Evander murmured, pushing open the door to the gaming room with an excited flourish.

Lord Ingram, being the spineless coward he was, jumped at the sudden sound, but Adrian and Damien simply raised their brows as they kept their eyes on their cards.

“Finally taking time to play a hand, are you, brother?” Adrian mused dryly as Evander took a seat. “You graced Mother and Elara with breakfast, but have spared no time for your little brother.”

“We will have time to catch up. Tonight, I thought it was time I placed a wager,” Evander quipped.

Behind them, Jeremy rapped his knuckles softly against the wall twice. Adrian snapped his cards into a neat pile and put them face down on the table.

“Well, then you can take my place,” Adrian said, rising from his chair.

Lord Ingram’s gaze shot up from his cards, not even trying to hide his annoyance.

“You are leaving?” he asked. “In the middle of our game?”

Evander’s eyes slid to his brother, just in time to see him smirk.