Page 58 of His Temporary Duchess

Of course, part of this could be attributed to the fact that he had not taken part in Society for a long time. But that part did not explain the way she had waved at him from across the ballroom, beckoning him across as though she were in command of him.

He had been tempted to ignore her, but he had no faith that if he did, she would not do something more outrageous to attract his attention.

Enough of thetonknew of their courtship that any public interaction would be scrutinized. And so he had capitulated, but she needed to know that things would have to change going forward.

“I am not your dog,” he growled when he approached. “That you can call to heel.”

“No?” She looked up at him through hooded eyes and gave a slow, wicked smile. “And yet you came. Did the dance with your wife displease you so much?”

“No,” he said shortly.

“Oh? I could not help but think she seemed a little bored. You mustentertainyour wife, dearest, or she will grow tired of your company.”

He recalled the distraction in her manner when he had spoken of how she was the only lady who could possibly have brought him to care for her. Could it be that she regretted it?

No, he couldn’t believe it.

The reluctance in her expression ate away at him. Did she regret fighting so hard for him? Hehadbeen cruel to her at the beginning. Was she thinking of that?

He snapped his attention back to Lydia. “Is that what happened between us? You grew tired of my company?”

“Oh no, darling. Not in the slightest. I was just young and foolish, and you were always so afraid that people would leave. I found it exhausting, I confess. But we are past that now, aren’t we? You are much older, and so am I. We are different people.”

His stomach lurched.Different people. Yes, they were—and yet at the same time, they were not. He had never quite conquered his fear of people leaving. Even now, it occupied his thoughts, along with the lady he left behind on the dance floor. Had he burdened her with his worries that she would leave? He certainly hadn’t believed her the numerous times she’d told him, and evennow he struggled to fully believe it, searching for reasons she was either lying or mistaken.

Would she grow tired of it as Lydia had?

Had shealreadygrown tired of it?

“It is not your place to speak of these things with me,” he said finally. “My relationship is none of your concern.”

Both her brows raised. “I would never dream of overstepping.”

“See that you don’t.”

“I wouldn’t go looking for your wife. She is currently dancing with Luke.” Lydia held out her hand. “Had you missed that little detail?”

Anger boiled in his stomach. Luke—he ought to have known his friend would snap up his wife the moment he turned his back.

Deep down, he knew the thought was unjust, but he despised the thought that another man had the joy of dancing with her. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see her smiling up at Luke, her hand in his.

The dark possessiveness in him rose at the sight. This was wrong. She washis.

He had to get closer.

“Dance with me,” he snapped at Lydia, taking her arm and dragging her out to the newly forming lines, as close to Eleanor as he could get. She ought to have known better than to dance with Luke—

Guilt speared through him, dispelling a little of his anger. What right had he to dictate whom she danced with? In truth, he knew Luke did not want her, and she had shown no signs of wanting him, either.

Yet at the sight of her smiling at his friend, something twisted inside him. If she tired of Sebastian and chose someone else—

Enough was enough. He did not need to follow his wife around like a lost puppy, demanding she return to his side. He trusted her.

He did. Hemust.

Lydia fluttered her lashes at him. “Face me, Your Grace, or people will see you staring after your wife like a lost puppy.”

He looked back at Lydia, feeling as though he had awoken. This had been a mistake. But already, the damage was done—dowagers were already gossiping about him and Lydia. He could not leave the dance now.