Page 87 of A Bride for the Duke of Sin

He shook his head. Then again, who could blame them when he himself felt irresistibly drawn to her?

It was maddening.

It was exhilarating.

Like jumping off a cliff with the wind whistling in his ears, and every bit just as dangerous.

If he was not careful enough, he might be doing far more dangerous things. Things he had no intention of ever doingat all.

Like falling in love, just like she wanted.

One step in front of the other…

That was how human beings were supposed to walk to get to wherever it was they intended to go.

Up until an hour or so ago, Phoebe was quite confident in her ability to make her way up and down the stairs, but this time was different.

This time, she was wearing a most scandalous gown that ran the risk of betraying her confidence and spilling her chest over the treacherous neckline and embarrassing her before all of London…

Just a little bit more and I shall be safe in Daniel and Evie’s box.Truly, how hard can it possibly be to get from one place to another on one’s two feet?

Much harder than she initially assumed, it would seem.

Phoebe sighed and squared her shoulders as she glared at the stairs before her.

Just one step in front of the other. And another one.

And another one.

She heaved a great sigh of relief when she finally made it to the box without incident.

Madame Delacroix certainly had more confidence in my suggestions than I have in my dress, she mused inwardly as she set her cloak aside.

She found Evie already seated, with Daniel standing a little to the side, regarding the crowd below them coolly.

A little bit more to the side sat Ethan—and he was staring at her in shock, his eyes wide open.

As was his mouth.

Was that a good sort of shock or a bad one? The line between the two was much too thin, and her eyesight was not too strong in the low lighting of the auditorium.

“There you are, Phoebe!” Evie smiled warmly at her. “Come, sit beside me.” She motioned to the space between her and Ethan. “It is not due to start soon, and Scarlett will be here any moment now.”

Phoebe smiled and decided to put Ethan’s reaction aside—for the time being.

“I do not see Alice and Colin,” she remarked worriedly. “It has been some time since I last saw them both…”

“They could not make it,” Evie sighed. “Alice was still feeling a bit dizzy and is now fostering a closer friendship with her chamber pot. Colin has been swearing up and down that when that child of his comes out, he would berate it soundly for putting dear Alice through so much suffering!”

Despite her keen awareness of Ethan’s presence at her side, Phoebe found herself laughing slightly. She saw Daniel looking at his wife with a raised eyebrow.

Evie caught his look, and a soft, teasing smile traced itself across her lips. “Will you berate our child in the same manner, as well?” she asked her husband.

“Our child shall be possessed of the good sense necessary to treat his mother with every respect she deserves,” he replied smoothly. “If not, I will have him hung by his toes until he learns it.”

Evie gaped at him in shock, and then she rolled her eyes at him. “You are being much too harsh on an infant yet to be conceived.”

He flashed her a rare smile. “Then why do we not abscond from this inanity and get to making this babe you keep mentioning?”

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