Page 61 of To Steal a Duchess

He needed to control himself. Heavens, what was she doing to him?

“It was not pleasant,” she agreed. “But you have agreed now we may start sharing more things about ourselves.”

Dorian nodded, trying to keep the fear from his face, because although he did agree, he was terrified of what it meant to hold her closer than arm’s length. To remove his distance as it was now, to let her get close… to let her find out who he was inside, who he was behind his title…

He forced himself to agree once more. He could deal with anything else another time. He could pick and choose what to share with Eloise.

His fingers slid up her waist, not sure if he was distracting himself or her from sharing anything else with words. Dorian swore he heard her catch her breath, and he pulled her closer. Part of him wanted to hold her closer and demand of the surrounding ton: Is this the closeness you wished to see? Is this the marriage you want to validate?

He hated it, but he didn’t hate touching her. Far from it.

Eloise’s fingers clenched on his jacket, her lashes brushing her cheeks. Heavens, she really was beautiful.

Dorian didn’t let his hold on her go, even for a moment after the music stopped. It was only when Eloise tugged him by the crook of his elbow that he moved into action. Part of him was still lost in Eloise’s confession of looking into his story.

He still could not believe he had conveniently taken a wife who enjoyed adventure stories as much as he did, though it had been a long time since he had let himself properly indulge.

Glancing sideways at Eloise, he wondered if…

If maybe…

Perhaps she could help him rediscover that.

With a firm footstep, he pushed the thought from his mind. It was not her duty to unbury the persona he had developed to survive in his inheritance. He had learned to love things from afar without ever getting too close to them.

Eloise has the same principle in your mind, does she not?

Annoyingly, it was Gideon’s voice in his head, quickly stamped out by a group of lords and ladies approaching them as they left the dance floor.

Dorian noticed one man, Lord Stephen, who had been the subject of one of his investigations not long before he underwent Eloise’s job. Whether Lord Stephen knew it had been Dorian who sent the anonymous letter to his brother, revealing the plot to overthrow him by framing him for his own fraud and gambling debts, Dorian didn’t know.

Moreover, he didn’t care.

But Lord Stephen had been sent to the country for a while, and it seemed he had come back to get back in his brother’s good graces, for Lord Thornton, the true earl, stood beside him.

“Your Grace.” One of the ladies bowed, an older woman who looked just like the young lady next to her, except her blonde hair was graying at the temples. “It is good to see you out in society.” Her eyes slid from Dorian to Eloise.

“Lady Danmore,” Eloise greeted politely. “It is nice to see you again.”

“Indeed, it has been some time. You remember my daughter, Lady Maria.” She gestured to the blonde-haired lady next to her with a gentle grace but a sharper smile.

“I do,” Eloise answered, and Dorian watched their exchange. “I believe we had afternoon tea together once.”

“While my brother attempted to court you,” Lady Maria said, a scoff in her voice. A sharper smile than her mother’s graced her lips. “He is now on his honeymoon to a marquess’ daughter. He is very, very happy.”

The words were clear: the ton had read the scandal sheets; they all doubted Dorian’s and Eloise’s happiness and validity.

“I am happy for him. He and I were not the right match, of course.” Eloise pointedly moved closer to Dorian. “And I am certain we have both found our matches.”

Lady Danmore hummed. “Well, you almost found a better match, no? Lord Sarling was publicly disgraced—” Her eyes cut to Dorian again. “Upon His Grace’s arrival, he disappeared without a trace.”

“Not without a trace, Lady Danmore, as I am certain you are aware,” Eloise answered carefully.

“I am not. I was not invited to your… first wedding.”

“But you have read enough of the scandal sheets, no?” Dorian cut in. Both the lady and her daughter blinked at his defense. “So you will know that Lord Sarling was accused of very real incidents.”

“And I am also knowledgeable that, following his departure, you married Her Grace rather hastily.” Lady Danmore pretended to inspect her fan, having the air of a younger lady dipping her foot into gossip.