Page 33 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

He truly was a master in the art of seduction, and she was like a moth drawn to his flame. If she was not careful, his heat would burn her wings.

She shook her head as she headed back to the ballroom. Perhaps a betrothal—fake or not—with a Wolf was not a good idea.

Not the slightest bit.

* * *

Colin clenched his hands into fists behind him as he watched Alice walk back to the ballroom. He had taken great care not to mess her hair up too much or to wrinkle her gown.

It would be such a shame, for it is a beautiful gown and looks absolutely alluring on her.

As he turned away from the ballroom, he made a mental note to perhaps purchase another gown for her in the same color.

But… there were some things he needed to take care of first.

“You can come out now,” he said coldly. “She is gone.”

There was a slight shuffle, and then the elegant figure of Lady Wellington emerged from the shrubbery behind the gazebo. She cast a reproachful look at Colin, who only raised an eyebrow at her.

“I knew about your predilections before,” she announced, “but I have never known you to be both foolish and inconsiderate!”

Her voice was like a whip, like a sharp rap on the knuckles of an errant schoolboy. Her lips were pressed into a thin line of disapproval as she raised her chin.

“Well, what have you to say for yourself?” she demanded.

“That she is my betrothed,” he replied obstinately, “and I was being careful.”

His grandmother heaved a long-suffering sigh and glared balefully at him. “Lady Alice Barkley is a lovely young lady. Even if she is your betrothed, you should exercise more restraint. Had it been anyone other than myself, you would have found yourself scurrying to the Archbishop this very evening, begging for a special license!”

Colin knew his grandmother very well, so he kept his silence. If he made the slightest protest, he knew he would never hear the end of it.

“Well, I suppose it is to be expected,” she muttered finally. “You are both young, after all, and newly betrothed. Why, when your grandfather and I were betrothed a mere handful of hours, we?—”

“Grandmother, I would entreat you to spare me the details,” Colin cut in swiftly.

It was one thing to endure his grandmother’s lecture and another thing entirely to hear of… more personal matters.

Lady Wellington burst into laughter. “Well, I suppose I should blame your grandfather for your behavior, then. If you are any more like him, then Lady Alice will be quite fortunate?—”

“Grandmother!”

She glared pointedly at him, as if he had the audacity to reprimand her when he had just been doing something scandalous just a few moments earlier.

“In any case,” she sniffed, motioning for him to offer her his arm, “I do hope you know what you are doing.”

Sighing, he did as she wanted and held his arm out to her. “I hope I do, too,” he muttered under his breath.

They entered the ballroom just as Alice approached Lady Brandon. When she saw Colin, she flinched imperceptibly—an action that did not go unnoticed by Lady Wellington.

“What did you ever do to that poor girl?” his grandmother muttered, shaking her head.

“Nothing that you have not witnessed, I would think,” Colin calmly replied.

“Mama,” he heard Alice say, “I think I need to leave. I feel the most dreadful headache coming on…”

Colin smirked at the almost plaintive note in her entreaty. She really did need to work on her acting skills. He could see through her lies even though he stood a slight distance away.

“Oh dear,” Lady Brandon fretted. “Are you sure? The ball has barely begun, and everybody is asking so many questions…”

---