Page 17 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“I would dance with my wife,” the Duke said, pulling her out of her thoughts, before he extended his hand toward her.

He pulled her out of her seat and led her around the table toward the dance floor. Louise was sorely tempted to snatch her hand away, irritated at being manhandled. But she resisted, aware that every eye in the room was on her.

My new husband is an arrogant arse.

The Duke clicked his fingers, and the musicians in the corner of the room leaped into action and began to play. The opening bars of a waltz floated through the room, and he wasted no time in pulling Louise against him.

She tried to remain calm as his hand found the small of her back, but she had not been prepared for how his proximity wouldaffect her. Their time in the study loomed large in her mind, and she kept her gaze fixed on a point just to the left of his right ear.

“I wondered if you would try to escape,” he mused softly as they moved around the dance floor.

Other couples had come to join them now, and Louise glowered at him as he moved her effortlessly between the others.

“I considered it, believe me,” she muttered.

He chuckled, and the sound reverberated through her like low, rolling thunder, leaving her breathless and aware of every inch of space between them.

“Must you stand so close to me?” she asked irritably.

He raised his eyebrows at her and gave her an arrogant smirk. She scowled as he pulled her even closer to him. She could feel the heat of his body through his immaculate clothes.

“I am sorry, I did not think I could affect you.”

“You cannot,” she stated tightly. “It is difficult to dance with you on top of my feet.”

“You insult me, Madam. I am a wonderful dancer.”

“And so humble.”

The smirk remained in place as he spun her around. Louise was annoyed to find that he was quite right—the Duke had the best poise and the smoothest movements out of every person on the dance floor.

“Your mother seems kind,” she murmured.

His back stiffened, although the mask remained firmly in place. “You think so?”

“I do. On first acquaintance. Are you close?”

“We are mother and son,” he said curtly, and she frowned at the pain that flitted across his face. “She is likely happy that you went through with the wedding. I am sure she is as invested in finding Marcus as I am.”

Louise tried to pull away from him, but his hand tensed, pinning her to him. The Duke was tall, and she felt his body grow hotter as she noted a hardness pressing against her belly.

She looked up at him, only to find him smirking yet again.

“My apologies, Duchess, but youarequite extraordinarily beautiful. I am only a man.”

“You are despicable.”

But to her dismay, her body was melting against his, enjoying the contact despite all her efforts.

“I believe it will soon be time for us to withdraw.”

As he said those words, the music came to an end, and they twirled to a stop in the center of the dance floor. Louise looked about her as the other couples returned to their seats. Her heart hammered in her chest as the Duke’s gaze met hers, his green eyes filled with want and an infuriating need that her heart echoed.

“Sybella needs me,” she blurted out, panic rising in her throat at the thought that he might take her away and lay claim to her.

What if he ignores my rules and simply takes what he sees as rightfully his?

She needed air. She needed space. Seeing Sybella’s worried face at the table behind her, she motioned to her and ran out of the room, leaving Christian standing alone in the center of the dance floor, calling after her to no avail.

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