Page 27 of The Beast’s Unwanted Duchess (Icy Dukes #1)

"Did you tell the Duke how many etiquette tutors you had, Alice?

" he asked bitterly. "She had gone through four at thirteen and by her debut, none wanted to teach her as she was hopeless.

She failed to grasp the simplest things which her sister had perfected at her age.

It was honestly a marvel how they could look alike yet be so different. "

"Father, please," Alice begged softly, her eyes darting to him and back to them. "There is no need to bring up the past. I am married now, aren’t I? Have I still yet to meet your impossible standards?"

She was clearly hurt by his disparaging words but, worse still, embarrassed that he was there to witness the entire incident. Victor wondered at the satisfaction parents derived from ruining their children’s happiness.

"There is no need to use that tone with your father, Alice. I thought we raised you better than that," the Viscountess scolded. “It is indeed in the past, and your father is only trying to make conversation."

"I see there’s still some things she has yet to learn," her father sniffed in disapproval. "I am sorry to see this, Your Grace."

Victor was incensed to see Alice wither under the barrage of her parents’ words. He wondered if there would be no more attempts to refute her parents’ words and was sorely disappointed when her eyes remained downcast.

"If she weren't my daughter, she would have never secured any matches but even then, she always found some way to ruin it. Her sister had no fewer than ten suitors all vying for her attention by the end of her first season. If you hadn’t married her after she ruined that match with Pembroke, then… well I guess I can’t complain as she secured a match to you, a duke no less.

That at least salvaged our family’s reputation. "

"I am perfectly happy to have your daughter as my wife, Lord Westridge, and if Lord Pembroke didn't see her worth, then it was his fault and not hers," he said, having had enough of the man’s words.

"Alice is an interesting woman who has proven herself an embodiment of grace and intelligence.

My home has wanted for nothing since we married and if you or the rest of the ton cannot see this in her, you must indeed question your sense. "

Three mouths hung open at his declaration, but Alice collected herself once his eyes landed on her. He could see the gratitude in her eyes, but mistrust still shone in their depths.

He rose from his seat, needing to be away from her and her parents, who had regained themselves and were visibly thinking of how to reclaim the situation. But he had had enough. He couldn’t trust them to be around Alice without upsetting her, and by extension, him.

"It is probably best we retire as the day is far gone," he announced. "I hope, come morning, that the weather would be favorable for a safe travel."

"Your Grace, we were to stay…" the viscount started but stopped once Victor’s eyes landed on him.

Her mother looked away, too, red in her face and neck. It was a welcome sight to see that they at least had the decency to feel embarrassed. He wondered why they had failed to see just how deeply their words had distressed their daughter, and in that moment, he sympathized deeply with Alice.

Even if they hadn’t physically hurt her for her shortcomings, as his father had, they had left deep scars on her mentally, which could have been the reason for the clumsiness they had referred to. It was almost pitiful that neither of them had had the blessing of loving parents.

"If you will excuse me," Alice said, rising from her seat and scurrying away, not before bumping into the edge of her seat.

He frowned as he watched her leave and knew if he left things the way they were, they would no doubt take out their anger on Alice, and he would be damned if he let that happen to her.

"I would like to make this one thing clear," he started, staring down at the Viscount and Viscountess. "If I hear any unnecessary comments from either of you directed at my wife in the future, I can assure you, I won’t hesitate to make sure you regret it."

He walked quickly to his chambers, not able to bear being a minute longer in their presence. He never knew why parents tended to force their failed dreams onto their children.

Once in his chambers, he poured himself a glass of whiskey, needing to rid himself of the tension simmering in his blood. He had meant every word he had spoken about Alice, and it had shocked him how easy it had been to admit it.

She had shocked him with her silent way of taking her parents’ barrage of words and was nothing like the woman who didn’t hesitate to voice her feelings to him.

He sighed and took another sip of his drink, placing the cup down briefly to rid himself of his too-tight cravat and the jacket he had worn. A few buttons of his shirt went with them as he needed to breathe if he were to truly be free of the anger that still lingered.

It annoyed him that he still had to discover how to broach the subject of apologizing for the kiss with her even though she looked hell-bent on ignoring him.

His lips stung as though reliving the sparks that had simmered between them.

It had startled him that he had lost control enough to do so, and the worst thing was that he hadn’t hated it.

On the contrary, if the voice of wisdom hadn’t screamed at him, he would have consummated their marriage right there in the orangery.

A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. He gave admittance without asking who it was, expecting Roberts. His eyes popped open in surprise to see Alice. Her surprise was equally evident, her eyes trailing from his face to his chest and back up.

Her face was bright red, even in the orange glow of candlelight. He had to fight the urge to button up his shirt, but that would give her away, and he didn’t want to embarrass her further.

"Alice. Why are you here?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No… No," she stuttered. "I came to… apologize. I didn’t know my parents would speak as they did. I am sorry they made you uncomfortable."

"You do not have to apologize to me, Alice," he told her. "If anyone should, it should be them and they should be apologizing to you."

She scoffed, wrapping her arms around her body. He noticed then she was in a nightdress and robe and was all at once uncomfortable.

"I should also thank you for defending me as you did," she added with a small smile. "No one has ever done so in the past. It felt good not being alone this time."

"You do not have to thank me, but you are very welcome."

He permitted himself to return her smile. He was unprepared for her eyes to go as wide as they did or for the bright smile that would come with it.

He didn’t know where to look or put his hands as she stood awkwardly in his chambers once she realized she had been staring.

He recalled the last time she had been in his chambers; even if it had been without his knowledge, it had ended with his arms wrapped warmly around her and the memory of her soft warmth pressed against him.

Worse still, her eyes were fixated on his chest, exposed by his partially unbuttoned shirt.

The innocence of her obvious curiosity drew him in, but he knew if he were to act on it, she might regret it once the warring emotions wrought by her parents in her faded. He cleared his throat, which broke her focus. She reddened, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I had better return to my chambers," she announced.

He nodded and watched her head to the door, but she paused, turning to him.

"When is our next event?" she asked.

"There is a garden party at the Bellworth estate next week," he told her.

She nodded and made to leave but stopped visibly battling mentally.

"Is something wrong, Alice?" he asked.

She took a deep breath and turned to him before answering.

"Why did you leave on our wedding night?"