AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d rather you dance,” she said with a slight frown. “That’s why we are here. And there are far too many wallflowers during the balls due to bullheaded gentlemen like yourself.”
Blake raised his brows. He’d never thought about it this way. In fact, he had never given much thought to any lady who happened to spend the night on the sidelines. For him, to dance with a lady meant that he was expressing his interest in her. He didn’t see the point of dancing for any other reason.
While he was courting Annalise, he had never danced with anyone but her. And he had always regarded it as a token of his affection, as a show of his loyalty to her and only to her. Which was a laughable statement, really, considering his behavior after their marriage. Blake grimaced, feeling a headache coming on. All of those bitter memories, the unpleasant realizations, and the feelings of guilt were gnawing at him, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Oh, no,” Lady Lavinia said softly by his wife’s side. “He’s dancing with Caroline.”
Blake looked at the dance floor, and sure enough, Kensington had claimed the first dance of the host’s niece. Blake cocked his head and looked at the couple. They moved gracefully, effortlessly among the other dancers, gliding along the floor as if alone in the world and not in a crowded ballroom. They looked as though they were made for each other so perfectly they moved together. But stony expressions on their faces spoke another truth. The couple hadn’t even spoken a word to each other since the beginning of the dance.
“She’s the host’s niece. I am sure he is just being polite,” his wife said, not sounding convincing. Was she jealous? The thought made him scowl.
“Perhaps, ladies, you would like something to drink?” he asked cordially. Anything to stop himself from going over to the dancefloor and punching the duke in the face.
“Yes, thank you,” his wife replied with a smile, and he ventured in the direction of the refreshments room.
Blake regretted his decision the moment he stepped away from his wife. He was stopped every moment by one person or another. Everyone seemed intrigued by his disappearance, declaring their deepest regrets for his unfortunate circumstances and proclaiming their delight in having him back on English shores.
He wasn’t interested in telling anyone the truth, so he had to weave his way out of every conversation, trying not to offend anyone at the same time.
What seemed like an eternity later, he got the punches and made his way back to the ballroom. What he saw made his blood run cold. His wife was beautifully blushing as she spoke to her former betrothed. Blake tried to control his anger, but he couldn’t. It was too much. Being ignored by her was one thing, but flirting with the man she almost married right in front of Blake’s nose was not something he would tolerate.
Blake handed the punches to a passing footman and stalked his way to his wife. She was animatedly discussing something with Kensington, but the moment she spotted Blake, her expression turned somber.
“And what could the two of you be discussing, pray tell?” Blake asked in a menacing voice as he reached their sides.
“Good evening, Payne,” Kensington answered, unperturbed. “Feeling better, I presume?”
“Yes, much,” he answered, his eyes still on his wife. “So, what were you talking about before I got here?” he repeated.
“Dancing, actually,” she said evenly.
“Dancing?” So she ignored Blake’s advances, and the moment he turned his back, sauntered off to beg a dance from her beloved duke!
“Yes, my lord,” she replied calmly. He hated it when she called him that.
“Well, perhaps we should stop talking about it and simply dance,” Blake said and extended his arm.
Annalise threw an uncertain gaze toward Kensington, and Blake almost exploded from suppressed rage. Kensington inclined his head, and Annalise put her hand on Blake’s arm.
They walked to the dancefloor in silence as Blake tried to rein in his emotions. He didn’t want to make a scandal in front of everyone, and he did not quite trust himself to speak after the incident he had just witnessed. When they got to the middle of the dancefloor, the music started, and he turned toward his wife.
“I do not need permission from the duke to dance with my wife,” he said as they started moving with the music.
“Pardon me?” Annalise threw him a confused gaze.
“Forgiven,” he said with a smirk.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“I am talking about how you wouldn’t leave His Grace’s side to dance with your own husband.”
“But I did leave his side,” Annalise protested.
“I don’t want you socializing with him anymore,” Blake said.
Annalise turned her wide eyes toward him. “What are you saying? You are forbidding me to talk to my friend?”
“He is not your friend.”
