A loud rap came from the other side of the wall. Jordan turned to face the sound. “One of my brothers.” He stood and walked to one of the back walls and pulled a robe from a hook. “Here.” He handed the soft green silk to Celeste. He was not going to like this conversation, but he would not leave her to Hudson, not ever again.
He strode to the wall. Water and the scent of them glistened on his skin. He placed his palm flat onto the wall. “Grøn vandagame.” The tapestry disappeared, and he stepped out into the hall.
A frown marred Ferrous’s dark face.
Here came the dreaded conversation. Jordan narrowed his eyes. No matter what happened here, his Celeste came first. “I had penned a letter to bring Celeste’s grandmum when you came, but it still sits on my desk.”
“Hudson is here?” Ferrous shifted to stand directly in the center of the hall. He fisted, shook out and re-fisted his hands as if trying not to punch Jordan. Ferrous was ready for a tumble. Jordan would put on an air of indifference.
Jordan leaned his shoulder against the wall. “How did you know?”
Ferrous’s jaw clenched, and the veins on the backs of his hands rose. “His footmen have instigated a search for you. Take me to him.”
Celeste stepped out from the wall behind him. “Let me talk to Hudson.” She slid her hand over his shoulder. “I need to speak to him. Then you can do whatever it is you need to.”
“Of course, Duchess.” Ferrous shook his head in obvious disgust.
Her strength grew and her confidence with it. Jordan wrapped his hand around her slim fingers and pulled her hand into his. “Come, then. Let’s have a good confrontation so we can move past this.”
Chapter Seven
Jordan pulled Celeste up next to him in front of a tall, narrow, mahogany door. “The silver room,” he told her. “There are no windows in this room, and only this one door.”
He turned the key in the lock. Cool mist nipped at his ankles just as it had in the bath in Hudson’s home. Something was amiss. He tensed his stomach in an attempt to sense more. Celeste’s elbow gently brushed his arm. “Let Ferrous and me check on him first.” He knocked lightly and turned the handle at once. “Your Grace. The duchess wishes to speak with you.” He cringed. He hated referring to her as someone else’s when she was his alone.
A scrambling sound came from within the room. “Celeste, you will wait here while Ferrous and I check on Hudson.”
“Very well.” Celeste squeezed Jordan’s fingers and let him go.
Jordan cracked the door and stepped inside. Ferrous followed and closed it behind him. Candles burned in sconces on the circular walls. The large bed in the center lay empty. Jordan spun about. Hudson stood, staring at him from beside a small writing table.
“Your Grace.”
Hudson’s eyes flashed orange, and he sprang at him. His shoulder slammed into Jordan’s. Jordan rocked back on his heels and flailed his hands to stabilize himself. Hudson’s fingernails clawed down his ear and around his neck. Pain flowed in their wake. Jordan grabbed him by the topcoat and held him out at arm’s length.
Ferrous rushed forward and snatched Hudson’s clawing hands while Jordan continued to hold him away. Damn, his ear pounded. What in the world did Hudson think he was about?
Hudson’s face was snow-white, and dark pools surrounded his eyes. His two eye teeth extended, peeling back his orange-hued lips. “Hissss.”
“What happened to him?” Celeste’s songlike voice called from behind him.
Bloody hell, why couldn’t she wait in the hall? “Get out!”
He held Hudson back and turned his body to block her view of him.
“I need to speak to him.”
“He is not worth exchanging a word with now.” Jordan tightened his grip on Hudson’s lapels.
She stepped up around him. Hudson twisted hard to the right and yanked free of one of Ferrous’s hands. He clutched her robe and jerked. The fabric of her sleeve tore, slipping down to expose her breast.
“Leave, Celeste,” Ferrous and Jordan growled out.
Hudson thrashed and twisted his body at once, dislodging Jordan’s grip from his coat. Celeste. Jordan’s heart jumped into his throat.
Hudson pounced on her, dragging Ferrous with him. Jordan grabbed him by the waist and pulled both of them off her. “Leave! Now!”
Celeste scrambled to her feet and darted toward the door.
Hudson turned and bit Ferrous through his coat sleeve and into his left bicep.
With a roar, Ferrous punched Hudson in the ear. The blow echoed in the confined room.
Hudson fell to the side.
The door slammed shut.
Jordan grabbed Hudson by the lapels and yanked him to his feet.