Page 18 of The Beast’s Unwanted Duchess (Icy Dukes #1)

CHAPTER TEN

V ictor paced at the foot of the grand staircase, his patience wearing thin.

They were running late for the ball, and Alice wasn’t ready yet.

He glanced at the ornate clock on the wall, the ticking seconds amplifying his anxiety.

They needed to be on time. The earlier they arrived, the fewer people they would have to greet.

"What’s taking so long, Roberts? The ball is about to start," he asked Roberts, standing by his side. "She has been getting ready for so long."

"Do you want me to get a message to her, Your Grace?" Roberts asked.

Victor ran his fingers through his hair. "No," he said quietly. "I wouldn’t want to rush her."

He had been dressed and ready to go for over thirty minutes. His outfit had been meticulously chosen for the occasion. It was the Crowell Ball, one of the most anticipated balls of the season. Everyone was going to be there.

Victor had on a tailored black tailcoat, its fine fabric hugging his broad shoulders while tapering elegantly at the waist. It was paired with a white waistcoat featuring subtle silver embroidery.

His trousers matched the coat and fell neatly over polished black boots.

It was tailored to fit. He had made sure of it.

Appearance was everything to society, after all.

Just as Victor turned his gaze to the stairs, Alice emerged, standing at the top.

Perhaps it was the flickering candlelight or the deep emerald gown that seemed to flow with every step she took—or perhaps a fusion of both—but the moment he set eyes on her, something about her seemed almost otherworldly.

She wore a gown of deep emerald green, the fabric flowing like liquid around her form, highlighting her curves with an effortless elegance that took his breath away.

Victor was not one to stare for long, but he could not take his eyes away.

His heart raced as he watched her descend the stairs.

A mix of awe and something deeper stirred within him.

Her hair flowed in soft waves, with a few tendrils framing her face, and pearls scattered around it like stars against a midnight sky.

At that moment, he wasn’t in a rush anymore.

He felt as if he were witnessing the unveiling of a masterpiece, one that had been hidden away and was now emerging into the light.

Alice was beautiful, no doubt about that, but there was something different tonight.

Something more captivating.

Victor’s heart quickened and, no matter what he did, he couldn’t calm himself down. It was a reaction he hadn’t expected, and he had to force himself to maintain his composure, even though his gaze remained fixed on her, unwilling to let a moment pass.

"Apologies for my tardiness, Your Grace," she said, reaching the foot of the stairs. "Seeing as we need to keep up appearances, I figured I would try to look my best."

"Your efforts show," he said to her and cleared his throat, not wanting her to dwell on the moment or his compliment. "We must go or we’ll be late. I’d hate to arrive when the ballroom is flooded with people. That is more eyes on me at once than I am prepared to handle."

"I’m all set," Alice said to him. "Let’s get this over with."

Victor recalled saying those words to her the day they’d first met, on their wedding day.

He’d been weary then, surrounded by curious, expectant eyes that scrutinized his every movement, every glance.

All he had wanted, after enduring that endless ceremony, was to retreat to the estate, to shut the world out and disappear into the solitude of his own company.

Now that he thought about it, he realized that it was a cruel thing to say to Alice. Judging from how terrified she looked that day, he figured he could have done a better job to assuage her.

When Victor reached the carriage out front, he opened the door himself and extended his hand to help her step into the vehicle. Instead of accepting, Alice stared at him, confused.

"This is what people do, is it not?" he asked.

"Most people...yes," she answered. "But...you don’t have to. We’re not in public yet."

"We can start now," he said, stretching his hand further.

Alice looked reluctant, but then she sighed. "Well, since it’s the polite thing to do."

She placed her hand lightly in his, her fingers brushing against his palm in a way that sent an unexpected warmth through him.

For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Victor became acutely aware of everything.

Her soft hand against his coarser one, her lean fingers warm yet delicate in his grasp, and her scent, faint but undeniably present.

If he had to guess, he’d say it was a blend of lavender and something subtler.

He blinked, forcing himself to pull back as soon as she was seated.

After taking a second to breathe, he got into the seat across from her and kept his gaze out the window as they began the journey.

It was safe to say that he was flustered. Victor had not been aware of the feeling until he met Alice. Everything she did unnerved him more than he cared to admit.

"Alice, we need to present ourselves as a loving couple tonight," Victor said to her. "The rumors surrounding our marriage will only dissipate if we give people something to believe in. The sooner we do that, the better."

"Yes, Your Grace," she answered unenthusiastically. "Whatever you say."

Victor turned to her, sensing the attitude in her tone. "Are you still upset about our last conversation over breakfast yesterday?"

Alice only glanced at him. "There’s nothing to be upset about."

Victor stared at her. She had talked about death, and he had reacted strongly to it. His reaction had been instinctual, a sudden response that surprised even him. He hated the talk of death or dying. It twisted something in him...memories he fought so hard to bury.

"There’s a wall, Alice," he said to her, causing her to shift her attention to him. "You’re right."

Alice only nodded in response and lowered her head to stare at her fingers.

"I’m sorry if it’s lonely," he added. "But you knew what you were signing up for when you married a man like me."

"Who is that man?" she asked, throwing both hands in the air. "I have no idea what I signed up for. When we got married, I had no idea what I was getting into. All I had to go by were rumors. But even now, after two whole years, I still don’t know who I married."

Victor didn’t know how to communicate it.

How to tell her that he was just trying to protect her.

To make sure that she never experienced the darkness that was – most of the time – the order of the day for him.

He carried a burden alone, one he didn’t want to pass onto her.

No one deserved to live in the darkness that he did.

It wasn’t fair to her.

"You just have to live your life, Alice," he told her. "As freely as you want."

"Your Grace, the only reason you have a wall is because you are hiding too much," she said. "You know almost everything about me and my family and I know nothing about yours. I don’t think that’s normal, no matter the circumstance surrounding this marriage. What was your papa like? Did you get along with your mama? Is there a reason you don’t have any siblings or close relatives?

I have questions about you too, Your Grace. "

Victor inhaled deeply. "You should call me Victor," he said. "For our plan to work, you need to call me Victor so we seem close enough."

"You’re changing the subject, Your Grace," she argued.

"Let me think about it, Alice," he said. "For now, let’s concentrate on the Crowell Ball, shall we? Please?"

Alice sighed and faintly smiled. "If you say so...Victor."

A smile formed on his lips on hearing her call his name. He turned back to stare out the window, allowing silence to settle in. Victor found himself stealing glances at Alice throughout the journey.

Alice was unable to take deep breaths. She’d thought that after two years away from society, she would be at ease with attending a ball, but as she took Victor’s hand and stepped out of the carriage, her dress suddenly felt tighter, constricting her chest. She held his hand a little more firmly than intended as if his presence might steady her at the moment.

And it did. Alice was aware of his presence, and strangely, she felt assured by it.

Perhaps it was because society feared him, so she knew others would think twice before crossing her.

Or maybe she had grown to rely on him in ways she hadn’t fully acknowledged.

Whatever the reason, it was working. She looked up at him, catching the slightest flicker of reassurance in his gaze, and found herself more composed than she could have imagined.

"There is nothing to be scared of, Alice," Victor said as they walked side by side. "It’s just a ball."

"I’m not scared," she answered and swallowed. "I have no reason to be scared."

"Then what is it? You don’t like being seen with me?" he asked, looking at her. "Shouldn’t you have prepared yourself for this? It’s been two years."

Alice held his stare but didn’t respond.

He had every reason to believe she was ashamed to be seen with him, and the thought only made her chest tighten.

She had given him little to disprove it.

After all, she recalled how nauseated she had been on their wedding day.

It was so obvious that there were rumors he was holding her hostage.

"That’s also not it," she whispered, but not loud enough for him to hear. She clenched tightly to his arm, hoping her nerves would ease soon. No matter how many times she tried to convince herself that there was nothing to be nervous about, she couldn’t help it.