---- exhausting to maintain a marriage like this, dont you think?" His words took me by pleasant surprise.
I even fell silent for amoment, wondering if he was testing me, lying to me for some reason...
"Duke, I agree...
Ithink" The sudden jolt of the carriage cut me off mid-sentence.
Elliot grabbed my waist, pulling me tightly against his chest to keep me from hitting the padded wooden panel.
Whats going on?!" he growled at the coachman after making sure I was unharmed.
We came to a stop, and before the coachman could explain, Elliot climbed out, exuding a cold and dominant demeanor.
Through the open carriage door, I overheard the stable hand explaining that the carriage ahead of us had come to an abrupt halt.
Leaning slightly forward, I peeked outside and saw that we were about to pass through a security checkpoint.
In the distance, despite the encroaching night, a massive mansion surrounded by gardens loomed ahead.
"__.but if I had known it was His Lordship, the Duke of Everhart...
From the carriage, I assumed it was some lowly noble," I heard a mans voice say.
His condescending tone made it clear he didnt get along with Elliot.
"Duke Thesio, I see you still maintain your habit of spewing venom like a woman.
Must be why people flee from you like the plague," Elliot retorted sharply.
---- Istuck my head out a little more, getting a glimpse of the blond-haired, short-bearded man he was speaking to with unmistakable hostility.
His green eyes lifted and met mine for a brief second.
I immediately pulled back inside, though he had clearly caught me spying.
"T see you brought company...
your wife, isnt it? The Duchess? Did you finally deem her worthy of being shown off? Or are you just trying to get another womans attention? Could it be you re losing favor, Duke of Everhart?" He posed each question in a mocking tone.
Loud enough for me to hear.
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And I didnt like his insinuations one bit.
What exactly was he trying to imply? "Shut the hell up and move your damn carriage, or Ill run you over!" Elliot roared angrily.
Theard them separate with huffs and low murmurs of hostility.
If [had felt uneasy before, now an ominous weight settled in my chest.
Why had Elliot brought me here? Did he truly wish to reconcile with Rossella? He climbed back into the carriage without a word.
His anger was almost tangible, so despite my swirling questions, I kept quiet, simply waiting to see what the night would bring.
The carriage moved again, the wheels clattering against the stone pavement.
Fifteen minutes later, we came to another stop.
"Weve arrived," he announced, moving to open the door, but then hesitated for a second, his hand resting on the handle.
"Duchess, there are many ill-intentioned people at this gathering.
High society is a den of vipers and hidden currents," he warned, turning to ---- face me.
"Whatever they tell you or insinuate, please, ask me directly first if you have any doubts, and I will tell you the truth," he assured me in a low voice.
His eyes, filled with countless thoughts, never wavered from mine.
"I brought you to this celebration to present you to everyone as my Duchess.
I have no other motive.
Whatever remains of the past, I will put an end to it tonight." He spoke with unwavering seriousness.
Before I could process his words or respond, he descended gracefully from the carriage and extended his hand to me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Now that I was here, a sudden nervousness crept over me.
Textended my gloved hand, covered in black lace, and grasped his firm one tightly.
!!!
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