Page 61 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

With minimal further pleasantries, Leo steered Marina away from their hosts and deeper into the ballroom. Marina waited until they were safely out of earshot before speaking.

“Thank you for defending me,” she said quietly. “Though it won’t be the last time my past marriage is discussed.”

Leo stopped, turning to face her fully. “Let them talk. I’ve endured worse gossip as have you. We’ll weather it together.”

The unexpected solidarity in his statement caught Marina off guard. For a moment, she glimpsed the man beneath the rakish facade and saw the loyal friend Gerard and Dorian valued so highly.

“You can make it up to me by dancing,” Leo continued as the orchestra began a new waltz. “Unless you fear further scandalizing the assembly by dancing with your own husband?”

Despite herself, Marina smiled. “I believe I can endure such a scandal.”

Leo guided her smoothly onto the dance floor. As his arm slipped around her waist and his fingers gently closed around hers, Marina felt suddenly breathless, all too aware of how close they stood after weeks spent carefully keeping their distance.The warmth of his hand seeped through the silk of her dress, and she caught a hint of his familiar cologne—a scent that made her pulse quicken.

“You look stunning tonight,” Leo murmured as they moved effortlessly into the rhythm of the waltz. “Madame Beaumont truly outdid herself.”

Marina glanced down, admiring the deep blue silk embroidered in delicate silver threads that shimmered softly with each graceful turn.

“If memory serves,” she said lightly, “the color was your idea.”

“The color merely complements what was already perfect,” Leo replied, his gaze holding hers with unexpected intensity. “Like the setting of a fine jewel.”

Marina forced herself to maintain a composed expression despite the flutter his words provoked.

“You needn’t flatter me, Your Grace. There’s no audience close enough to hear.”

“Perhaps I speak the truth.” His hand at her waist drew her fractionally closer as they turned, the movement intimate. “Maybe you didn’t think of this, but I really do admire you.”

“Admiration is not something I associate with our arrangement,” Marina replied carefully, trying to ignore howperfectly they moved together, how naturally her body followed his lead.

Leo’s expression remained unreadable although something flickered in his eyes at her response. “Our agreement doesn’t prevent us from having genuine respect for each other. Or attraction.”

The last word hung between them, charged with unspoken possibilities. Marina was grateful for the dance that required her attention, giving her a moment to compose herself.

“You dance beautifully,” Leo observed after a moment, skillfully guiding her through a complicated turn. “Were you taught by the same stern French master who terrorized the young ladies of my acquaintance?”

The deliberate lightening of the conversation allowed Marina to regain her equilibrium. “Monsieur Dubois? Indeed. He rapped my knuckles regularly forimproper carriageandlamentable posture.”

“He would find no fault tonight,” Leo assured her, his hand warm against her back as they completed another turn. “You move with perfect grace.”

The sincerity in his voice chipped away at Marina’s carefully built defenses. She’d spent weeks keeping her husband at arm’s length, but now, dancing together, feeling the warmth of him so close and seeing the tenderness in his eyes, she was starting to wonder why she’d bothered in the first place.

As the final notes faded, Marina felt relieved yet strangely empty, now free from Leo’s embrace.

“Thank you for the dance, Duchess,” he said formally though his eyes still held that unsettling warmth.

“The pleasure was mine, Your Grace,” she replied automatically.

Leo escorted her from the dance floor, and Marina spotted Caroline waving to her from a nearby refreshment table.

“Caroline is looking for me,” she said, gesturing toward her friend. “If you’ll excuse me?”

“Of course.” Leo nodded, his gaze already scanning the crowd. “I see Blytheton attempting to charm the Barrington twins simultaneously. I should rescue at least one of them before scandal erupts.”

Marina made her way to Caroline’s side, grateful for the familiar presence of her friend amid the curious stares and whispered comments that followed her progress through the ballroom.

“That was quite a display,” Caroline observed, handing Marina a glass of champagne. “Half the room is now convinced your marriage is a love match after all.”

Marina nearly choked on her first sip. “Hardly. We merely danced as expected.”

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