Page 79 of Deviant Duchess
Deborah let out a pain-filled gasp as he jerked her arm, forcing her cheek to press tightly to his. His breath was hot and humid against his flesh, triggering her need to vomit.
“You have no idea how much of a pain this one has been,” he seethed against her cheek, making her squirm. “Like a littleblack fly that just will not stop buzzing around my head. Until I kill it.”
“Fairborne,” a deep voice called.
Hope sprang in Deborah’s chest as she heard the voice of her husband. As if Sylvester did not recognize the voice, he pulled his head away and turned around.
Deborah did not need to see her husband pull back his fist to know that he had struck. It was the sound of knuckles slamming into flesh, the guttural groan of agony that came from Sylvester. The vise-like grip on her arm loosened as Sylvester fell like a dead weight to the floor, and Deborah stumbled back.
“What did I tell you about touching my wife?!” Cedric snarled, and that was when he came into her view.
His dark eyes were wide and wild with rage and worry as he swooped in to pull her into his arms. A sob escaped Deborah’s lips as she immediately melted into his embrace, letting him hold her and shield her from the crowd.
“I am here,” Cedric whispered, cradling the back of her head with his large hand as his other arm held her up by the waist. “I am here.”
“I am sorry,” she sobbed, her fists tightening in the fabric at the back of his jacket, “I was wrong again, and I am so sorry.”
“Shhhh, it is alright,” Cedric soothed, cradling her close, “I am here now. We will fix it together.”
Deborah dried her eyes on Cedric’s jacket, then turned her face just enough to look down at Sylvester. He was sprawled out and unconscious on the stage; his right eye already growing dark with bruising. Above him stood Nigel, who was in an obvious state of shock.
“Nigel,” Cedric snapped.
His rough tone seemed to bring Nigel out of his state, and at once he moved into action.
“Right,” Nigel shouted, leaning down to pick up the pistol that had slid across the stage floor, “You lot want this auction to keep going, you know what you have to do. Not a word of this to anyone. Now go home. We will hold another auction in two days. You can bid on your birds then, but be watchful. The owner is going to hear about this, and trust when I say he is not going to respond well to this type of foolery!”
Deborah continued to cling to Cedric tightly as the crowd moved toward the exits with a quiet haste. No grumbling or arguing, as if they knew what such consequences would bring to them if they dared to oppose the infamous owner.
“Right,” Nigel said, turning back to Cedric, “Here is our state. You cannot go to the constable. You know that. However, I am sure that once the owner finds out about this, he is going to be serving this man a unique justice of his own. I respectfullysuggest you two head on now and not breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“You have our silence,” Cedric said with a grave nod, “And we have our own bit of justice to serve to this man. So yes. No constables. No law. We will let our people take care of it.”
Deborah did not know what that meant, and she was sure that Nigel did not know either. Still, he gave a stiff nod, then turned his attention to the two approaching bodyguards.
“Get him up and bind him,” Nigel barked.
Deborah watched as two large men walked onto the stage, picked Sylvester up like a rag doll, and dragged him behind the stage.
“Let us get you out of here,” Cedric murmured, stroking a gentle hand down her long hair.
Still in shock, still wracked with fear, Deborah merely nodded and let him lead her outside.
“There we go,” Cedric said softly, helping her into the carriage.
Instead of taking the opposite side as he was prone to do in the past, Cedric pressed up close to her and tucked her under his arm. As soon as he did, Deborah let out a groan of agony andleaned forward, pressing her forehead to her knees as she drew in ragged breaths.
“Easy, love, I have you,” Cedric coaxed, rubbing soothing circles into her back as the carriage began to move. “It is all well now. It is done.”
“No,” she croaked, shaking her head as she fought the nausea of her failure, “No, do you not understand? I ruined it. I ruined it all. Every move I made to get my sister back was the wrong one, and now, now I will never get the chance to get her back or restore her reputation!”
Hot tears, fresh and new, spilled down her cheeks.
“You were right,” she gasped, “I led too much with anger. I used to be smart, but my hatred toward him took over, and it ruined everything!”
“No,”Cedric all but snarled as he pulled her back up.
He cupped his hands gently to her cheeks, forcing her to look at him, and shook his head.
