His breath was faint, warm, teasing, yet restrained.
Victoria glanced at him, then back at Jonathan. “I suppose I should dance?” she asked lightly, still processing the closeness, the intensity of Richard’s presence.
Jonathan inclined his head with charming civility. “Only if Your Grace permits.”
Richard’s jaw tightened. “For the first dance, I suggest you remain under my guidance,” he said, voice low, firm, yet tinged with warning.
His fingers pressed briefly at her back, a reminder of the silent claim he was staking.
Victoria’s breath caught. “Richard …” she murmured, half amusement, half awe. “Are you always so … proprietary?”
“Only when it matters,” he replied quietly, a faint edge of something unspoken threading through his words.
Her cheeks flushed, and her pulse thundered. The room, the music, the chatter of the ton … it all seemed to fade. She felt the pull of him, the weight of his authority and attention, the subtle thrill of being claimed in a way she could neither ignore nor fully understand.
But the music ended, and Richard guided her off the dance floor when Daphne soon approached.
“You don’t mind if I whisk my dear sister away, do you, duke?” Daphne’s voice cut across the hall.
“Of course not,” Richard bowed politely, and Victoria shot Richard one last glance.
His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a storm she recognized as only hers. She allowed herself to be steered away, pulse still high, aware that every step pulled her further from him but never fully released the tension that lingered in his watchful gaze.
Richard’s eyes followed her relentlessly. She felt the weight of his attention even as she moved across the room with her sisters.
She realized, with a thrill she did not entirely suppress, that this night had only begun.
And the challenge of navigating both her composure and her heart was just starting.
Chapter Twelve
“Well? Anything to tell me?” Daphne prodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and amusement. “Your husband looked like he was about to throttle someone. Then, he practically announced to the entire ballroom that you were with him.”
Victoria felt heat rise to her cheeks. The memory of Richard’s hand on her back, the possessive tilt of his body, and the weight of his gaze made her pulse thrum even now.
She linked arms with her sister as they moved through the opulent ballroom, music swirling around them and the chatter of the ton filling the spaces between melodies. But Victoria barely noticed. Daphne’s presence grounded her in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.
“About what?” Victoria asked lightly, trying to mask the way her heart still raced.
She hoped her tone suggested ignorance, though Daphne’s knowing glance told her otherwise.
“Ah, never mind,” Daphne said with a sigh, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It doesn’t seem like you’re ready to discuss that. How are you, Vicky? Really?”
Victoria’s breath caught. How could she explain? The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of sleepless nights, frantic care for a child who was not her own, and constant tension with a husband who alternately infuriated and intrigued her. She hesitated before speaking.
“Melody … she’s finally responding to me, Daphne!” she said, a thread of excitement in her voice. “Richard found a midwife, Mrs. Tallow, and?—”
“Vicky,” Daphne interrupted, her tone firm but gentle. “I didn’t ask about Melody. I know she’s in good hands. I want to know aboutyou. Howyouare managing all of this. I’ve never seen you like this—so unsettled, so … distracted.”
Victoria lowered her voice, afraid someone nearby might overhear. “I know, Daphne. I feel utterly consumed. It’s like … I couldn’t understand what life was before she appeared at our door. And now …” She trailed off, words failing her.
Her eyes flicked across the ballroom, and for a fleeting moment, she found Richard’s gaze locked on hers. Her chest tightened.
Daphne’s curiosity softened into a gentle nudge. “And what about Richard?”
Victoria’s heart skipped. Her voice fell to a whisper, confessional. “He … he kissed me, Daphne. He kissed me … like he meant it.”
Daphne’s eyes widened in surprise, and then a slow, delighted smile spread across her face. “He kissed you? And you’re only telling me now?”
