Page 70 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

"Thank you, husband."

He nodded and leaned closer to her ear.

"I haven’t told you yet but you look absolutely beautiful tonight."

She blushed and lowered her eyes.

She had hoped to impress him when she had commissioned the dress; an elegant evening gown in a forest green silk with gold embroideries around the hem and neckline which was lower than she preferred. It had been an extravagant purchase but she hoped it would gain her favor with him.

"I thank you."

He smiled softly at her and turned her about again.

She had never particularly enjoyed dancing but she found herself flowing from one song to the next, completely content in his arms and she couldn’t deny it then.

She had fallen for her husband.

He had been thoroughly supportive while preparations for the ball had been underway and she had come to see new sides of him with each day that passed.

He had been quirky, funny, sweet and thoughtful, sitting through boring conversations including colors of curtains and at night, he had touched in ways and places that had her blushing when he caught her gaze.

Even now with his hands on her hips, she felt the stirrings of desire and turned away to hide her eyes from him but it appeared she did it a minute too late because he whispered in her ears words that had her reddening.

"I know what you’re thinking and if you can wait the next few hours, I can bring it to pass."

She blushed and slapped his chest.

"You’re very naughty." She told him. "Someone could have overheard you."

"And they would have gone on their merry way because we are married." He reminded her and spun her, pulling her closer than was appropriate to his body as if proving a point. "You see. No one even bats an eye."

True to his word, she was overreacting.

She let herself get lost in him and the music and for a moment, it seemed she was in a fairytale.

* * *

The Viscount of Wynten watch his daughters take a turn about the room with the men they loved and he could be sure Victoria had come to love her husband from the way she held on to him and smiled so affectionately with her eyes.

It was nothing like the practiced smiles he had seen her give rude mamas or even the soft smiles reserved for her friends her sisters.

She laughed fully and smiled brightly, her face transforming to reveal how young she actually was.

A tear came to his eye as he saw just how much she resembled her mother. He was happy that she had found love in her husband after she had looked like she would be resigned to a life of spinsterhood.

He had not been proud of the way she had gotten him to marry her but she could see that even the Duke was taken with his wife.

He too had been unable to keep his eyes off her over the course of the evening and now as they danced, he even noticed him flirt and charm Victoria. It did not take him much to know he had something entirely inappropriate as his daughter reddened.

He was grateful their relationship seemed to be progressing healthily and could only hope his other daughters would enjoy the same in their marriages.

Speaking of his other daughter…

He turned to find Charity, who had a penchant for mischief and caught her sneaking out of the ballroom and could only guess as to why.

He pursued after her because he did not want another scandal on his hand. It would not be seemly if two of his daughters had their reputations ruined before eventually getting married.

Diana’s reputation might not recover from the scandal and he did not want to have to deal with that.

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