Page 84 of The Duke’s Wager

She did not want to dance with him. She did not want to be in anyone else’s arms – only those of Edward. Yet, she could feel far too many eyes on her to refuse.

Her father would already be furious with her. He would never forgive her if she caused a scene. And tonight of all nights.

Lucy sighed deeply, as though he had asked her to ingest poison rather than to dance.

“I suppose one dance could do no harm, my lord.”

His grip was far too intimate, too uncomfortable. They did not dance with the ease she had grown accustomed to with Edward. To make matters worse, Julian was not a silent dancer. In fact, his mouth moved at a greater pace than his feet.

“I must say, you and Lord Edward make quite the pair.”

Though his words were complimentary, his tone was cruel – mocking even. Lucy merely smiled, a cold sneer that had given her the Ice Queen moniker.

“You are very kind, my lady,” he added.

This was a surprising statement, and despite herself, Lucy lifted her brows.

"Kind?"

"To forgive him, I mean. It must have been difficult, but I am touched by your graciousness.”

Lucy hesitated. Everything in her screamed at her not to listen to him, but she could not help it. She was filled with a morbid curiosity. He knew something.

“I am not certain what it is you are talking about, my lord.”

Julian’s smile widened. “The wager, of course, my lady.”

“Wager?” Lucy’s voice shook. “What wager?”

Though Julian’s smile was broad, his eyes were cold. Lucy knew that his purpose had been to sow discord between her and Edward. She ought to leave, she knew this, yet it was as though she was stuck to him, unable to move away until she knew the truth.

“You mean you are still unaware of it?” Julian’s voice was cruel. “It is rather silly, I must admit… Edward and I decided to enter into a little competition… if you could call it that.”

“And what…” Lucy’s voice shook, but she kept her head held high. “What, may I ask, did this competition entail?”

“You, my lady.”

“Me?” Lucy could barely hear her own voice, for her heartbeat was far too loud.

“We had a wager that entailed seducing you. The one who managed to do so first would have his pick of the events for the next season – and some money, of course.”

She was going to collapse on this dance floor, Lucy was certain of this. Her head felt light, her heart was racing, and all the blood felt as though it had left her face.

She was ice cold.

One look at Julian, however, allowed her to pull herself together. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing that his words have hurt her. She would not cry, not collapse, not break down – not in front of him.

Instead, she merely lifted her chin and continued dancing with the horrid man silently. She stepped out of his embrace the second the music ended, gathering her skirts.

“If you would excuse me, my lord.”

Lucy did not care that Julian’s lips moved soundlessly, she did not care that she saw her father approaching her, or that music had started once again.

She had to find Edward. She did not care how improper it was, how desperate it made her seem.

She had to talk to him.

She had to know the truth.