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Phoebe flushed a vivid shade of crimson and glared at her husband, who only laughed and lovingly pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I should go see where that old Wolf is lurking. With Lady Diana planning a ball, he must be apoplectic with rage.”

“Oh, he must be in his study or his tower,” Scarlett told the Duke.

“He is, is he not?” Ethan grinned, before bounding towards the stairs in long, easy strides.

Scarlett shook her head. “I still cannot believe you are married to the Duke of Sin.”

Phoebe turned towards her with an arched eyebrow. “And I still cannot believe what you have done! The Wolf himself—Scarlett, have you no shred of fear?”

“Shh!” Scarlett hissed, her eyes darting towards the door. “The Dowager Duchess is expecting the arrival of more guests. Perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere more private. The library, perhaps?”

Phoebe nodded. “You seem to know your way around the manor quite well now.”

Scarlett just shrugged and set Snowdrop down on the floor. The enamored puppy had no problem trotting enthusiastically by her side.

“There is hardly anyone to talk to.” She pushed the doors to the library open. “Other than Mama and Her Grace, of course. But right now, they are too busy with planning the ball. The Dowager Duchess insists on finding me a suitable match before the weekend is over.”

“Oh.” Phoebe pursed her lips. “What about the Marquess of Colton? Rumor has it that you are already betrothed to the man.”

“And I would like it to remain that—a rumor,” Scarlett told her friend firmly. “Even better if I can persuade him to withdraw his suit, which he should be doing after everything that happened.”

The blonde looked at her with narrowed eyes. “You still have not told me how you ended up in Wolverton Estate as the most honored guest of the Dowager Duchess. Scarlett, Her Grace has not entertained anyone foryears,and now she is holding a ball. In your honor. To find you ahusband.”

Phoebe had always had a penchant for the dramatic.

“I know, the poor dear,” Scarlett sighed. “Her son is determined to live the life of a recluse, and she is shuttered along with him.”

“Perhaps she is looking for a wife for him.”

Because misery loves company, that’s why.

“Every dowager is in search of spouses for her children. It is their favorite pastime, I’m afraid.” Scarlett led her friend to a plush sofa and sat down. “After she has married me off, Mama will no doubt move on to Alexander.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes—yet another sign of her husband’s influence. “Do tell me all about it. Papa lives, and yet Mama was the same with me and Alice. It is an affliction of all mothers, I should think.” She patted Scarlett’s hands. “So, do tell me how you ended up here. Ethan tells me that the Wolf is going to marry you.”

“That is not going to happen. Ever.”

“Yes, but Ethan tells me that the Duke is an honorable man at heart, and if he had ruined you, he’d take responsibility. If Ethan was not my husband, I would have hardly believed that this story had even an ounce of truth in it. So, what really happened?"

If she had not been one of the main characters of that particular play, Scarlett would have hardly believed it herself. No one was foolish enough to cross the Duke of Wolverton.

Except her mama.

And her.

She sighed and pursed her lips. “It was one tiny, little lie. So outrageous that nobody would have believed it.”

Phoebe regarded her with a raised eyebrow. “And what was this tiny, little lie that was so outrageous it could not possibly have beenthattiny?”

Scarlett smiled sheepishly at her friend. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Scarlett!”

“All right, all right!” She put her hands up in surrender. “I told Mama and Alexander that I could not possibly marry theMarquess of Colton because I had already been kissed by the Wolf himself.”

“Dear saints above!” Phoebe gasped. “Ethan was right—you are out of your mind!”

“I never thought that Mama would actually storm into Wolverton Estate, demanding the Wolf himself take responsibility!” Scarlett cried out in protest. “I mean, we are talking about theWolf, for goodness’ sake!”