Andrew chuckled in response. "That I am," he said.
His response caused Lavinia to turn and look at him. He met her gaze for a second before bowing slightly and taking his leave.
"I might be reaching here, but something feels different," Emma said once they both were alone.
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Lavinia said, pulling Emma to a corner in the room.
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Lavinia gave Emma a full account of everything that had transpired since her last visit. She recounted the nights in the study. She told Emma about the true reason Andrew had decided to marry her, aboutthe night they'd almost kissed, and how since then, he had seemed distant and cold. How she had been struggling to make sense of it all, her heart torn between the feelings she couldn't ignore and the uncertainty of where they now stood.
"His Grace is an odd man," Emma whispered. "So, we have established that you do have feelings for the duke? The last time we spoke about it, you said you had to think."
Lavinia bit her lower lip. "I think so," she answered. "No...I do. But I do not know what to do about these feelings, Emma. I cannot act on them because Andrew doesn't seem to feel the same."
"Are you certain?" Emma questioned. "You claim that the two of you almost shared a kiss. That has to mean something."
Lavinia shook her head. "He said that we aren't exactly a typical married couple," she explained. "Given the circumstances surrounding our marriage, he only sees this as an arrangement...and I think he wants to keep it that way."
Emma emitted a sigh. "I mean, whether or not this was a marriage of convenience doesn't matter. Sooner or later, you will have to become a real couple."
"I don't know Emma, and honestly, I think I want to stop analyzing this," she replied. "I was hoping the ball could take my mind off everything."
Emma raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Well, perhaps you should dance with a nice gentleman tonight, Lavinia. It's the perfect time to make Andrew jealous, don't you think? The next dance is about to start."
Lavinia scoffed, shaking her head. "Andrew? Jealous? He could never be jealous of me. He isn't the type to care that much."
Emma gave her a knowing look, but Lavinia was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice. She wasn't someone who could command his emotions, not in that way.
Still, she liked the idea of a dance tonight. Perhaps, she could ask David to join her for the next set. Andrew wasn't in sight, and she was certain that he wouldn't oblige her even if she asked.
"Are you...jealous, right now?" Victor asked Andrew, studying his face.
"Maybe I am," Andrew answered. "Maybe not."
Perhaps Lavinia shouldn't have worn that gown.
Andrew couldn't take his eyes off her. He had not taken his eyes off her since they had arrived at the ball. Every glance she received from the men in the room, every flirtatious smile, every bow...it all ignited a restless, unidentifiable feeling within him.
He hated it.
But again, he could not blame the gentlemen for their reaction to his wife. She looked gorgeous. That gown accentuated every soft curve with an almost maddening perfection. Her beauty—the way the gown embraced her form, the way the candlelight caught the shimmer of the fabric—seemed to command attention, as if she were the very center of the universe tonight.
"She is a married lady, for heaven's sake," Andrew rasped. "Why do they keep requesting her hand for a dance?" His fingers tightened around the stem of his glass.
Victor chuckled, entirely too amused by Andrew's growing frustration. "Perhaps because her husband is nowhere in sight?" he suggested, tilting his head. "From the moment you arrived, you have left her to fend for herself. There's no harm in a friendly dance."
"She's upset with me, I don't think she wants me by her side," he answered.
"What did you do this time?" Victor questioned and stepped forward. "Did you tell her the truth? The reason you married her?"
"I did. But that isn't why she's upset," he explained. "It's a long story."
"I must say, it is rather amusing watching you simmer like this," Victor mused. "You glare at every man who so much as breathes in her direction, yet you remain rooted to this spot like a statue. If you're so vexed, why not do something about it?"
Andrew exhaled sharply, his gaze never leaving Lavinia as she laughed at something one of the gentlemen had said. His stomach twisted at the sight. "She's enjoying herself," he muttered, more to himself than to Victor.
"Indeed, she is," Victor agreed, watching his friend closely. "And you? You look ready to challenge half the room to a duel. Very unlike you, Andrew. You do realize that, don't you?"
Andrew clenched his jaw. "I might not like it, but I'm not going to spoil her mood by intervening. Lavinia rarely enjoys balls, so it's quite...nice to see her laughing."
