“I do,” she confirmed. “Very much.”
The explosion of joy inside him was deeper and stronger than even the physical connection they shared when they made love. This transcended everything. His knees threatened to give out beneath the force of it. Virtue loved him.
What had he done to deserve her love? He couldn’t say. But he damned well wasn’t going to question the gift. He was unworthy and greedy, and he was going to keep those words tucked inside his heart forever. She couldn’t have them back.
He swirled them about, trying to keep them from crashing into their fellow couples yet again. But dancing was the least of his concerns just now. All he cared about was the woman in his arms. The woman who loved him. He was grinning like a fool, and he didn’t care who saw. Let the tongues wag and say what they would.
The Duke of Ridgely was hopelessly besotted with his duchess, and he wanted everyone in London to know.
One person in particular.
He would deal with her later.
* * *
Trevor foundthe Countess of Carr when the Torrington ball was nearly drawing to a close. She was wearing a gown that had been designed to put her ample assets on display, and when she saw him, a smug feline smile curved her lips. The effect was lost upon him; he felt nothing save anger when he looked upon her.
“Lady Carr,” he greeted her, unsmiling.
“Your Grace,” she returned, dipping into a curtsy as she cast him a sultry look from beneath lowered lashes. “You’ve come to me at last.”
Had it been her intention to lure him to her by insulting Virtue? If so, she would quickly discover her tactic had been disastrously wrongheaded.
“I’ve come to you to tell you to keep your distance from Her Grace, the Duchess of Ridgely,” he said, taking care to keep his voicesotto voce.
They were on the periphery of the festivities, but he was ever aware of the guests surrounding them. He’d never fretted over scandal so much in his life. But then, he’d never had to care. Nor had he ever taken such great pleasure in his title. When he could call Virtue his duchess, however, and upbraid someone who had dared to pay her insult, he most assuredly reveled in it.
Lady Carr raised a dark brow. “Oh? And why should I do that? Pray do not tell me you have come rushing to me merely to play the role of gallant knight defending her honor. I did nothing wrong.”
“You should not have approached her,” he bit out, “nor asked Lady Deering to perform an introduction. It was beyond the pale, and you know it.”
It simply wasn’t done to beg an introduction with a former lover’s new spouse. Adelina knew that. Even had she not been cutting and cruel to Virtue, calling her a little mouse, and insinuating Trevor would betray her, the forced introduction alone was affront enough to warrant his outrage.
“Why was it beyond the pale?” the countess asked, dragging her fan over her decolletage. “Because you’ve been in my bed? Or because you want to return there?”
Damn her. She was pushing him dangerously close to the end of his patience, and he was doing his utmost to maintain his self-control. For his wife’s sake, not for Adelina’s.
“We parted ways civilly,” he said coldly. “You were rewarded handsomely, as I recall. I had no intention of returning to your bed then, and I most certainly have no intention of returning to it now. Nor ever.”
“Don’t deny it. I can see the fire in your eyes, see how very much you want me.”
She swayed nearer to him, and Trevor took a step in retreat.
“Any fire you see in my eyes is born of fury, madam. You were discourteous to my wife, and I want it understood that you are never to speak either to her, or about her, again.”
Lady Carr gave an elegant shrug. “Good heavens, Ridgely. I was hardly discourteous. Is that what she told you? If so, she was lying. Likely to gain your sympathy. I merely pointed out that she is young and plain. I dare say she does not have an inkling of what to do with a man like you.”
A man like him? He was not the man he’d been when the Countess of Carr had known him, that much was certain. He would never resemble that aimless devil-may-care again, and he was deuced glad for it.
And his entire being vibrated with anger at her daring to call Virtue a liar.
Trevor’s jaw clenched. “If you were a man, I would tell you to name your second and demand you meet me for pistols at dawn.”
She flapped her fan in annoyance. “You needn’t be so defensive. I am only saying what everyone else whispers behind your back as they laugh. All London is talking about how she entrapped you. It’s common knowledge. A hideous little country booby catching the interest of the Duke of Ridgely? Why, she must have thrown herself at you, forcing herself to be compromised. Why else would there be a need for such a hasty wedding?”
By God, he had never been more livid in his life than he was now.
His hands had balled into impotent fists at his sides. “Listen to me carefully, Lady Carr. I was endeavoring to be politic about this matter, but you’ve driven me beyond reason. So I will tell you this now, and I will tell you quite plainly, so that there be no misunderstandings between us. If you dare to say one unkind word about my wife again, or if you dare to approach her in any fashion, I will see to it that you are given the cut by every goddamn person I know. Every lord and lady, every shop, every milliner or modiste. I won’t stop until even the horse dung in the street reviles you and you’ve no choice but to flee London in abject misery.”
