Page 20 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
In the thick of the crowd, the Duke of Silverton mingled, greeting men briefly, a tight smile on his face. It was not sincere, though. Anybody looking hard enough would see he looked frustrated to engage.
She turned her back to the crowd, facing Tessa. “What do you think of the wine?” she asked. “It is delicious, is it not?”
Tessa lifted a brow at her, as if suspicious. “Yes. Rather.” Slowly, she drank from her own drink, her eyes on Madeleine. “You are acting strange, Madeleine, and I will uncover why.”
Alexander weaved through the crowd of the ball at the Kingsley residence. The host, Lady Morgan, danced with her husband, catching the eye of her attendees.
“They think a mere dance will ward off scandal.” A voice had Alexander not quite turning but paying attention.
Hargrove.
“Lord Hargrove.” His voice was hard as he greeted him.
“I see you are not happy to see me, Your Grace. I was hoping we might forget my incident at the Raven’s Den several evenings ago. I am sure we can discuss it properly over a drink.”
“I do not wish to be around you and wine, Hargrove.” He flicked his gaze uninterestedly over the other man. “Do you have a knife with you tonight, as well? Should I warn our guests?”
“You do not need to mock me so.”
Alexander only shook his head. “Enjoy the ball.”
He went to walk away but was tugged back by Hargrove’s hand on his shoulder. “Silverton.”
“What?” he bit out.
“I do not wish to be barred from the Raven’s Den. I know you have a good relationship with the manager, Mr. Matthews. Have a word with him for me, yes?” He held Alexander’s gaze, nodding once, as if they had already reached an understanding.
“You have conducted your own fate. You gambled too high and too risky. That is none of my concern, Lord Hargrove.”
“One might ask whatyouwere doing there.”
Alexander stiffened.
“You came from the upper levels, did you not? You were already there. Watching us, were you, Your Grace?”
Alexander half turned to him, glaring at the offending man.
He shrugged off the hand on his shoulder. “Do not touch me. And if you attempt to manipulate me again then Iwillhave a talk with Mr. Matthews, and ensure your debt is tripled. Now,leave.”
Hargrove gaped at him but quickly scurried off.
Alexander groaned internally, wishing for some peace.
His eyes caught on the length of blonde hair in the crowd, a glimmer of a red gown. Lady Kinsfeld’s words came back to him from the day before.
My birthday is in July, so he bought me a ruby-themed engagement ring, the same month we got engaged.
Lord Kinsfeld likely would have gifted her with the dress as well, and it irked Alexander.
How could a man be so lowly as to abandon his wife this way? She was so lonely in that house—even as she wore her determination like a cloak around her shoulders—with that proud set of her shoulders and narrowing of her brows.
Soon, he was approached by a footman.
He tensed. He had instructed Horace to always send a footman with a message should any of their employees find anything.
“Your Grace, one of your employees has arrived and asked to speak with you for an urgent matter.”
“Very well. Where is he?”
