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She hurried towards her sister that was a considerable distance ahead. He guessed she had not wasted time to put space between herself and beastly duke.

Turning back to the nosy earl, he answered, "I attend when it suits me."

He was gratified by the mortified flush that rose on the other man's cheek. It served him right for being so nosy.

"It is a pleasure to have you grace us with your presence, your grace" he said with a fake smile.

Anthony seriously doubted that, but for the sake of civility he replied

"Likewise," he said, clasping the man's hand in a firm hand shake.

"I must say your bill for the rights of returned veterans was so good. We are glad to have you back to take up your family's seat in the Lords."

"It is my pleasure, my lord," he replied as civilly as possible.

It was obviously fake because men like Lord Pembroke were notorious for sleeping or making sneaky comments when bills were passed but then it was obvious he thought to increase his relevance in society by purporting a relationship with a duke even though the man did not particularly like him.

Thetonwas so deceptive it was scary and sometimes it was simply tiring to play their small-minded games.

* * *

Victoria walked towards her sister. It was baffling how much distance Charity had covered between the time the opera had drawn it's curtains and the present moment. Her quest to escape the duke might have contributed to her flight

When she was almost close, she saw her sister approached by two young ladies. He recognized them to be Lady Finch and Lady Burk. They had been Charity's friends from childhood. They were well behaved ladies - or at least she thought they were until she overheard their conversation-

"I heard you accompanied the Beastly duke to the opera?"

Lady Burk asked an exaggerated look of surprise on her face

"How did you bear it?" Lady Finch asked before Charity could answer " I fear I would cast up my accounts if I were to bear the sight of his face."

"He looks like the very devil. It is no wonder his title, sound like exactly that I think the Devil duke suit him best. The Duke of Devlin, the Devil Duke," Lady Burk said eliciting a chuckle from Lady Finch totally enjoying her bad attempt at poetry.

Victoria had heard enough, she interjected

"Good evening, ladies," she said enjoying the look of guilt on their face.

Yes, they deserved to feel shame.

"I would think you are taught better on how absolutely terrible gossip is. It is disheartening that you would stoop so low as to malign the name of a reputed gentleman, simply because of an injury. An injury he had sustained while defending our beloved country," she said her hands braced on her hips

"The freedom you so enjoy was hard worn by men like him You should show him respect if you possess working consciences at all," she admonished.

By the time she paused to take a breath. The three girls were looking down in remorse

"We're sorry," Lady Burk whispered and her friends chorused the sentiment in low tones.

"You have no need to apologize to me, I should think that sentiment should be reserved for the Duke," she said stomping away before she lost her grip on her anger and blast the insensitive lot.

A part of her acknowledged that she just might be overreacting but that did not douse her anger. The man was just a charming war veteran that had the misfortune of being permanently marked by his battle. It didn't do at all for young naive girls to make fun of him to fuel their ego. Not if she had anything to say about it.

* * *

From the shadows where he stood watching the unfolding drama, Anthony could feel his lip stretching in a huge goofy smile. Miss Victoria, famed by thetonfor being cool headed, had once again lost her temper.

After he had parted ways with the portly Earl of Pembroke, he had headed in the direction the ladies had taken. He spotted them ahead and quickened his stride to meet up but halted in his tracks when he got closer and overheard the conversation holding between two young ladies who had approached Charity earlier. He could guess they were miss Charity's friends. They definitely shared her revulsion for him.

He was used to being fodder for gossip so he leaned at a close wall to wait it out. He was pleasantly surprised when Victoria swooped in to defend him with the ferocity of a tigress.