Page 10 of Wedded to the Duke of Sin (Dukes of Passion #2)

CHAPTER 10

“ S till planning to maintain that this is all strategy?” Gregory’s amused voice cut through Dorian’s distracted thoughts as they entered the ballroom. “Because you haven’t taken your eyes off the entrance since we arrived.”

“I am merely observing the arrivals.” Dorian forced himself to look away from where he’d last glimpsed Alice’s carriage in the queue.

The ballroom sparkled with hundreds of candles, their light glancing off gilt mirrors and crystal chandeliers, but he found it all rather dull in comparison to that brief flash of copper hair he’d spotted earlier.

“Of course you are.” Gregory appeared at his elbow with two glasses of champagne. “And I suppose you are also just ‘observing’ how that blue silk gown becomes her?”

Dorian’s head snapped up. There she was, entering on her brother’s arm, even lovelier than he remembered from his brief glimpse of her outside.

The deep blue silk made her hair glow like autumn flames, and the elegant column of her throat?—

“You might try to be less obvious,” Gregory murmured. “The potted plants are starting to gossip.”

Dorian’s breath caught at the sight of her—the elegant curve of her neck, the graceful way she moved, the flash of those green eyes as they swept over the room. And met his.

For one endless moment, they stared at each other across the crowded ballroom. Then, Thomas led her toward their hostess, and the spell broke.

“Not obvious at all,” Gregory drawled.

“Don’t you have someone else to torment?”

“Probably. But you are far more entertaining.” Gregory’s grin widened as the first strains of a waltz filled the air. “Well? Are you going to ask her to dance, or shall I?”

Dorian was already moving. He reached Alice just as another gentleman approached with clear intent.

“My lady.” He offered her his hand. “Might I have this dance?”

A flush crept up her neck, but her voice remained steady. “I believe you might.”

The moment his hand settled on her waist, that same awareness from the library washed over him. She fit perfectly in his arms, as if she were made for him.

“You are very quiet,” she observed as they moved through the steps.

“I am admiring the view.”

“Ah, the ballroom is lovely, isn’t it?”

“I wasn’t talking about the ballroom.”

Her blush deepened. “You shouldn’t say such things.”

“Why not? We both know you’ve been watching me since you arrived.”

“I have not?—”

“Seven glances.” He pulled her fractionally closer as they spun around. “I counted.”

“Perhaps I was merely keeping an eye on a known troublemaker.”

“Is that what I am?” His thumb traced small circles on her waist. “And here I thought I was being perfectly well-behaved.”

“You are being perfectly impossible.”

“You enjoy it.”

She stumbled slightly, and he steadied her. The contact sent sparks through his blood.

“I enjoy nothing of the sort,” she protested, but her voice had gone slightly breathless. “In fact, I find you quite?—”

“Fascinating?” he suggested. “Irresistible?”

“Bothersome.”

“Yet, here you are, in my arms.”

“Only because propriety demands it.”

“Liar.” He spun her through a turn that brought her flush against him for a heart-stopping moment. “Your pulse is racing.”

“It’s warm in here.”

“Shall we step out for air?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Afraid to be alone with me?”

“Afraid of nothing.” But her eyes dropped to his mouth before darting away. “Though your reputation suggests that I should be.”

“My reputation?” He laughed softly. “I assure you, it’s greatly exaggerated.”

“Is it? Then why is Lord Treyfield watching you so closely?”

The question caught him off guard.

He glanced toward the edge of the ballroom, where Lord Treyfield was indeed standing, his cold eyes following their movement.

“Perhaps he’s admiring your dancing skills.”

“Or perhaps there’s more to you than you want anyone to know.”

The music ended before he could respond.

Alice stepped back, dropping into a perfect curtsy, but he caught the slight tremor in her hands.

“Lady Alice.” Another eager young lord appeared at her elbow. “Might I claim the next dance?”

Dorian’s fingers itched to strangle the pup, but Alice had already accepted the offer. He had no choice but to bow and retreat.

“That,” Gerard commented as Dorian reached the edge of the dance floor, “was the least subtle display of possessiveness I’ve ever witnessed.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“No?” Seraphina joined them, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Then I suppose you won’t mind that Lord Rutherford is about to request the supper dance.”

Dorian’s head whipped around. Sure enough, that particular popinjay was making his way toward Alice.

“Don’t even think about it,” Gerard warned. “You can’t prevent her from dancing with everyone.”

“Watch me.”

“Darling.” Seraphina put a restraining hand on Dorian’s arm. “You are glowering.”

“I do not glower.”

“You absolutely do.” She patted his sleeve. “Though I must say, jealousy becomes you.”

“I am not?—”

“If you say you are not jealous,” Gerard cut in, “I shall be forced to question your intelligence.”

Dorian watched as Rutherford led Alice into a country dance, his hand lingering too long on hers. “I am simply concerned for her reputation.”

“Is that why you look ready to commit murder?” Seraphina’s voice held barely suppressed laughter. “How very protective of you.”

Before Dorian could defend himself, a cold voice interrupted. “Your Grace, might I have a word?”

Treyfield had approached without any of them noticing. His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Another time, perhaps.” Dorian kept his tone deliberately casual.

“This won’t take long.” Treyfield stepped closer, lowering his voice. “It concerns Lawrence’s affairs.”

“I suggest you choose your next words very carefully.” All pretense of boredom vanished from Dorian’s voice.

“Oh, I always do.” Treyfield’s gaze slid to where Alice danced. “Lovely girl. It would be a shame if a scandal befell her family. Again.”

The threat hung in the air between them.

Dorian clenched his hands at his sides. “If you’ll excuse me.” He inclined his head with rigid courtesy. “I believe I see someone in need of a dance partner.”

As he strode away, he heard Gerard quietly warning Treyfield about making threats. But his mind was already racing ahead.

He needed to find Alice. To warn her, to protect her, to…

To what? Kiss her senseless? Tell her everything? Both seemed equally dangerous.

But as he watched her finish her dance and slip toward the terrace doors, he knew he was done fighting this attraction. Done pretending he could keep his distance.

Heaven help them both, but he was going to follow her. And damn the consequences.

He had taken two steps toward the terrace when Lady Pembroke materialized in his path, her youngest daughter in tow.

“Your Grace!” Her voice carried across half the ballroom. “How fortunate to find you here. My dear Eloise was just saying how much she enjoys the waltz.”

The girl, barely out of the schoolroom, blushed furiously.

“I am afraid I am already engaged for the next set.”

Dorian attempted to step around them, but Lady Pembroke was not so easily thwarted.

“Then perhaps the one after? Or supper? Really, Your Grace, you’ve been positively reclusive this Season. One hardly sees you at all these days, except…” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Well.”

That ‘well’ spoke volumes about the ton’s gossip regarding his frequent absences. He needed to handle this carefully, lest rumors about Sarah reach the wrong ears.

“Lady Pembroke.” Gregory appeared like a gift from heaven. “I believe Lord Rutherford was looking for you. Something about your charity committee?”

While Lady Pembroke’s attention was diverted, Dorian scanned the crowd. Where had Alice gone?

“Your Grace?” Lady Jersey’s voice stopped him next. “Might I impose upon you for a moment? Lord William has some questions about horse breeding.”

It took ten precious minutes to extract himself from that conversation, during which he had to watch no fewer than three young lords follow Alice to the terrace.

“You look ready to commit murder,” Seraphina observed, appearing at his elbow. “Poor Lord Rutherford may spontaneously combust under your glare.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“No?” She sipped her champagne. “Then I suppose you won’t mind that he’s been monopolizing Lady Alice’s attention for the past quarter hour?”

His hand tightened around his glass. “Her attention is her own to bestow.”

“How very progressive of you.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Though I must say, for someone so uninterested in her attention, you seem remarkably aware of her movements.”

“I am simply concerned for her reputation.”

“Naturally. And I suppose that’s also why you nearly broke poor Mr. Fellowes’s fingers when he held her hand for too long during the country dance?”

“I did nothing of the sort.”

“You looked as though you wished to.”

Before Dorian could defend himself, Lady Westhaven’s voice rang out, announcing supper. The crowd began to shift, creating new obstacles between him and the terrace doors.

“Go.” Seraphina gave him a gentle push. “Before another ‘concerned’ gentleman reaches her first.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Moving through the crowd with practiced ease, he finally reached the terrace doors. The spring night was cool and clear, stars scattered like diamonds across the velvet sky.

Alice stood at the far end of the terrace, her face turned up to those same stars. The moonlight caught her hair, turning it to living flame, and something in his chest tightened at the sight.

“Are you planning to lurk in doorways all evening?” she asked without turning around.

“I wasn’t lurking. I was?—”

“Yes?” Now she did turn around, and the look in her eyes stole his breath. “You were what, Your Grace?”

“We both know why I am here.”

She lifted her chin. “Do we?”

“I watched you dance with half the eligible men in London tonight.” He took another step closer. “Very diplomatic of you, spreading your attention so evenly.”

“I was being polite.”

“You were being cruel.”

“Because I danced with other men?” A flash of temper lit her eyes. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission for that.”

“You don’t.” Another step. “But you might have spared a thought for my sanity.”

“Your sanity?” She let out a shaky laugh. “I wasn’t aware rakes concerned themselves with such things.”

“I am not concerned with anything else tonight.” He reached up to brush a loose curl from her cheek. “Or anyone else.”

“So I should feel honored by your attention?” she breathed.

“No,” he murmured, close enough now to feel the warmth of her skin. “You should feel warned.”