Jealousy rose up inside of Evan, like a hissing snake. “She cannot,” he said quickly.
Marina and Lord Sherwood both looked at him with surprise, and he realized he had spoken with more than a little anger.
He took a deep breath as he tried to come up with an excuse about why she could not, but he came up short. It was not like she had already promised the first dance to him, and he did not want to ruin her night.You are already not Marina’s first choice in husband. Do not make her regret marrying you.“Forgive me,” he said. “I will be at the refreshments table.” He bowed awkwardly and walked away before he caused a scene. He felt Marina staring at him as he left.
From the refreshments table in the corner of the room, he watched Lord Sherwood lead Marina to the dance floor. Jealousy and irritation still coursed through him as he watchedthe man pull her close for the waltz. Why didheget to dance with her?
The possessiveness coiled tightly inside of him. He wanted to take Marina in his arms and lead her far away, where no other man could touch her or occupy her time and attention.
Instead, he allowed a footman to pour him a glass of wine. He did not bring Marina to a ball only to humiliate her and make a spectacle of himself.
He could not take his eyes off the dancing couple in case Lord Sherwood got too intimate with her, or in case she showed displeasure at dancing with him. But the distance was more than appropriate as they danced, and Marina’s expression was perfectly neutral.
What is wrong with me? I’m acting like a brute, and it is not rational.He had never had to contend with feelings like this. Somehow, he felt more strongly about Marina dancing with another man than he had ever felt about his late wife taking a lover and leaving him.
A random nobleman tried to engage him in conversation. Evan made noncommittal noises in response, but for the life of him, he could not focus on what the man was prattling about, and he also didn’t want to. Luckily, the man did not seem to notice or care that the duke was only pretending to listen.
However, the conversation behind him drew his attention when he heard Marina’s name.
“I thought she was the pariah of her family,” one man was saying.
“Indeed,” said another man. “Lady Shirley always seemed quite reluctant to bring her to the balls with the rest of her family. I am sure she was most relieved when her middle daughter married—and she became the Duchess of Pemberton! Quite surprising.”
“It is odd how that worked out, isn’t it? Yes, the Duke of Pemberton most likely drove his first wife to an early grave?—”
Evan’s hand tightened around his glass until his knuckles went white. He could endure any slight directed at himself. Hearing them speak of Marina that way was another matter entirely.
The men behind him continued to gossip. “But even with his reputation, he still would have had his pick of fine ladies. He’s one of the richest men in England, after all, and a duke at that.”
The other man snickered. “Perhaps Her Grace knows some interesting tricks to ensnare a duke. I heard she turned herself into a harlot at Lord Heeway’s engagement party. Surely she has plenty of …knowledgeon how to keep a man entertained.”
Anger hit him with full force, so suddenly that he did not know how to contain it. He whirled around to see the two men who dared to mock Marina laughing to themselves. Both of them had smug faces, but when one of them spoke again, he knew which one had dared to insult his wife. He punched him in the nose as hard as he could.
Gasps rang around him as the man crumpled to the ground, holding his nose. Blood seeped out from between his fingers as he glared up at Evan with a touch of fear.
His companion looked at the duke with wide eyes. “Are you mad?” he asked.
“Not another word unless you want to join your friend on the ground,” Evan said through clenched teeth.
He looked around to see that the music had stopped and everyone was staring at him with fear and curiosity. Agitation rose up inside of him. “There’s nothing to see here,” Evan said as his eyes scanned the ballroom. Lord Sherwood was standing by himself on the dancefloor. Where was Marina?
A hand touched his arm, and he flinched back before he looked to see that the hand belonged to Marina. She looked up at him with concern.
“We need to go,” he said.
She nodded in acceptance. They left the ballroom with everyone still staring at them.
Disappointment filled him. He did not regret defending his wife, but he wished he had gotten a chance to dance with Marina first.
Why did I lose such control over my emotions?
Marina stayed quiet until they were in the carriage and on their way home again. Then she spoke. “What happened?”
He didn’t reply. He just looked out the window.
She sighed. “Evan, please talk to me. One moment I’m dancing. The next thing I know, everyone has stopped to stare at you because you punched some poor man?—”
“He was a scoundrel, and he deserved worse than what he got,” Evan snarled.
