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Victoria brightened up, excited to finally enjoy herself during this strange affair, but William put up a staying hand. “Absolutely not.”

Victoria looked up at him with a frown. “Pardon me? You can’t just say absolutely not and—”

“I just did,” he said stonily.

“It is best for your reputation if—” Caroline started, but he interrupted her as well.

“I will not dance. Not with Victoria, nor with anyone else.”

Victoria huffed and turned away, fanning her heated cheeks. Such a brute! And to think she’d ever thought he was the perfect man for her. What had she been thinking?

“Then what do you expect us to do?” she grumbled.

Luckily for them both, Lavinia and Uncle Bastian came up to them, and Victoria was happy for the distraction.

“Lavinia!” She clasped her friend’s arm and led her away, “Just the person I needed to speak with.”

Lavinia looked at Victoria with worried eyes, “Is something amiss?”

Victoria looked around and feigned a smile. “Everything is amiss. Life with William is hell, and the worst part is I can’t tell anyone about it because all of it is my fault!”

Lavinia led her to a quiet corner of the ballroom. “Do you want to stay with us for a while?”

Victoria bit her lower lip. “No. I can manage to live with him for three months. It is just hard because I need to pretend as though I am happy when I am anything but.”

Lavinia frowned in thought. “I have to say, you two make quite a striking couple. People can’t take their eyes off you.”

Victoria nodded and placed her hand on her chest, calming her racing heart. She didn’t even know why she was so upset with this outing or with anything for that matter. William could rile her up simply with his presence. He didn’t need to do anything at all. Whether he did something right or he did something wrong, her heart just raced like a runaway horse. Something about him set her aflame. Around him, she was constantly on edge, anticipating his next move, never knowing whether he would fan her desires or ignite her fury. His effect on her was profound and dizzying.

Her fingers caught on the pearl necklace she wore, and she let out a deep breath. Could it be that deep in her heart she still wished he could win her back?

* * *

She’d worn the pearl necklace.

Victoria was always gorgeous no matter the occasion. But today, in her deep midnight-blue gown with a low bodice and puffy skirt embroidered with golden thread that accentuated her tiny waist, she was exceptionally beautiful. Yet the detail that caught his eye was the simple pearl necklace he had stolen for her. And that little detail gave him hope.

Of course, she was mad at him. She was always mad at him, and he understood that he deserved it. His only hope was that in a few days, she would get tired of it and simply fall into a routine with him. Perhaps, it was a stupid plan.

Perhaps, he needed to be proactive in winning her back. He had spent two years pining, longing after her, but now that she was finally close, he had a chance to prove his love. And that necklace was like a beacon of hope, a lighthouse showing him the way in darkness.

She spent a good portion of the night talking to her friends and avoiding him, angry at the fact that he wouldn’t dance with her and unable to get another dance partner because William had threatened any man who would dare come close to her.

And now that Lavinia left on her husband’s arm toward the dance floor, William swept in and placed a hand on the small of Victoria’s back.

She threw him a sidelong stare.

“Do not look at me as though you’re plotting my murder, dear,” he murmured.

“What if that is exactly what I am doing?”

William chuckled. “Then do it with a smile. We are supposed to pretend to be a couple deeply in love, remember?”

“How am I supposed to do that when you won’t even dance with me?” Frustration glistened in her eyes, and William gritted his teeth. He hated that there was something he couldn’t give her. He hated it even more that she was so upset by it.

“It is not because I do not want to, love.” She looked up at him with a frown, and he let out a deep breath. “I do not know how.”

She blinked in confusion. “You do not know how…” Realization hit her face, and she looked at him with a completely different expression. “How is that possible?”