Page 49 of Duke of Pride

Victoria smiled at the way Adelaide was taken aback.

Stephen’s demeanor was hard to get used to, but Adelaide seemed determined. She let out a delicate, tinkling laugh.

“Still, Your Grace.” She leaned closer, a strategic maneuver perfected by all the ladies of the ton. “I believe that a house always reflects the character of its owner.”

“An interesting observation. Though I find houses, like people, are best appreciated at a proper distance.”

Victoria coughed to mask her chuckle.

Adelaide went pale. It took a lot to keep up with Stephen’s brutal speech. Yes, he was rich and capable, he was devastatingly tall and handsome, but to break through to him, it would take more than batting eyelashes and random touching.

Adelaide recovered, and true to her goal, she leaned even closer and was ready to say something when Stephen got up and turned to his sister.

“Annabelle, let’s go see your favorite swans.”

Adelaide was taken aback by the swift way he got up. This was artfully done if Victoria were ever to admit that she had been watching the whole scene intently. He simply avoided the lady’s advances by accompanying his pregnant sister.

Annabelle was blindsided by this, but her love for swans was too strong, so she gave him her hand, and they left together. But not before he threw a heated glance at Victoria.

A suspicious warmth bloomed in Victoria’s chest as Adelaide finally retreated, her charms meeting the immovable wall of Stephen’s indifference.

She shouldn’t care. Shedidn’tcare. But it did make her feel better that all he gave to such an eligible lady was glacial politeness. Because Victoria knew very well that Stephen, under that icy exterior, hid fire. She had felt it. He had shown her. Perhaps only her.

CHAPTER14

Bitter Sting

It was the next night, after dinner, and Stephen realized with dread that the group secretly, or even instinctively, decided that this night would be one to remember. There was no preventing it from happening—more specifically, there was no preventing it from happening to him.

The group had retreated to the big drawing room, and it was obvious that no one was going to bed anytime soon. Candlelight flickered in the gilded mirrors, and the air was fragrant with beeswax, along with the crisp scent of night-blooming jasmine that drifted through the cracked windows.

The room was humming with energy, the last days drawing the guests closer, making them more relaxed and familiar with one another. Lady Weatherby, that menace, was manning the pianoforte shamelessly. Stephen started believing that the deaths of her three husbands were not accidental. She was not of the faint of heart, that was for sure.

“You might want to give that scowl a day off,” Victoria remarked mockingly.

“And you might want to give meddling a rest tonight,” he deadpanned.

“But, Your Grace, you’ll get lines on your forehead.”

“Perfect. I will be showing my displeasure without trying.”

Stephen looked down at Victoria and her reprimanding look. She was wearing a beautiful dress in that blue shade that looked so good on her. But nothing looked better on her than her aura, her energy. She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn’t get the chance.

“Miss Victoria, you must end this stupid debate we are having with Frederick.” The Duke of Blackwell came up to her with a wide smile on his lips.

Stephen’s back went rigid the moment he drew near, all charm and smiles. All the warmth of his banter with Victoria evaporated.

“I am sorry, Your Grace.” Victoria smiled at Blackwell. “But I do not waste my time on anything less than life or death situations.”

“If Frederick keeps insisting, it might escalate to that.”

“I thought I made it clear in the program that violence is to be displayed on Tuesdays only.”

“I think this requires an exception.”

Stephen started to think that, indeed, the situation might require some violent resolution, especially if Blackwell kept looking at Victoria likethat. Perhaps a nightly demonstration of archery was in order.

“Blackwell.” Frederick came up to them, his arm wrapped around Annabelle. “Tell me you are not here complaining to Miss Victoria.”

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