Page 28 of Her Wicked Duke
“It depends on whether you have missed me,” Alexander answered, surveying the gentlemen around them.
If anybody had noticed his sudden interest in people-watching, then they hadn’t made it known. What they didnotice, however, was how the recluse Duke of Winsor was suddenly attending every Society event, never far from Anne Hatson’s side.
Anne allowed herself a soft chuckle. Of course, he would say that.
“Did you miss me when I went to France?” Alexander asked. “I have been curious to know.”
Anne smiled at him and sipped her champagne. “Honestly, Alexander, I did not notice your absence until Mary pointed it out.”
Hoping she had one-upped him sufficiently, she walked into the fray of suitors eyeing her up and let one of them pull her into a dance.
The music swelled around her, and her delight grew at Alexander’s scowl, a permanent fixture on his face as she lost herself in the dancing and music. She did not flirt nor pursue properly. Antagonizing Alexander by verbally sparring with him did not seem the same as antagonizing him by making him watch her dance with other men after their kiss.
She still hadn’t been alone with him properly since that day in the orchard. Despite him only being there to chaperone her, due to her feelings sneaking up on her, she could not bring herself to openly flirt with a man while he was watching.
Yet, a part of her felt mischievous to think about doing it…
I wonder what he would do.
She curtsied to her dance partner. Another hand found hers, another face, one she recognized, yet Alexander’s face remained distant.
Would he finally claim me as his own so as not to watch me dance with other men?
She caught his gaze, letting herself get lost in the moment before the music began again.
Ask me to dance, coward.
Alexander did not approach her. He only watched her as he drank his champagne, not once taking his eyes off her.
Ask me to dance,Anne wished after her next dance, and the next, and the next. Yet, Alexander never did.
But could she blame him?
I would dance with you if you ask.
She had more chances, of course, but she did not only want him to know her in private. What was so wrong with one dance? Was he saving her reputation, somehow? Everybody had seen them together at the afternoon tea, so why would this be any different?
When Anne grew tired of his acting distant and aloof, she excused herself at the end of the next dance and stalked back over to him. She snatched his refilled champagne glass from his hand and sipped it.
“You are angry with me, yet it is I who heard that you do not notice me when I am not there.” Alexander gestured toward the dancefloor. “If I am not mistaken, you seemed to notice my lack of presence just now.”
“I did not,” she bit out. “What do you want from me, Alexander? I keep waiting for you to claim your rewards, so just be honest with me. Why do you keep me agitated like this?”
“Because it is fun to watch you squirm beneath the weight of what you want,” Alexander answered, and his honesty surprised her. “Because you cannot seem to decide if you want me far awayfrom you or close enough to share the same breath.” His eyes bored into hers. “Do you want to know what I think, Anne?”
“Please, enlighten me,” she ground out.
“I think you noticed me that first Christmas I was not at your home,” he said. “I think you found your gaze drifting to the door, waiting for me to appear, refusing to ask where I was before anyone mentioned it, in case they thought you were too interested. I think you went to Christian’s study to see if I might somehow still turn up.” He sighed, smiling lazily at her. “Am I correct?”
The worst part was that hewas. Anne had gotten used to Alexander being in the Angleton residence during the holidays, so when he wasn’t, and Christian didn’t explain why, shehadnoticed. And shehadwatched and wondered.
Annoyance flaring within her, she looked away from him. “You are wrong.”
He let out a satisfied, little laugh as if he didn’t believe her one bit. “Never fear, Pretty Hatson, I have not grown bored of you. I am merely biding my time to collect my next reward.”
“Then do it already,” she snapped.
“Eager, are you?” His eyes were so, so blue, like sparkling sapphires. The feel of them on her made her lose her breath.
