Page 29 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

“So, that is Lady Alice Barkley,” he heard Daniel say, the interest clear in his voice. “In all honesty… not bad. Not bad at all, Blackthorn.”

Ethan rolled his eyes and chimed in with a grin, “Not bad? I would honestly not mind it if she was my betrothed.”

Hearing his two friends—both of whom he knew to be unrepentant rogues—discussing Alice provoked a most primal reaction deep within Colin. He turned towards the two of them, his eyes flashing furiously.

“She is my betrothed,” he growled. “Mine. And you had both best keep your eyes to yourselves!”

“Fake betrothed,” Daniel corrected him with a slight cough. “Were you not just telling us earlier that you have no intention of truly marrying her?”

Ethan just glanced at him with yet another of his slight smiles. “What an interesting reaction you have there, old friend. Frankly, I have never seen you this possessive of anyone before.”

This is different!

Colin wanted to rage at his friend, but then, he looked around the ballroom and noticed that it was not just his friends who were looking at his fake betrothed more favorably—so was what appeared to be the entire male population in the ballroom…

Even the ailing Sir Percy Gilligan seemed to take a bit more interest and leaned on his cane a bit more until Colin worried that the old man was going to topple over.

It would serve him right for leering at my betrothed, though!

His eyebrows snapped together in a frown as he realized the direction of his thoughts. He looked back to the staircase where Alice was still with her mother, but a small crowd had already begun to form around them, mostly composed of men leering down her bodice. The sight of it was enough to incite thoughts of rampant violence in any man.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Ethan called after him as Colin began to stalk off.

He rolled his eyes. “I am going to find a footman with a strong enough drink to last me through the night!”

Daniel simply stood back and folded his arms over his chest. “I doubt you would find what you are looking for here. I suggest you take two, then.”

Colin had a feeling he was going to need a bit more.

CHAPTER 12

From the moment she stepped into the ballroom, she could sense all eyes on her—particularly a pair of blue-gray ones that seemed to scald her with their heat even as she turned her back to the group of three gentlemen on the other side of the ballroom.

“My dear, you look stunning! Absolutely stunning!” Scarlett breathed in wonder as she pulled back to admire Alice. “Look at her, Phoebe—do you ever recall her looking so breathtaking?”

Phoebe just giggled. “I chose that dress, you know. Mama could not make up her mind, and I was afraid she was going to send for Madame Deveraux one day before the ball!”

“Madame Deveraux would have a fit!” Scarlett shook her head. “But she might just accept, considering all the rumors that have been flying around—” She glanced meaningfully at Alice, who only averted her gaze towards the floor as heat began to creep up her cheeks.

“Well, at any rate, I am sure it would have cost Lady Brandon an arm and a leg to have a dress made at such short notice!” the redhead finished.

“I do not think Mama would have minded if it meant that I would get to marry a duke,” Alice remarked with a slight grimace. “In fact, she might even consider surrendering the rest of her limbs just to be certain!”

Their small group burst into giggles which attracted a group of young gentlemen. One of them even asked Alice for a dance—a rare occurrence, as far as balls went.

“That dress is really working wonders,” Scarlett remarked with a wry grin. “I should have Madame Deveraux make one just like it.”

Alice fought the urge to roll her eyes at that statement. Scarlett, with her vibrant red hair and lively spirit, had received a great number of offers since her first Season, but none of the poor gentlemen had ever caught her interest. Still, that did not stop them from coming to pledge their suit year after year.

“You are already beautiful, dearest.” Alice sighed. “If you were to become any more spectacular, your father would have to beat your suitors off with a stick, and a great many ladies would be happily praying for your demise.”

In response, her best friend playfully swatted her arm. “Oh, do stop it, Alice!”

As they bantered with each other for a while, Alice became aware of Colin accompanying an older woman and a younger lady who looked no older than Phoebe. Her bright eyes and shy smile somehow gave off the impression of innocence.

That must be his younger sister. The one he wishes to improve his reputation for.

Alice shook her head as she watched the siblings and their grandmother make their way across the ballroom. Two people could not have been any more different. Where the Duke was tall, arrogant, and domineering, his younger sister was possessed of a more delicate structure with a shy sweetness about her.

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