Page 69 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

"Oh Theo." She smiled pleasantly as he stepped through the doors. "Are you here alone?"

She did not notice his wife. Perhaps she had chosen to stay back for the baby’s sake.

"Yes, I am." He answered smiling at her then turning to the duke. "Good evening, Your Grace. I must say you have a beautiful home and an even more beautiful wife. You’re a lucky man."

"I thank you, Lord…"

"Seton. The Earl of Seton." Theo answered looking visibly ruffled her husband had not known him.

"Oh. I knew your father an age ago." Anthony answered.

"I am sorry for your loss,," Anthony said honestly with a sad look on his face. "Please accept my condolences."

"I thank you, Your Grace." Theo bowed. "I should go in now so you can welcome your other guests. I will be seeing you later."

"Alright, Theo. It’s a pleasure having you." Victoria added as he walked off.

They greeted a number of guests and then when it seemed they had welcomed every one, she and Anthony returned inside and she stole away briefly to sort some small inconvenience with the maids, returning promptly to her husband’s side.

She was surprised at the turn out and considering the crush, she could say that their ball was a success by many standards. She had ordered the footmen to open the garden doors so the air would not be stifling and so far she was thankful that the dowager duchess had advised her to prepare for the large number of guests.

She would have to find the woman and thank her later but first, she had to help her husband entertain their guests.

"Is everything alright?" He asked when she inserted herself by his side.

"Yes. I just wanted to ensure everything was well." She answered with a sigh.

"Have some punch." He said, procuring her a glass.

She nodded her thanks.

They took a turn about the room and when she caught her Father’s eye, they glistened with a smile and she smiled back.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked soon.

She nodded in surprise and placed her hand in his.

He led her out to the floor as the instrumentalist started a new tune and she smiled in surprise as he moved gracefully to the tune.

"I did not know you liked to dance, husband." She stated with a smile as they fell into step.

"There are a lot of things you are yet to know about me, wife." He smiled.

He was in a visibly good mood and for that she was thankful as she knew he did not like being in crowds and he had confessed being nervous the night before but he had done quite well, even smiling and making small talk with the members of thetonshe had steered him to and even those that had braved their fear to come up to him.

Overall, the whispers she had overheard all said the same things. That the Duke of Devlin was not the devil he was rumored to be. She had even heard one matron telling the others that he was positively charming.

She smiled then causing him to send her a questioning look.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I was just thinking about how many women have described you as charming tonight." She answered. "If you weren’t already married, I would be fighting of women for your attention. Have you noticed the number of adoring eyes on you?"

He looked around and sighed, shaking his head with a small laugh.

"I see what you mean." He alluded. "You’re fulfilling your end of the bargain quite well."

She beamed at the compliment.

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