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She felt the world slip into nothing else as the vague sensation of being carried hit her. She was grateful because her legs had suddenly given way and she could barely feel her body. Only one thought came to mind.

Anthony would worry himself sick if she wasn’t found quickly. She only hoped he wouldn’t think she had left him.

Oh Anthony, please come find me.

* * *

Theodore grunts as he adjusts Victoria on his shoulder, peeping down a hallway to see if he could make his escape without anyone noticing him.

He hadn’t expected Victoria to be so hesitant to leave but no matter. He would make her see reason once she was far from whatever trappings he had on her.

He had watched her and bid his time since he had eavesdropped on their conversation and had watched their every move. He had been ready to give up when he had seen them dance four dances but when the bastard duke had left her to go speak to his former fiancée, he had seen it as the perfect time.

He had chosen to leave things to chance by waiting in the duke’s study and when she had come strolling in with that beautiful smile on her face, he knew even the universe was supporting his claims.

What he hadn’t expected was for her to spit in the face of all the reasons he had given her to show why he was a better fit for her than the duke.

He knew she wasn’t a moved by material possessions so her reasons for staying with the duke was nothing to do with his vast estates. She was the loyal sort, his darling Victoria. That was the only logical explanation for her choosing to stay with the duke.

She would thank him for freeing her from her prison once she awoke. He was sure of it. The powder he had poured in her drink was a contingency plan he had thought of last minute. Its effects would wear off within the hour so he needed to move quickly.

They would live happily together from this night on.

He had made sure of it.

The letter he had written and signed in her name made sure of it. He had felt no remorse using such terrible words to the duke because he needed to ensure the stubborn man didn’t come looking for her when he didn’t find her at the end of the ball.

Yes.

He would finally have Victoria, his first love and soon they would be man and wife.

* * *

"Have you seen Victoria?" Anthony asks Charity after a long minute of searching for his wife.

He had checked the possible places he thought he’d find her after his talk with Rose and hadn’t found her, including their shared chamber and the kitchens after a maid had told him she had seen her head down to the kitchens.

Her sister’s eye popped open in surprise and she shook her head. He was glad to see the fear that was once in her eyes when she looked at him had disappeared but he didn’t dwell on it considering he hadn’t still found Victoria.

"I haven’t seen her but have you checked the library?" she asked. "Victoria likes to escape public gatherings after a while. So you might find her up there with her nose in a book."

"I think you’re talking about yourself, darling." Her baron added with a sly smile.

He looked like he had over imbibed and was one drink away from making a complete fool of himself.

The young couple laughed at their inside joke and Anthony felt a slight pang as it reminded him slightly of what he had shared with Victoria over the passing weeks.

He wondered how he could have deceived himself so long that he was completely besotted with his wife. He missed her sorely already and had noticed her giving him hot looks out of the corner of her eyes before Rose had caught his eye.

Perhaps, they would be able to steal a short moment for themselves.

Their guests seemed quite content with how the night had turned out and were a rowdy mess as they danced, forgetting decorum.

He thanked her and made his way to the library and not finding her there, he thought to check his own study. She might have wanted somewhere more private considering libraries were common escape places for shy debutantes and gentlemen.

He stepped into his study and frowned at the glass littering his table and the other on the small side table near the chair facing the fireplace.

Who would have dared breach his private study?