Page 123 of The Boxing Baroness

Marianne blinked rapidly and looked down, unable to hold back her tears.

“Oh, this is touching,” Dominic said. “But I wasn’t talking about you, Staunton. I was talking about her.”

Marianne’s head whipped up.

“Is it worth asking what you are nattering about?” Sin asked.

“I’m nattering about a royal princess, my dear Staunton. It is rare for one to marry a mere duke—at least not a royal one.” Dominic grinned at their stunned faces and turned to Marianne, dropping a low, court bow. “I haven’t greeted you properly yet. It’s a pleasure to see you again . . . Your Royal Highness.”

Chapter 31

Marianne just stared at Dominic.

Dominic’s brow furrowed, and then his eyes began to widen. “No!” He turned a look of genuine shock on Barnabas. “Bloody hell! You never told her, did you? You brought her all the way here—ignorant, like an innocent lamb to the slaughter.”

Barnabas looked ill and at least a decade older, his jaws flexing.

Sonia, Marianne absently noticed, looked as confused as Marianne felt.

Personally, Marianne wanted to punch Dominic in the face so badly she could taste it.

For once, she restrained her temper. “Leave him alone, Dominic. Why don’t you let them all go? It was the money and me that you wanted.”

“How handsome of you to be so self-sacrificing,” he mocked. “But I think I’ll hold on to all of you for a while, if you don’t mind.”

“I anticipated this eventuality, Strickland,” the duke said coolly. “And I left instructions to deny all ransom requests.”

“And—as you’re well aware—my family has no money to ransom me,” Guy said, all traces of the genial man that Marianne knew, gone.

Cecile cut Dominic a look of pure loathing. “My pig of a cousin has money—my money—but he would probably pay you to kill me.”

Dominic gave a hearty and very false laugh. “Why must you all assume the worst of me?”

Guy snorted, earning a frown.

“I only meant that I would detain you until I complete the deal I’ve made,” Dominic said. “Once Marianne is safely on her way, I’ll release all of you—you have my word on it.”

Guy wasn’t the only one who laughed then.

Dominic scowled. “Get them ready to go,” he snapped at his men. “And shoot anyone who gives you any trouble.”

* * *

Marianne rode Reggie beside Dominic while the others were bound and split up among the caravans.

“Sorry about the ropes,” Dominic said as he led Reggie by the reins. “But I recall you were far too handy with your fives to leave at liberty.”

“I thought you enjoyed a good mill,” she said. “Oh wait,” she added with a look of exaggerated comprehension. “You only like them when they are fixed in your favor.”

He chuckled. “Oh, Marianne. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

She ignored him.

“Aren’t you going to ask me who your mother and father are? I know you must be perishing of curiosity.”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

Dominic gave her a look that appeared to be genuine respect. Of course, there was very little, if anything, genuine about him. “You’ve matured a great deal in barely a year. Tell me, are you and Lord Flawless lovers?”