Page 76 of To Have & To Hold

Nathaniel’s fists clenched at his side. “If he wishes to speak, then we shall allow him to speak.”

The man burst through the doors before the footman had them fully open. Nathaniel barely had a heartbeat to brace himself before the stranger seized him by the front of his coat and slammed him backward against the wall. The impact rattled the portraits hanging above them.

Nathaniel lifted a hand to wave off the servants that were already rushing towards them. His hands were free, and he knew he could break the man’s hold the moment he chose to.

“I swear, if you have harmed her…” The man’s voice was hoarse with fury, but Nathaniel could barely focus on what he was saying. There was something unsettlingly familiar about him, though he was absolutely certain he had never seen him before.

He was close to Nathaniel’s age, fair-haired and broad-shouldered beneath his well worn coat.

“If you have hurt her,” the man growled, tightening his grip, “I shall kill you.”

With one swift movement, Nathaniel seized the man’s coat, turning their positions until he had him pinned firmly against the wall.

“Who have I hurt?” Nathaniel demanded.

The man’s chest heaved. “My sister!”

Nathaniel’s grip loosened slightly, as his gaze swept over the stranger’s face again.

A scattering of freckles lay across the bridge of his nose, and his eyes…

Nathaniel knew those eyes.

“Who are you?” Nathaniel breathed the question, though he feared he already knew the answer.

The stranger returned his glare without hesitation.

“Lieutenant Alexander Talbot, at yourservice,Your Grace.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Emilia stood where Nathaniel had left her. The fire still crackled warmly in the hearth, mocking the storm that was currently sweeping through the house. A muffled sound came from beyond the closed door, followed by another.

And then another.

She could not determine the words being said, but she could hear the anger that fueled them. Emilia clasped her hands tightly together and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to drown them out.

She had every intention of obeying Nathaniel’s order. What help would she be to him, anyway?

He faced Parliament—and managed Charlotte—surely one unreasonable gentleman could not present much of a challenge for him.

A particularly large thud drew her eyes open again. Her eyes remained fixed on the door, as if she could will her husband to walk back through it.

“EMILIA!”

The blood drained from her face. The voice was not Nathaniel’s, but she would have known it anywhere. The sound should have filled her with relief and joy, but instead, dread settled into her veins like ice.

How Alexander had found her was not important, but the fact that he was here left no question in her mind as to why he had come—he had heard of her marriage to the duke, and believed that she needed rescuing.

Nathaniel…

Emilia’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that her husband would never strike first, but when it came to her brother, reason had never been his preferred weapon. And if he laid a hand on the duke…

Heaven help them both….

Emilia flung the door open. There were no servants standing on the other side as she had expected. Everyone was gathered at the end of the corridor, peering anxiously into the entrance hall.

“EMILIA!”Alexander called again.