The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 434

Chapter 434: Claimed (2)
“Before she leaves, I’ll give her a good reason to want to return. As my sister, shouldn’t you put in a good word for me, or are you only helpful when it comes to our sisters?” Elijah asked, placing the attention on Lily.

“I would like to help you, though I don’t think you need my help, but I fear it would make me take two steps back in my friendship with Ally. I must stay out of it even though it amuses me to see you court Rue. I wish you well,” Lily said, patting Elijah’s back.

“Your friendship with Ally? Has that not been settled?” Elijah asked.

Lily could not believe her ears that Elijah knew what she faced. “You knew there was trouble, yet you said nothing?”

Elijah sipped the wine in his glass. “What was I to say? I don’t need to speak up.”

“That is true, but…” Lily trailed off, not knowing what to say. “There must have been something you could do. Perhaps you could have kept your interest in Rue a secret.”

“You’re my sister before you are anyone’s friend, and I am allowed to court who I want to. Would you like me to pretend to have feelings for Ally while courting Rue in secret?” Elijah asked, but there wasn’t a chance he would do this.

“No, that wouldn’t be fair to either lady. Why did it have to be you? I don’t understand their interest in you. Is it your wealth or your face? You are fortunate to have inherited our parents’ looks, but I don’t see what else there is to you,” Lily said, lying to rile Elijah up.

“The same could be said about you,” Elijah responded.

“I beg to differ. So, what will you do to make her remember you when she is at the border?” Lily asked, fishing for gossip she could share with Penelope.

Elijah set his empty glass down on the tray of a passing servant. “I wouldn’t want to place you in trouble with your friends. I also know you are planning to plot with Penelope. I- That fool,” Elijah’s eyes narrowed in on a gentleman introducing himself to Rue.

Lily followed Elijah’s gaze and smiled. “It seems you have competition, dear brother. You must go- Oh! We should move,” Lily said, attempting to run away.

“You have already seen me, Miss Lily Collins.”

Elijah tore his gaze away from Rue to the gentleman standing before him and Lily.

Lily avoided the gaze of the man before her.

“You seem lost,” Elijah said, moving to shield Lily. “On other occasions, I would greet you, but not when you are staring at my sister, Kael. Aren’t you supposed to be standing beside the Callahans?”

“I asked for a moment away so I may speak with your sister and you, of course. I want to apologise for my late arrival in town. I’ve been working less with Sir Rafael’s knights and more with my father’s business. I’m sorry,” Kael apologised, leaning to the right to look at Lily, but Elijah got in his way.

“Apology accepted, now leave,” said Elijah.

“It is not you whom I want to accept my apology. I hear that you have been courting Rue. I just overheard a fellow wanting to propose to her with flowers. She isn’t fond of all flowers,” Kael said, hoping Elijah would move.

“Good try.”

“It was worth a try. Do not forget that this is your sister’s season. She is to meet with gentlemen who are also thinking of marriage, and as you can see, there isn’t a ring on my finger,” Kael said, showing his bare hand. “We’ve become close during all my travels to Lockwood and your visits to the border.”

“It doesn’t appear that my sister wishes to speak with you,” Elijah said, sharing the same sentiments.

“Because she thinks I have forgotten about her. I broke the promise to return during the ball to start the season, but I am here now, ready to make it up to her. If you continue to stand in my way, I will toss you to the side,” Kael warned Elijah.

Kael was slightly taller than Elijah, but Elijah wasn’t the slightest bit afraid.

“I would like to see you try-”

“Stop it!” Lily exclaimed, tired of hearing the two bicker.

Lily stepped away from hiding behind Elijah. She was not yet ready to forgive Kael for being so late, but she was going to give him the chance to speak.

Lily considered it to be her fault for ignoring the men present in town and giving her attention to a man who only visited when Rafael was in Lockwood. Just when she had moved on and decided to give others a chance, Kael decided to stand before her.

“I don’t want to hear any of this,” said Elijah. He had his own troubles.

“How unfortunate that another friend would court your sister,” Kael said.

“We would have to be friends for it to be unfortunate,” Elijah replied.

Kael chuckled. It was never a dull day whenever he came to Lockwood.

“If you want to speak with him, then have mother be your chaperone,” Elijah said, not in the mood to go through this again.

“Very well. I shall,” Lily responded, turning on her heel to go to the duchess.

“Among all the men eyeing her, I am most suited for your sister, and she was waiting for me. Had I not been so busy, I would have visited her sooner. I could give you a good reason why she has not picked the men around her,” Kael said, eyeing his competition. “I urge you not to interfere.”

The matter was something none of the men could change. Kael inherited his height from his father, Logan Brett.

Many claimed there was something in the water for Rafael’s knights and men from the border to grow tall.

“Do not concern yourself with whether I would interfere. Worry about who has decided to walk with Lily as she speaks with you,” Elijah said, walking away as his father came forward.

Elijah welcomed the moment when he could stop being Lily’s guard and went to where Rue stood with her mother.

“May I interject?” Elijah asked, interrupting Rue’s talk with the young lad. “May I have this next dance?” He offered his hand to Rue.

“You may,” Rue accepted and placed her hand on Elijah’s.

Rue joined Elijah in walking away from the talkative man.

Once at a good distance, Rue said, “I don’t want to dance before this crowd.”

“I didn’t plan to dance. I noticed that you needed saving. You were about to be faced with a rather abrupt proposal. It seems he did not get the threat that your hand is already spoken for,” Elijah said, looking back at the pitiful man.