Page 62 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

Hawk reached under Loverly’s arms and set him on his knees. The man shook his head, then looked at Alex who had one arm wrapped around Patience and held his pistol in the other hand. Templeton approached Alex. “Let me take her away.”

Alex nodded and released his hold on Patience. They walked to where Hawk and Cam stood. Hawk cut her hands free and all eyes remained on the man on his knees. “Don’t kill me. Let me go. I will disappear, leave England. You don’t have to give me the money.”

“You know you are wanted by the Crown.” Alex snorted. “Why would I let you go?”

“No one has to know. I can steal into one of these ships and be gone with the tide.”

Alex viewed him with disdain. “Stop blubbering like a girl. You were man enough to steal our secrets and sell them to the French. Men died because of you. Good men who were fighting for their country. Where is your backbone now?”

“I didn’t mean for anyone to die. I needed the money.” Loverly’s nose was running, and he continued to weep.

“You’re despicable.”

“Just don’t kill me.” Loverly shifted and his right hand disappeared into his overcoat pocket.

Instinctively, Alex pulled the trigger and blew a very large hole in Loverly’s forehead. The man slumped over as Alex lowered his hand. His stomach roiled at the sight of the crumpled body, with the pool of blood spreading from underneath him. He closed his eyes briefly, wanting to wash the sight from his eyes. He’d never wanted to take a man’s life again.

Patience covered her mouth with her hands and screamed. Her eyes grew large as she looked back and forth from the dead man on the ground to Alex.

Alex walked toward her. She backed up as he approached, shaking her head. He reached for her, and she turned from him and doubled over. “No. Don’t touch me. I can’t believe you killed him.”

Stunned, he said, “What? He was a traitor. He kidnapped you. Are you crazy?” With all the emotions racing through him right now, the last thing he needed was condemnation from his wife.

She shook her head. “No, you are crazy. He begged for his life. You could have brought him to the authorities.” She moved farther back. “You are a bully. And a monster. Once again you treated me like a child. You could have told me I was in danger. Do you think me so weak and stupid? Do you think I would have spoken to this man if I’d known? You don’t trust me, and you never will.”

She shook her head and backed up, her voice shaky. “I hate you. You’re everything I never wanted in a husband.”

Alex reached for her once more. She held her hand up. “No. I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

“Patience, please. You’re overwrought.” His hands hanging by his side, he continued to approach her, talking softly. When he reached for her again, she swung at him, and missed, almost throwing herself to the ground. Hawk grabbed her to keep her from falling. Alex stared over her head at Hawk. “Take her home. Nothing is gained by having her here. I have things to clean up.”

Hawk nodded, tight-lipped. He put his arm around Patience. Sobbing onto his shoulder, she walked away with him, disappearing into the mist.

Chapter Twenty

Patience stumbled her way from the ugliness of the docks to the carriage and climbed in. She wrappe

d her arms around herself and rocked.

Once the vehicle began to roll away, Lord Hawkins cleared his throat. “Your Grace. There is something you need to understand.”

Patience held up her hand. “Stop. If you are planning on offering an excuse for what my husband just did, please don’t. I am still angry that he thought me so stupid that I could not know there was an evil man who intended to kidnap me. Don’t you think as a full-grown adult I had the right to know?”

Hawk blew out a breath and leaned his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. Twice he looked over at her as if he wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. Patience continued to wipe the tears from her eyes.

He turned his head to the side to view her in the darkness. “Give Bedford a chance to speak with you, to explain. What you witnessed tonight was not for a lady’s eyes. It is unfortunate that you were there. But there are many things you do not understand.”

Patience waved her hand at him. “Yes. I see. I am only a woman. I cannot understand anything unless a man explains it to me.” Her tears turned into anger as she leaned forward. “When will men begin to understand we are not all balls of fluff who faint at the first sign of unpleasantness?

“Women bear children, nurse sick family members, and stay home to pace the floors waiting for husbands who go off to war. We are not weak, sniveling ninnyhammers.”

She took in a deep breath, almost—but not quite—embarrassed at having subjected Hawk to her tirade. “Please, my lord. I beg you not to continue. I do not wish to hear anymore nonsense, and furthermore, I have the beginnings of a megrim and just want to get home as quickly as possible.”

“As you wish.” He dipped his head and stared out the window.

Patience began to feel the soreness in her face where Loverly had struck her. She huddled in the corner of the carriage, her head resting on the padded leather. Luckily, a sense of numbness washed over her, blocking out everything that had happened. She could not think, did not want to think.

She was moaning softly with the pain as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the townhouse. A footman descended the steps and opened the door for her. She took his hand and stepped out. “Please see that Lord Hawkins is returned to wherever he wishes to go.”