Page 58 of A Duchess to Unravel
They rejoined the party, no one the wiser that they had even left, and Dominic moved toward his wife. As he predicted, Amelia smiled at him lovingly when she spotted him and went gracefully into his arms. Alistair scanned the room, surprised that Theo was no longer with her cluster of friends, but found her not far, talking with Tristan.
Alistair squared his shoulders and approached his wife. As if sensing his presence, Tristan’s eyes shot toward him as he came close, and Alistair did not miss the look of discontent that glittered briefly in the other man’s eyes. Alistair calmly stared back and lay a hand on Theo’s shoulder. She turned, and when she saw it was him, her smile actually seemed genuine, as if pleased it were him. His own lips twitched into a grin, pleased with her reaction.
“Your Grace,” Tristan stated, his tone polite yet curt.
“Lord Briarwood,” Alistair responded with a nod.
“I received your latest reports before we left Caldermere. You are doing good work here.”
Tristan’s eyes widened, as if surprised by the compliment. It quickly passed, however, and his face settled back into an expression of annoyance.
“I am glad you noticed,” he replied. “And pray, how is your work going in Caldermere? Dominic and Everett will tell me nothing of your progress.”
“It is a private matter,” Alistair replied casually, “Trust that all matters are being taken care of.”
“And can I trust that those matters include those of my sister?” Tristan asked. “I would be most displeased to learn that she is not being taken care of.”
Alistair’s brow roseat the challenge, but it was Theo that spoke.
“Do not speak of me as if I am not here,” she answered briskly, taking a step back toward Alistair’s chest. “And trust, brother, I have all that I need. You have no reason to worry.”
“With as busy as your husband seems to constantly be, I doubt that,” Tristan said dryly, crossing over from passive aggressive to obvious doubt.
“You ask your sister for her truths and do not believe her?” Alistair quipped back. “No wonder she seemed so distressed when we first met.”
Tristan took a challenging step toward him, but Theo twirled around to face Alistair, putting herself between them before either could do or say anything else.
“You have yet to take me to the dance floor, husband,” she said to Alistair, holding his gaze. “Would you do me the kindness?”
Alistair held her gaze for a brief moment before he flicked his eyes toward Tristan’s glare, then smirked.
“I would be happy to,” he replied, watching Tristan’s anger sizzle a moment longer before returning his gaze back to Theo’s.
He then stepped back, bowed, and offered her his hand.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Must you goad him so?” Theo asked, falling into the steps of the dance.
Alistair chuckled, leading her with smooth, flawless effort.
“It is not at all so difficult a feat,” he replied.
She sighed and shook her head.
“He just misses me is all. We miss each other. It is natural for a brother to be worried for his sister.”
Theo was surprised to see a hint of sadness suddenly pass through Alistair’s eyes, but by the time she’d twirled and came around to face him again, it was gone.
“No,” he murmured, “I suppose not.”
“Please do try to be nice to him,” Theo implored, glancing through the crowd at her brother. He was watching them dance, and by the look on his face, was most displeased by it.
She looked back at Alistair and found him smirking.
“Come, darling wife,” he said in a teasing tone, “When am I not the epitome of a gentleman?”
Despite herself, Theo giggled and shook her head.
