Page 73 of A Bride for the Duke of Sin

But it would be rude to say those words out loud, and Phoebe BarkleyAudleywas anything but rude.

She smiled helplessly at him. “It would be most unkind to say that.”

He made a sound that seemed dreadfully like a snort. Or a scoff. Or barely concealed disdain.

“You are my Duchess now. There is no need to worry about the trivial opinions of others.”

So you keep telling me.

But Ethan was a Wolf, and balls and the like were probably prime hunting grounds for him. He fit right in ballrooms the same way a predator would in his natural habitat.

“I see Evie over there,” she told him instead, pointing over to where her friend stood. “And wherever she is?—”

“—her husband cannot be too far behind,” Ethan finished for her. He looked at her with some concern. “Are you sure you will be all right? We can leave anytime you wish.”

She shook her head and smiled up at him. “I will be perfectly fine. At least I do not have to worry about making riveting conversation or filling up my dance card anymore,” she joked.

“Ah, yes. The most noble pursuit of any debutante worth the investment of her seasonal wardrobe.”

Phoebe shot him a warning look, but he merely smiled charmingly at her.

“Let me at least escort you to your friend before I find her husband,” he conceded with a slight chuckle.

He steered her smoothly through the crowd, her hand tucked safely in the crook of his elbow as they navigated the densely packed ballroom. She marveled as he cut through the crowd as easily as a hot knife would cut through butter, with some of them even casting adoring looks his way.

“Oh, Phoebe! There you are!” Evie smiled at her. “And you! It is very good that you have finally decided to show your face in public again!”

She cast Ethan a reproachful look as she clasped Phoebe’s hands in hers.

“I would think that husband of yours would be pleased to see less of me.” He grinned back at her. “Your brother, too, but he does not seem to be here.”

“Colin is tending to Alice, of course,” Evie replied with a wave of her hand. “Now, why don’t you find Daniel and keep him entertained for me while your Duchess and I have a nice little tour of the ballroom?”

She effectively shooed him away, and Ethan put up a charming protest before he turned and went off to find his friend amidst the crush.

“Your husband is a very challenging man.” Evie smiled at Phoebe as she looped her arm through hers.

“So is yours, I believe.”

Evie laughed. “Indeed, he is. They all are, I suppose, although I believe Alice has had greater success with my brother so far.”

“You will get no argument from me in that regard,” Phoebe drawled.

“But… you are well, are you not, Phoebe?” Evie pulled away from her and searched her face with a worried look. “All things considered?”

Phoebe frowned. “What do you mean?”

Evie sighed and led Phoebe over to a cluster of potted palms away from prying ears.

“There have been… rumors,” she told her. “About you and Sinclair.”

Phoebe frowned. “Me and Ethan?”

Her friend nodded with a solemn look. “They say that it has not even been three months, and already you are estranged.”

Estranged? Phoebe wanted to laugh at such a notion. How could they be estranged when there was nothing to even be estranged about?

“That is complete nonsense,” she said firmly.

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