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His eyes raked possessively over the woman standing before him; a stark contrast to the prim woman in purple he’d married almost a year ago. Her costume was…exquisite.A perfect, seductive look that immediately teased his mind and tightened his breeches. Those lips. The mask.That dress.God it made her looked ethereally perfect.

However Dominic pushed the sudden and carnal thoughts away, knowing there was a bigger issue at hand to contend with.

“Outside,” he growled out. “Now.”

Even with a mask, Dominic recognized Theo’s frame, and watched as his best friend’s sister and his wife both jumped. For a moment a look of pure fury passed through Amelia’s kohl-rimmed eyes, but she pressed her lips together, grabbed Theo’s hand, and began to move.

He walked one pace behind them, allowing them to find their own way out, and stared down any man that attempted to come their way. He remained silent and composed until they reached the street and escorted them both into the carriage. Once the door was shut and they were on their way, however, he exploded.

“What in heaven’s name do you think you two are doing?” He roared. “Risking your reputations? Your families?Mine?”

“You have been gone almost a year,” Amelia answered with equal ferocity, startling him.Yes. She had changed quite a bit.

“You said I would have the freedom to do as I wished as long as I maintained my duties as a Duchess and I have!”

It took a moment for Dominic to quell the frustrating sense of pride he felt in his wife’s strong voice- a voice, not one year ago, that had been full of tears and fright.

“Yes,” he grit out, “As long as you handled yourself responsibly.”

Amelia’s red mouth opened as if to retort, but she snapped it shut, her rouged cheeks growing redder from the blush beneath.

“I am waiting,” he egged on, leaning forward toward them. “Come, do tell me how you have been so wise and mature with your new found freedom.”

It was Theo that spoke next.

“Do not blame her, Dominic,” she insisted. “It is I that have broken the rules. Amelia only came here tonight to gather me up and take me home. If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me.”

“Oh, I am,” he answered gravely, sliding off his mask. “Believe me, when I deposit you to your brother, trust that he will have words for you as well. This stops.Immediately.”

“Youcannotjust disappear from my life for a year and expect me to obey your commands,” Amelia shot back at him. “You did not even have the stones to say goodbye!”

A low growl rumbled in Dominic’s chest as anger shot through his bloodstream. He disliked being talked to with a tone- but hehatedbeing called out by the truth even less. It happenedsovery rarely.

The carriage stopped then, and the driver announced that they had arrived at Tristan’s.

“I am escorting you inside,” Dominic told Theo, then pinned his eyes on Amelia. “And you had better still be in this carriage when I get back. I swear to God, Amelia, if I have to run through the streets to catch you, youwillbe punished.”

Both women stiffened, but neither said nothing as Dominic stepped out of the carriage and held his hand out for Theo. She and Amelia exchanged a long look, then embraced silently before she slid out of the carriage and accepted Dominic’s hand.

Tristan opened his front door just as Dominic and Theo made it through the gate, his face set in apparent anger.

“Get inside and go to my study,” Tristan ordered Theo. “And you better pray to high heaven Mother and Father don’t find out about this. Things for them are bad enough.”

Theo said nothing as she walked out of Dominic’s grasp, passed Tristan, and straight into the house.

“It was handled with discretion,” Dominic said to Tristan when she was gone. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Tristan gave him a nod.

“Thank you for taking care of this,” his friend replied. “I am quite certain that I would have handled it poorly.”

“As I have told you countless times before, I am here to help whenever I can,” Dominic replied.

Tristan then nodded toward the carriage.

“How are you going to handle that ride home?” He asked.

Dominic hissed out a breath as he flexed his hands and looked back at the carriage. He didn’t have the slightest idea.