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His frown deepened when he found a sealed letter on his desk carrying his seal. He inspected it and turned it over, wondering what it could be.

Prying his letter opener from its place, he broke the seal and reading the contents, he let the letter fall to the floor.

My dear duke,

I should tell you this in person but I fear what you might do to me if I were to tell you the truth of my heart.

I am leaving you and if you are reading this now, I have already gone.

I cannot continue to pretend to be your wife when I have already fulfilled my end of the deal as you well know it.

I know you will understand me because I won’t be the first woman unable to stay with you. I wish you happiness nonetheless.

Yours,

Victoria.

He didn’t feel it at first but as he read over the words again, a sharp pain unlike any he had felt before struck him square in the chest and he gasped, placing a palm against his aching heart.

If she hadn’t mentioned his broken engagement and then the deal which they had made which were privy only to the two of them, he would have thought her kidnapped but Victoria had truly left him.

He placed the paper gingerly on his desk and turned to face the fire which burned in his grate, heaving out a huge sigh even though what he really wanted to do was shout and break things.

Why hadn’t she just told him?

And what had she meant by what he would do to her?

Did she really think him capable of hurting her?

He poured himself a drink and then another and then two glasses turned to five as he tried to numb the ache that felt even worse that the wounds that had scarred across his face and body.

Then he threw the glass and let out a shout that drew knocks to his door.

"Your Grace, are you well?"

He could recognize the voice of the footman that stood outside his door and stalked to it. As he opened the door, the music and cheers from the ballroom incensed him further.

The whole ball had been her idea and she had chosen to leave in the midst of it so he wouldn’t be able to stop her leaving. He storms into the ballroom, wincing at the noise of the celebration going on below.

"I want everyone out. Now!" he yelled not caring at the whispers and murmurs that arose.

A couple of matrons covered the lower half of their faces with their fans but their eyes spelled their disapproval of his behavior.

"Anthony, what are you doing?" His mother said sharply, rushing up the stairs. "You’re creating an unbecoming scene. What has gotten into you?"

"Is everything well?" His sister that had arrived sometime during the ball asked. "Your eyes are bloodshot. Did you drink?"

"I just need everyone to leave." He answered on a long breath. "Please make them leave."

His mother sent him a long look but said a speech he didn’t register but worked but the murmurs still floated back to him causing him to clench his teeth.

"So barbaric."

"I knew he hadn’t changed."

"He really is a beast."

"I pity that poor wife of his."