Page 59 of A Duchess to Unravel
“I can think of a few times,” she murmured, then gasped with pleasure as Alistair ran a hand boldly down her spine and past the backside of her dress. It happened so quickly she was not sure if it actually happened until she looked up and saw the devilish grin on her husband's face.
“I am always a gentleman when it counts,” he told her, sending her into a twirl, “Do not worry about your brother and me. We will find a space of contentment one day. It just may not be soon.”
They danced in silence for another moment, Theo settling into Alistair’s natural lead. Then she looked up at him in quiet wonder.
“Why does my brother distrust you so?” She asked.
Alistair drew his gaze back to Tristan, taking in the displeased look on his face. The more he learned about the man, the deeperthe mystery went. By all accounts, Tristan was a well-esteemed member of theton.He was wanted by many eligible women and was sought after by the gentleman for his calm nature and ability to soothe arguments. Yet Alistair would venture that the man was far more than those attributes. He just hadn’t discovered what that was yet.
“I am not sure, nor do I fathom a care for his opinion,” Alistair replied casually.
“But does it not bother you?” Theo asked.
He twirled her again, going into the last steps of the dance.
“It will only bother me if he stops making me money,” he replied, “And since my wealth is now tied to his, I doubt that will be any time soon.”
The song ended, and Theo curtseyed before him. She moved to leave, but with a grin, Alistair swept her into his arms and bowed her back as the next one began. The sound of gasps and murmurs filled the air as he brought her body so close to his, and he finished off the act by placing a kiss upon her bared neck.
“What are you doing?” Theo whispered, her eyes going wide as he brought her back up.
Alistair laughed as he led her into the next set of steps.
“Dancing with my wife,” he replied. “What do you think?”
“But it is custom to only take one dance at a time,” Theo argued, her eyes darting suspiciously around.
“People are staring. Talking.”
“So?” Alistair asked, “We are married. We can dance as much as we like.”
Theo still appeared tense for a moment as her eyes shot around the crowd, then she smiled timidly, and relaxed.
“Do it again,” she urged, a twinkle forming in her brilliant blue eyes.
With a satisfied grin Alistair obliged, first twirling her around, sending her out of his arms, then brought her in close to dip her head back. This time Theo laughed. A lovely, lilting tone that equated to unbridled happiness.
“Oh, I have missed dancing,” she said wistfully, her steps growing more confident and whimsical as Alistair led her.
A memory resurfaced in Alistair’s mind, of the first night they’d met. Theo had come to the Masquerade mostly to dance and flirt. She had said that it was the only place she felt free to do so.
“What if I took you dancing somewhere else?” He asked, enjoying the way her body was loosening and trusting him to lead.
“Where?” Theo asked.
Alistair’s lips drew into a smirk as he brought her closer, and he spun her around so that her back came to his chest.
“To the Devil’s Masquerade,” he whispered into her ear. He was rewarded with a shiver down her spine.
He slid his hand down her waist, loving the way her corseted waist flared at her hips, and pushed her away to spin her back around. Theo’s eyes were sparking with excitement as she came back to face him, and it filled him with a deep satisfaction to see her so lively.
“I thought we could not go anymore?” She asked, though her tone was hopeful.
“If you agree to change your mask, follow my orders exactly, perhaps we could go again,” he murmured, swaying her into the next step.
“But you would have to be good,” he purred into her ear. “Very,verygood.”
A mischievous smile spread across Theo’s lips as he led her into the last few steps of the dance, and she batted her lashes innocently.
