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He rushed through the ballroom, looking to see if he could find her and tell her in many words just how much he loved her.

ChapterTwenty-One

"You did a great job throwing this ball, Your Grace." Another matron in thetonpraised much to Victoria’s dismay.

She had been trying to escape the party which had taken a rowdier look as the wine had flowed freely but it seemed she would have to halt her plans for the time being.

"I thank you, my lady." She curtsied with a smile.

Her eyes roamed round the room trying to spot Anthony. She had watched him leave after the harried excuse he had made and wondered if perhaps he were trying to escape the crowd that filled their ballroom. She smiled as she watched him go, proud that he had survived as long as he had.

She had been hoping to steal some private moment with him in the library but he obviously hadn’t been having the same thoughts as her because he had had a frown on his face when he’d left.

She had spied him step out into the gardens and hoped to follow him but had been pulled away to attend to some minor catering issue which the serving staff could have attended to themselves.

"Simon, have you seen His Grace?" She asked a passing footman he identified as one of the ones who stood outside Anthony's study.

"I think he is in his study, Your Grace." He bowed.

She nodded and dismissed him, hurrying with a smile to his study. Perhaps she would be getting her tete a tete at all. She skipped all the way to the door and spying the light under the door, she smiled broadly, smoothing a hand over her dress.

Even if he had seen her in less than honorable positions, she was still conscious about her appearance before him.

She pushed the door open and peered through but not seeing him she frowned.

"Anthony?" She called into the room, stepping further into the space.

"Victoria?"

Theo had been reading a book he had pulled out of Anthony’s private collection. He smiled at her and returned the book to its place.

"What are you doing here?" she asked with a frown. "Where’s Anthony?"

"I came to escape for a while."

"You shouldn't be in Anthony's study." She told him sternly. "It isn't proper."

Her disappointment at not finding her husband dulled the usual excitement she had on seeing her friend. Her tone had been curt and she hoped it drove the message that he should leave.

It was improper for him to be in the host’s private study and even more so to be alone. If Anthony were to walk in on them now, she didn’t deign to imagine what he would think.

"I was hoping to see the duke." He told her.

Victoria frowned.

Theo who had staunchly pronounced his dislike of the duke would willingly seek him out?

It was entirely unbelievable.

"Why?" she asked surprised. "Have you finally come to like him?"

He chuckled darkly and turned to pour her a drink from her husband’s collection. She frowned but accepted nonetheless. The man really was stubborn. She would only hope Anthony would be in a good mood in the event he chose to walk into the room. And she hoped it would be soon.

"On the contrary." He told her, turning to place his cup down on Anthony’s desk. "I came to ask him to make a choice."

She frowned and dropped her drink. It had tasted sour and unlike the port Anthony usually poured her so it wasn’t a great loss. She would ask him to toss it out later when she saw him.

"What choice?"