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"Yes. Yes," she panted.

"Lavinia," he gritted, hands trying to touch all of her at the same time, "so damn lovely. Bloody hell, darling. You drive me insane."

"Do not stop!" she screamed, fingers digging into the flesh of his arms.

He pressed his fingers against the sensitive bud at the apex of her mound and with a choked cry, she came apart, body shuddering, and her channel spasming around his fingers.

He reached for the placket of his trousers with fingers coated with evidence of her desire, eager to push into her and rid himself of this constant ache that had plagued him from the very first moment he had clapped eyes on her.

"Victor," she whispered drowsily, a soft smile playing on her lips.

It took only his name on her mouth to snap him back into his senses and he stared with horror at the marks he had left on her and the smell of desire permeating the air.

The Duke took a step backward, as if distance would rid him of his hunger. Or the sight of her lounging so decadently against their host's desk.

"Cover yourself," his voice was as sharp as a whip.

She raised her head, blinking at him, "hmm?"

"Cover yourself, Miss Proctor," he growled. "They will soon be missing us."

"I do not understand," her voice was husky.

"What is so difficult to understand?" He glowered. "Put yourself together. This was a mistake."

The blood drained from her face, and she stared at him for one breathless, uncertain second before she began to arrange her clothes with urgency.

"Lavinia-"

"Do not bother, Your Grace, you have made your opinions quite clear, and I am frankly tired of hearing them."

A moment later, the door banged shut behind him and she was gone, taking along with her all the light in the room, it felt colder and darker and he staggered to the desk.

Something glinted against the surface of the desk and he reached for the object, one of her silver hairpins.

What had he done?

CHAPTER 17

Lavinia staggered away from the library, her legs barely holding her up now that she was away from the Duke and didn't have to pretend to be tough and uncaring about what had gone on between them in there.

Tears slid down her face and she wiped them away quickly, refusing to waste a single tear over that heartless rapscallion.

He had warned her that he would not touch her again, and she had foolishly thought that...

She made a choking sound, slapping a hand over her mouth. She couldn't go back into the ballroom. Not in the state she was in. She was sure her hair was a mess, but even worse she felt like she had been split from the middle and it was all her damn fault.

"Lavinia," Jenny's soft voice called and she turned slowly to face the shorter girl.

She didn't even have it in her to hide her ragged appearance.

"W-what happened?" Jenny rushed towards her, eyes wide, "Tell me this instant!"

"I cannot talk about it now, but I promise you, it is nothing. I was just foolish and I have come to my senses now," she gave her a wobbly smile.

"But-"

She clutched the girl's hand, eyes desperate, "please, help me find Noah. Tell him it is urgent that I leave at once. Tell him I am not feeling well or something like that. Will you help me?"