Page 49

Victoria huffed a breath. “Not in the least. I am only vexed because tonight we have to present a united front of a loving married couple, so I would assume our flirtations should be reserved for each other.”

William licked his lips, a smile threatening to break out on his features, then lifted his right hand in front of her, rolling a gorgeous ruby choker between his fingers. “I had to make her drop her guard in order to steal this. Or had you forgotten?”

He quickly replaced the choker inside the pocket of his jacket. Victoria’s cheeks burned and heat traveled down her body because she indeed had forgotten about their mission.

“How did you do that?” Victoria stared at him, stunned.

“If you weren’t burning with jealousy, perhaps you would have noticed my subtle trick.”

“I wasn’t burning with jealousy!” she countered, but he continued as if she hadn’t spoken.

“However, I have to say that your little cutting remark helped me accomplish my task. Poor Lady Carlyle was so stunned she didn’t even notice that the load had been lifted off her neck.” He gave her a charming grin.

“Show it to me again?” Victoria demanded simply to turn attention away from her unwarranted jealous fit.

William pulled out the choker and dropped it into her palm. Victoria studied it briefly, her eyes darting this way and that, making certain that no one was observing their actions. Had anyone even noticed that Lady Carlyle’s jewelry was missing?

She handed it back to him. “What are you going to do with it?”

William shrugged. “Perhaps I shall keep it as a memento of sorts.”

“Of Lady Carlyle?” Victoria’s voice was dripping with venom, and she could not disguise her tone.

“Why not?” William asked, not even looking at her, then bowed toward a passing couple. “Lady Norfolk, Lord Norfolk.”

“William!” Lord Norfolk exclaimed. “Haven’t seen you at the card table for a while now. I have to admit, I am in need of a win. Perhaps you’d consider joining us at Hades’ Hell soon?”

William laughed and patted the man on the back. “Perhaps later. At this time, most of my time is occupied by my beautiful bride.”

Victoria curtsied, and they briefly exchanged pleasantries. For a man who was not welcomed in many society homes, he sure had a lot of… ahem… acquaintances.

William and Norfolk quipped for a few minutes before William bowed low. “It was a pleasure to see you again. And Lady Norfolk, may I say, what a beautiful necklace you have.”

As William said those words, he swiftly guided Victoria away. But her eyes were glued to Lady Norfolk’s neck as she was sporting Lady Carlyle’s ruby choker around it.

Victoria had to pry her eyes away from Lady Norfolk’s new jewelry. “How did you do that?” she whispered furiously to her husband.

He raised a brow. “You didn’t seem enamored with the idea of keeping a reminder of Lady Carlyle in our home, so I had to get rid of it.”

A chuckle left Victoria’s lips before she could stop herself. “What happens when they realize what’s going on?”

William shrugged nonchalantly. “Chaos, I presume.”

“William!” Kensington’s growl startled them both, stopping them in their tracks. “A word, please.”

The duke seemed quite angry, but William didn’t seem perturbed at all. He lifted Victoria’s hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I shan’t be long.”

Then he turned toward Kensington with a wide smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your continued attention today?”

“Do not even think I do not see what you’re up to!” Kensington said in a hushed but stern whisper as he led his brother away.

Victoria chuckled and shook her head in wonder. How did William do that? Well, she’d asked to see a thief in action, and she had.

“Your Highness.” A soft masculine voice prompted Victoria to whirl around.

She blinked in surprise. “Lord Porter.”

He bowed low before offering his arm. “Would you give me the honor of escorting you to the patio for a breath of fresh air?”