Page 19 of The Beast’s Unwanted Duchess (Icy Dukes #1)

As they entered the ballroom, Alice felt every eye turn toward them.

The entire room seemed to go still, conversations halting mid-sentence as people took in the sight of Victor and her.

She could see the look of disbelief on many faces; some even looked as though they were staring at a ghost. Alice knew her marriage to the Duke had thrust her into the center of society’s attention, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this intense.

She felt the weight of every gaze and the hush that followed them like a lingering shadow.

Victor’s expression, on the other hand, remained stoic, his gaze fixed ahead. He seemed unfazed, like he could take everyone on in a fight all at once. People were looking at him, but their gaze dared not linger for long. His presence alone demanded respect, even awe, of those around him.

Alice hadn’t considered it before, but now she wondered if Victor might be the shield she needed in her life.

His sternness and the aura of distance he kept around himself gave him a certain power in society that few dared to challenge.

She had feared coming back into society because she lacked the strength to tackle or debunk rumors of her death, but scanning the crowd, she noticed that everyone looked scared rather than curious.

"Your Grace."

A gentleman approached, and Alice instinctively released Victor’s arm, her hand dropping to her side as she took a small step back.

The man offered a respectful bow, his wife mirroring his gesture with a polite nod.

Alongside them were two younger girls, likely making their societal debut, who giggled softly behind their parents.

Their gazes flickered to Alice, eyes wide with curiosity, before they curtsied, each of them casting quick, shy glances in her direction.

Alice greeted them back, surprised by their demeanor. Everyone else looked weary, whereas they, on the other hand, seemed....excited to see her.

Victor turned to the gentleman, engaging in conversation about business matters. Alice, now somewhat separated from his side, watched as the two young daughters of the man slowly made their way to her side. She stared at them with a questioning look, wondering what they were up to.

"Your Grace," they greeted and curtsied again.

Alice acknowledged them but remained silent.

"You look rather beautiful tonight, Your Grace," one of them – the taller one – said. "Simply ravishing."

"Thank you," Alice answered. "You both look very beautiful as well. You’re...sisters?"

"Yes," the taller one answered. "Only a year apart. We decided to make our debut into society together. So we have each other. She is Edwina, and I am Viola."

"How wonderful," Alice said and beamed. "It’s nice to meet you. I hope you’re enjoying the ball?"

"I never believed the rumors," the shorter one – Edwina – blurted.

Alice’s eyebrows furrowed, caught off-guard by her statement. "I’m sorry?" was all she managed to say.

Victor – only a few steps away – glanced at her but said nothing as he continued his conversation.

"The rumors..." she repeated softly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "...that you had died. I never believed them."

Alice tilted her head to the side, curious. "Why not, if I may ask? Everyone seemed to."

"Well, there has to be a love story," Viola chimed in. "You and the Duke look so perfect together, it’s admirable."

"Like opposites attract," Edwina explained. "I’ve read books about it."

Again, Victor turned to them only briefly with a puzzled look. Alice caught it, and she tried her best not to laugh.

Alice stifled a laugh, but the incredulity must have shown on her face. "You think Victor and I have a love story?" she echoed, raising a brow.

The young ladies blinked, almost in unison, as though the question was confusing. "Doesn’t everyone?" Edwina asked. "Surely the Duke fell in love with you, and you with him...that’s why he proposed, right? Can you tell us, please? We would like to hear all about it."

Alice couldn’t help but give them an amused smile, her expression a mixture of disbelief and bemusement.

It seemed unfathomable that anyone would believe she and Victor shared some fabled romance.

The very idea of a love story seemed ludicrous when held up against the reality of their relationship, if it could even be called that.

She glanced at Edwina and Viola, each leaning forward with wide, expectant eyes, as if she were about to teach them life lessons.

"My goodness," Alice said to herself.

It was as though she had stumbled upon a pair of rare birds who still believed in innocent dreams of romance, blissfully ignorant of the complexities of life. For a fleeting moment, Alice envied their naiveté.

"Well, if you must know," she began to say, hastily formulating a story that she hoped sounded believable. "The Duke proposed not long after hearing of my broken engagement with Lord Pembroke. He told me later that he’d noticed me before, though we hadn’t officially met."

Alice glanced at Victor. She knew he was listening, and a spark of mischief flickered within her.

She wondered how far she could stretch the truth about their marriage before he reacted.

After all, he was the one who was adamant about remediating their reputation.

What better way to do it than to rewrite the story of their marriage?

"You see, the Duke claimed that he had been severely heartbroken when he heard that I got engaged,’ Alice continued with a soft smile on her face that she hoped was convincing enough.

She clasped her hands together and brought them to her chest. "You’ve heard of the man.

He is quiet, reserved...keeps to himself all the time. "

Victor glanced again, but his gaze did not linger.

"People like that find it difficult to express their feelings," Edwina said.

"Exactly," Alice said. "He was heartbroken and had no idea what to do. For days, he berated himself for not making the first move. But then, as fate would have it, Lord Pembroke found love in someone else, and Victor saw his chance. He wasted no time, seizing the moment to propose to me."

Edwina and Viola both squeaked, hanging on her every word. "And what about you? When did you realize that you were head over heels in love with him?"

Alice opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. She was all for teasing Victor, but she didn’t want to get trapped in the web of lies she had started to weave.

"Well, I didn’t know what to think at first," Alice said. "I mean, I was flustered by his determination to wed me, and in a way, it impressed me. He was so impatient, he couldn’t wait to make me his wife."

Alice smirked and attempted to check Victor’s reaction, but she jumped when she noticed he was now fully facing her, listening intently. Before she could react, he walked up to her and stretched out his hand.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

Alice blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in his demeanor. She half-expected him to scold her for the fabrications she’d spun for the girls, yet here he was, inviting her to dance as if nothing were amiss. But she was determined to see his reaction to the lies she had spun.

"I would be honored, my love," she teased, taking his hand.

Victor’s initial response was a soft chuckle that caught Alice off guard, surprising even him. But as quickly as it came, he suppressed it, clearing his throat and adopting a more serious expression. Alice stared at him in shock as he led her to the dance floor.

"You laughed," she pointed out, still surprised. "That’s the third time you’ve ever laughed in front of me. Well, the other times weren’t as loud as this one, but you actually laughed in public."

"My love?" he asked, stopping in the middle of the floor. "And what was that ridiculous story you were telling those girls? I told you to pretend that we are cordial, not paint the ultimate love story."

Alice couldn’t pay attention to anything other than that she had made him laugh. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He didn’t look as frightening as usual when his face lit up with a smile. In fact, she dared say that, for a moment, he looked almost… charming.

As the music began, Victor gently drew her closer, his hand resting lightly on her waist. For a moment, Alice could only focus on his hand, how carefully placed it was, as if he were cautious.

..almost hesitant, about the contact. She took a steadying breath, trying to still the erratic beat of her heart.

The closeness was unfamiliar, unsettling.

"You’re tense," he leaned in to whisper. "It’s obvious. People will see. We should probably have practiced dancing."

Victor held her gaze, his expression unreadable. His hand tightened slightly on her waist as the dance began, guiding her with an unexpected tenderness that made her pulse quicken.

"I apologize in advance if I step on your feet again," she said to him and averted her eyes. "I haven’t done this in a while."

Victor smiled. "That’s all right."

As the dancing continued, Alice began to relax in Victor’s arms. Everything else seemed to blur as she found rhythm in their movement.

She could tell Victor was guiding her, making it easy for her to follow his movements.

It was hard not to get flustered by it. How considerate he was starting to be. Almost as if he was lowering his walls.

"Do you truly think that I am ashamed to be seen with you?" Alice asked him, lifting her head.

Victor lowered his head, his face only inches away from hers. "Would that be entirely unfounded? I know the circumstances of our marriage, Alice, and I am also well aware of my reputation in society. It would be...typical."

Alice felt a pang of guilt. "We have only been out like this once. On our wedding day. I’ll admit?—"

"Alice, you don’t have to explain it to me," he said to her. "I understand."