Page 88 of In Service to the Duke

“Save your words,” she spits out. “I only allowed your presence here because I thought it would be good to see your only daughter one last time before you are cast away from this household.”

“P- pardon?” my mother stammers, clearly caught off guard. “But as her mother, I am surely entitled to-”

“Nothing. Birthing such a gem as our dear Emma grants you nothing. No title, no riches, no affection, and certainly no parental rights.”

I watch my mother, fear slithering up my spine. Even as I’m in awe of the dowager duchess, I still live in terror of the monster who is my mother. Blackport slides in behind me, granting me his strength.

With a sigh, I lean into him, soaking up every ounce of comfort I can within the bounds of propriety. My mother sneers at us, her eyes spitting poison. But with Blackport behind me and the dowager duchess beside me, I finally feel as if I can be safe and secure.

“There would be no wedding if it wasn’t for me,” she hisses.

“That may be true,” the dowager duchess hedges. “But your actions are beyond the pale. You may have orchestrated their meeting, but your daughter has far more honor in her pinky than you have in your entire being.”

By this time, Blackport’s friends start to gather around. Though they remain silent, I know they hang on every word. My gut churns with anxiety as I take in their faces. Whose side will they be on? Will they still want me as part of their circle once all is said and done?

“Bah,” my mother barks out, her eyes wild. “Devil take her. She never did know how to listen. Such a disobedient girl. You will rue the day you took this viper into your house.”

Blackport steps forward, fury vibrating his frame. However, the dowager duchess lays a hand on his arm and steps closer. “You are the one who will rue the day. When you are cold and alone, dying in your bed, you will cry and wail as you think about the treasure you cast out of your house. I am honored to call her daughter and will treat her as my own, seeing as she is now an orphan.”

Silence. My mother blinks at her, all sanity slipping away to reveal what can only be described as a feral monster lurking beneath. “She came to trap you, and you welcome her?”

“At your behest, Madam,” Blackport grinds out. “I have read the letters. I know all about your scheming.” Snapping his fingers, he holds out his hand. The butler hands him a familiar bottle then leaves. “Take these with you. They will do my wife little good.”

As he drags me into his arms, my mother screeches, flinging herself toward me. The men surrounding us jump into action, grabbing her about the waist before she can so much as grab the sleeve of my dress. Fear races through me as I turn into Blackport’s arms and bury my head.

But it will never erase that sight. I fear nothing will.

“Take her to Bedlam,” my husband bellows, his Alpha command vibrating through me, until I nearly fall to my knees.

He scoops me into his arms and takes off, murmuring his apologies to the crowd. If his words are to be believed, I’m far more important than this celebration. It makes my heart flutter, coming back alive as I feel the love pouring off of him.

Once we get into his room, he holds me close, murmuring nonsensical words I have no hope of understanding. But my heart comprehends each and every syllable. His words are like a balm to my soul, easing the pain of losing my mother.

To think, before today, I was worried about the dowager duchess and Blackport being left without a mother. But it’s me who’s lost someone. I cannot even say she was dear to me, but she was the woman who gave me life.

Before I can even mourn her loss, Blackport is there, his lips touching every bit of my face. He showers me with love and affection, allowing warmth to blossom where ice threatened to root me to the spot. Again, he scoops me into his arms, but instead of taking me to the bed, he carries me over to the hidden door.

Arousal surges over me, turning me molten as we traverse the pathways. How I long to have his harsh touch dispel the demons from my mind. Setting me down in the middle of the room, I breathe in the darkness as he goes about lighting the fireplace.

It takes several minutes, but soon, it roars to life, illuminating the room. This time when I look upon the implements, it’s not in fear, but of lust. Thankfully, the other book I looked through was a compendium of sorts. It told me what each of these things was, taking away my apprehension.

As much as I want to show off my new knowledge, however, I refrain. There will be time for him to learn my secrets, but tonight is not one of them. Besides, as much as I have an informational understanding of how everything works, I’ve yet to experience them all. And that is an education I’m most looking forward to.

With a soft growl, Blackport rips off his cravat. “Come, wife. Let me strip you so I may bare your soul.”

CHAPTER 38

ROBERT

My cock throbs as she shuffles over to me, her expression still one of virginal innocence, even though I’ve already defiled her in more ways than I can count. Granted, while in her heat, she has no full remembrance of the depraved things I did to her.

In this way, our wedding night together will still be like our first time. Only now, I won’t hurt her as I thrust deep inside her soaking pussy. A smile curls up my lips as I motion for her to come closer.

Not caring at all about the dress clothing her body, I tug and rip, pulling her out as fast as I can. I want, no need, to see her unclothed before me. The desperate longing to be inside her overwhelms me, turning my brain feral.

It’s not a rut. Not really. I still have far too much control over my actions. Slowing myself down, I do my best to make this good for her. Even now, she shudders in my arms as I rip the shift down the middle and toss it to the floor. As much as I want to impale her right here and now, there’s something else I must do first.

Leaving her in just those delectable little stockings, I prod her over to my padded wooden cross. Her arse twitches with each step, reminding me of just how tight she was back there. Tonight, however, I will take her cunt, pounding into her as I own her completely.