The Unsuitable Duke by Suzanna Medeiros

Author:Suzanna Medeiros [Medeiros, Suzanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-988223-11-7
Publisher: Suzanna Medeiros

Chapter 12

Castlefield led the way to his study, where there would be little chance of being overheard. Despite the fact his friend had just arrived, Castlefield had no doubt about the subject of their upcoming conversation.

Upon entering the room, which was filled with rich dark wood and comfortable furniture, Castlefield moved to a small table that sat off to one side of the door. Resting on top were a few glasses and a bottle of his favorite brandy. As Brantford lowered himself into an armchair, Castlefield poured a measure of liquor into two glasses. He handed one to his longtime friend and took the seat opposite.

Castlefield lifted his glass and took a healthy swallow before speaking. “I take it you’re to thank for teaching Ellen how to defend herself.”

Brantford’s lips twitched, but only for a moment before he sobered. “I thought it prudent. That and warning the bastard to whom she was married never to touch her again.”

“How bad was it?” He didn’t really want to know, but if Ellen had to live through it, he could hear about it. Whatever pain he felt whenever he thought of Ellen with that monster was nothing compared to what she must have endured.

“I don’t know.” Brantford downed his brandy and reached over to slam the empty glass onto the desk. “When she came to me that day—they’d only been married six months—she looked so defeated. Not at all like the Ellen we both know. But still, underneath the pain, her spine of steel was in place. I can’t imagine what courage it took for her to come to me and ask how to keep her husband from touching her again.”

“I wish I could kill him again, this time with my bare hands. My one regret is that he didn’t suffer more before he died.”

Brantford made a sound of disgust. “I failed her. Why did I not look into Laughton’s background?”

“We were both young, still in school.”

“That’s no excuse. My instincts told me not to trust the man, but I foolishly thought our father would have made sure he was suitable before agreeing to hand over his daughter.”

Castlefield shook his head. “There was nothing there. I looked. Some rumblings about his selfishness, but there are few people we know about whom we couldn’t say the same thing.”

“Really?” Brantford raised a brow. “I thought your interest in my sister was a recent development.”

Castlefield didn’t look away from his friend’s steady gaze. “It isn’t.”

“When? Not when we were children, surely.”

Castlefield laughed. “No. I was headstrong back then and definitely not interested in pursuing anyone romantically. All I cared about was horses and besting you. You’re two years my junior, and I hated how effortlessly everything came to you.”

Brantford lifted a shoulder in a small shrug but he allowed a smile, which told Castlefield that his friend had enjoyed their youthful rivalry as much as he had.

“I didn’t really see Ellen as a woman worth pursuing until that year we came back from Oxford, after she’d already accepted Laughton’s suit.

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