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It was just rather disconcerting to be on the receiving end of his scrutiny.

Ethan shrugged as he helped himself to some wine. It was never too early in the morning for some alcohol.

Besides, he was a Wolf, was he not? He could certainly hold his liquor.

That, and he needed to at least wash off the taste of Phoebe’s sweet, sweet lips…

Ethan shuddered inwardly. A kiss like that—surely, she must have felt it, too. He cannot be the only one to be so affected by that kiss…

“I have it on good authority that the Baron Latimer has taken his whole family to the country, including his daughter.”

Ethan stopped in his tracks and frowned. Inclining his head just a little, he caught sight of Lady Scarlett whispering to Evie.

“No, no, no,” Evie brushed her off. “Miss Delaney was sent off to the countryside with an aunt. The Baron and Baroness are still in London, I assure you, although I doubt they will show their faces in public again.”

“After all the ruckus they caused.” The redhead shook her head. “But a young lady being sent off to the country with an aunt—it can only mean one thing.”

Disgrace.

Ethan knew all too well how quickly the ton could turn against one of their own, and Miss Delaney had broken all of their rules in one fell swoop.

“Alice, dear, why are you frowning like that? It’s not good for… well, you know.”

The Duchess of Blackthorn rarely made an effort to hide her displeasure, and it had become a running joke amongst the ton that just the slightest frown from her could have her husband rushing in to immediately rectify the situation.

Ethan heard her heave a sigh as she turned her gaze to the other side of the ballroom, right by the dance floor.

“I still wish Mama had not invitedhim,” she said, frustration creeping into her tone.

Himbeing the Viscount Dexford, who looked exceptionally dapper that morning with his coat and hair slicked back with so much oil that Ethan surmised his own chefs could cook on the man’s pate.

“I wish so, too.”

All three young women turned to look at Ethan. Alice looked mildly discomfited.

“Ethan,” she chastised him gently. “Has no one ever told you that it is bad form to eavesdrop on ladies?”

“A bad habit that he had acquired from my husband, no doubt about it,” Evie added with an eye roll.

Scarlett crossed her arms over her chest. “I still think the good Viscount should have just declined the invitation. A gentleman attending the wedding of a woman he was once betrothed to…”

She shrugged and let the sentence hang, although the meaning of her words was clear to everyone who heard it.

The group of women sighed collectively. The Marchioness of Brandon truly erred when she invited the Viscount. Especially seeing that now, he was approaching Phoebe with a determined look in his eyes.

Ethan noted that the ladies’ eyes had swiveled back to him before they turned back to the Viscount with great unease.

And then, another collective gasp.

“He cannot mean to?—”

“He cannot possibly bethatstupid!”

The last exclamation had come from Scarlett, and Ethan had to agree with her choice of words.

The Viscount was, indeed,thatstupid, for he was now leading a visibly uncomfortable Phoebe towards the dance floor.

The first dance of the bride after her wedding.