The Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria #2)(68)

“No!” Above his pristine cravat, von Hohenzahl’s eyes widened.

“Then cease threatening my family,” Alexander said sternly. “If your men come anywhere near them, I will let Myn do whatever he likes with you. That might mean ripping out your throat, or merely telling you Nvengarian fairy tales. I will let him choose.”

“Nvengaria will never stand up to Austria,” von Hohenzahl said desperately. “We are too strong. We will win through in the end and be the most powerful empire in the world.”

Alexander sent him a look of annoyance. “Spare me your false patriotism. You care for your own glory, not Austria’s. You would double-cross Prince Metternich in a heartbeat if you thought you could. You want Nvengaria for yourself, to prove to Metternich you can take it.”

“If you kill me, another will spring up to take my place,” von Hohenzahl said darkly.

“If I kill you, it will be to make you quiet.”

Julius held up his wicked-looking knife. “May I cut his throat, Your Grace? Please?”

Von Hohenzahl sucked in a terrified breath at the bloodlust in Julius’ smile.

“No, Julius,” Alexander admonished. “London is a civilized place, more or less. I would not like to lose you to their justice system.” He stepped closer to von Hohenzahl and looked up at him. “From now on you have a new master—me. You dislike Metternich because he steals your ideas and ignores you. Now you will work for me against him.”

“I cannot,” von Hohenzahl choked out.

“You can. If you do not, you will die and no one will be able to tell how. I have many more problems to take care of than you, and a new wife to tend to. I would like one less distraction while I get to know her.”

“Metternich will kill me,” von Hohenzahl bleated.

“He might. I certainly will. The choice is yours.” Alexander nodded at his guards. “Let him down.”

The two men who held von Hohenzahl looked disappointed, but they lowered the man to his feet and eased away from him. Von Hohenzahl coughed and adjusted his cravat.

Alexander studied him coldly. “Give me your loyalty and you will fear for nothing. Work against me and you will pay a high price.”

“What about the Austrian woman?” von Hohenzahl began.

Alexander allowed no flicker of emotion to cross his face. “You speak of Lady Anastasia Dimitri?”

“Yes. Lady Anastasia.” He looked triumphant. “She is up to something. She is hand in glove with Metternich, and she means to bring down Nvengaria. Allow me to break her for you, to show you my fealty.”

Alexander regarded him in disgust. The man switched loyalties too quickly and such a person was not to be trusted. The idea that Anastasia would work with Metternich was ludicrous—von Hohenzahl was either lying or he was a fool. Alexander heard the lust in von Hohenzahl’s voice, the hope that he could have Anastasia to himself.

Alexander felt a tingle of anger next to him—he felt the anger, but it was not his own. He turned to see Myn, his blue eyes glowing, growling in his throat. The growl was soft but menace-filled and von Hohenzahl blenched.

“Myn looks after Lady Anastasia,” Alexander said calmly. “No need to trouble yourself.”

Von Hohenzahl swallowed, unable to look away from Myn.

“You will make an appointment with me tomorrow,” Alexander continued to von Hohenzahl, “at which time you will outline whatever you were scheming with Metternich about Nvengaria. You will be watched.”

Julius and his men nodded avidly. The most bloodthirsty thugs in London would have backed down to Julius’ smile.

Von Hohenzahl cleared his throat. “Nvengarians,” he muttered.

Alexander bathed him in a cold stare. “You will get more mercy from Nvengarians than you will the Austrians. Unless, of course, you betray me.”

Von Hohenzahl removed a white handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his face. “Yes, yes, I realize that. I am pleased now that the men I hired to take your wife today were unsuccessful. She is too well-guarded. You are to be commended.”

Alexander’s cold shattered and fell like a broken shell. “To take my wife?”

“Today, as she ventured to the green in Berkeley Square. I heard reports that she was fishing in a puddle, but journalists often get things wrong. Or perhaps I did not understand their atrocious English.”

“You hired someone to kidnap my wife?”

Von Hohenzahl did not seem to hear the fury in Alexander’s voice. “I needed her, but it went wrong. My men were unable to get near her, and I dismissed them.”

The beast reared up inside Alexander, blotting out reason and civility. His vision swam and darkness hit him like a wave. The last thing he heard was a ferocious snarl coming from his own throat, and then he remembered nothing.





Chapter 18





When Alexander came to himself, he was standing in a different room, his coat torn and ruined, his breath coming fast, blood on his hands. Myn stood in front of him as calm as ever, Julius behind him with a dagger out.

“What happened?” Alexander demanded. “Did I kill him?”

“No.” Myn cocked his head and regarded Alexander with his odd-shaped blue eyes.

Julius shook his head. “No, but the Austrian man’s breeches are no longer dry. You would have killed him, but for Myn holding you back.”