Chapter 19

"So, what do you think, Your Grace?"

Jane asked, standing in front of him with the most amazing smile etched upon her face, looking gorgeous in an elegant gown. "This is what I intend to wear to the ball."

He had been seated in the silence of the drawing room before her footsteps prompted him to turn and face her.

His heart quickened its pace in his chest as he stared at the lovely woman standing before him. Colin was unable to contain the rush of emotions surging through him.

Jane's eyes sparkled as she looked at him, her voice soft and endearing as she spoke.

"Your Grace, you seem captivated," she said, gently swaying in her dress.

His eyes widened subtly as her words brought him back to the present.

He looked away quickly and cleared his throat.

"So, what do you think?" She smiled, turning around. "Or are you shy?"

Frowning slightly, he forced the compliment out, "You look breathtaking."

"Breathtaking, you say?" Jane teased, her confidence growing as she moved forward to peek at his face when he turned away. "I'm flattered, truly."

"I'm rather at a loss for words," he admitted grudgingly.

She blushed.

"At a loss for words? Hmm. That's a first." She met his gaze, her expression turning more vulnerable even though her words still teased him.

His wife's intense blush only added to her allure, her eyes meeting his with a depth of desire that stirred something profound within him.

He had done his best to avoid her after that night, struggling to even hold her gaze. He thought that nothing could take away the embarrassment he felt after opening up to her that much. However, it took her nothing to disarm him again.

Colin, consumed by her beauty in her gown, yearned to etch this memory of her into his mind, wanting to savor every detail. His thoughts drifted to the upcoming ball, where he imagined her radiant presence.

The idea of others beholding her stirred a protective instinct within him, feeling that no one there who'd be present deserving of witnessing her magnificence.

The mere thought of them ogling his wife, especially in her solitary state, caused a tumultuous storm of emotions in his stomach.

No man deserves to look at her like this…

"I shall accompany you, wait here," He declared, surprising them both with the impulsive words. Releasing her hand, he swiftly ascended the stairs.

Confusion clouded Jane's expression as she stammered, shocked by this sudden change of plans. "Wait... W-What? Your Grace?"

Despite her bewilderment, he continued his mission, hurrying to his chambers,so his valet could help him dress and he could return to her side without delay.

Jane's incredulous gaze met him as he descended the stairs quickly, her laughter breaking the tension of the moment.

Upon his reaching her, she gestured in amusement, questioning, "What's all this?"

With a smile gracing his lips, Colin gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips in a tender gesture that elicited a blush from her cheeks.

"I am going to the ball with you, it is only right we show up as a couple."

Colin was accustomed to the scrutiny of society, however, he found himself more attuned to the gazes directed at them as they finally arrived and stepped into the grand ballroom.

Despite his usual indifference to such attention, the presence of his wife by his side heightened his protective instincts to ensure no ill intentions lingered in the stares fixed on her radiant form.

Of course. She is my wife. It is my duty to protect her. That is what this feeling is.

When Jane's eyes landed on her sister and father, a wave of excitement overcame her.

Ever vigilant, he trailed closely behind, his gaze mirroring hers until it fell upon a figure standing beside her family - the Marquess, Graham.

Colin's eyes narrowed as he noted his wife's expression momentarily clouded by the sight as her lips compressed with a flashing annoyance.

She shifted closer to Colin, her shoulder slightly brushing against his arm. He instinctively moved closer, a protective stance, not wanting to lose her warmth..

"Lady Jane, What a pleasure to see you again. I must say, you look absolutely radiant in that dress!"

His words dripped an unsettling familiarity. Jane's brows furrowed as she acknowledged the Marquess with a nod, her gaze quickly shifting to her sister and father.

Turning towards Colin with the most obviously feigned enthusiasm, the Marquess remarked, "A surprise to see you here as well, Your Grace." He paused, "What a pleasure." Colin doubted he meant it.

Colin offered a nod in response, masking the multitude of unease within him.

Quick to divert the conversation, Jane greeted her sister and father, as she clutched her sister's hands affectionately. "Dear Sarah, how are you doing? It's so great to see you."

"I am well, and I'm so glad to see you, too."

"You look overly beautiful in your dress, I must say."

Sarah's cheeks flushed and she let out a laugh that seemed to have been gone for a while. "Thank you. You look radiant in yours as well. I'm grateful to you for giving me this dress. It truly is a beauty, I-"

However, before she could continue, Graham interjected, his focus solely on Jane as he spoke, "And you are most certainly right on that, milady. Lady Jane does look radiant in her dress; it would be impossible for one to look away from her."

Colin felt a tightness in his stomach just from his words. He knew this man was someone he wouldn't want to associate with. Yet there was more to this feeling than simple disdain. But Colin didn't have time to intervene.

"Duchess." Jane's expression had turned stern with her curt words, her tone sharp as a knife.

Taken aback by her abruptness, the Marquess raised a brow and inquired, "What?"

"I'm the duchess now, no longer to be referred to as ‘Lady Jane'. Society demands you address me correctly. I believe the term you're in need of would be ‘Your Grace'."

Clearly caught off guard by her assertiveness, Graham smirked with a nervous laugh, acknowledging. "Of course, yes, Your Grace, you're now the Duchess of Montford." He gritted his teeth subtly at the humiliation and tried to stay composed

His eyes shifted to Colin, revealing a hint of jealousy in his gaze before he redirected his attention.

Acute to the exchange, Colin met the man's stare with a fierce and dominating gaze, as he took a step forward.

Jane and Sarah's conversation continued to flow smoothly after that until Graham's persistent interruptions became too frequent to ignore.

The Marquess leaned in, his body angling toward Jane, with a look she found rather disturbing.

Colin's jaw clenched, his fists tightened as he refrained from throwing a punch at this relentless man who clearly had no regard for him.

Jane's body stiffened, her shoulders squaring as she subtly leaned away from him. She took a step back, her hand reflexively reaching for Colin's arm.

"Have you lost your balance, my lord? I think you've overstepped and I would hate to see you hurt yourself." He glared at the Marquess who in turn returned the gesture.

For the next few seconds, an awkward silence hovered over them as the two men wouldn't break eye contact.

Finally, before things could escalate, the Marquess finally budged.

"You're right, Your Grace. The wine must have gotten to my head." He chuckled lightly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are more important things that need my attention."

He once again cast a subtle glare at Colin before taking his leave. Colin felt like he going after him. He wanted this man to never talk to his wife again. Never look at her again…

What am I even thinking?

As soon as the marquess was far from hearing distance, the Viscount turned to Sarah, his low tone stern as he reprimanded her. "You should have been more attentive to the Marquess. Are you trying to win his attentions at all? What feeble attempts you've made!"

Colin was taken aback by Henry's directness, surprised by the man's public scolding of his daughter and the unjust blame placed on her. Sarah, bowing her head in submission, remained silent, absorbing her father's words without protest.

However, to no surprise, Jane was unable to stay silent, "Father, could you not see that Graham is not the right match for Sarah?"

A small smile lifted Colin's face.. He was filled with admiration for her courage to speak up against the man's unfair treatment.

"Keep your mouth shut, child. Your insolence has no place here. I've certainly enjoyed your absence from my home."

He watched as his wife's face fell, hurt evident on her face despite how she tried to mask it. Colin's anger could no longer be sustained.

"Are you forgetting yourself, Viscount Dowding? You will do well to not speak to the duchess that way."

His voice cut through the tension, words laced with quiet anger as he addressed Jane's father. The man turned his eyes to him in surprise, raising a brow at the rage plastered on his face.

With a gaze locked firmly on the Viscount, Colin continued to lash out, "One would only expect you'd possess the grace to remember the difference in posts, do not be unfortunate."

He took a step forward, towering over the man menacingly as he brazenly issued a stern warning, "If I ever hear you addressing my wife in such a disrespectful manner again, be prepared for the consequences."

With that final warning hanging in the air, he turned his attention to Sarah, "It was a pleasure to see you again, however, we shall be taking our leave now."

Jane, still reeling from the confrontation, struggled to find her voice amidst the turmoil. "Please, do come visit me again soon."

Colin wrapped an arm around her waist and gently guided her away from her father and sister, creating a physical barrier between them and the world around them.

His hand remained around her waist, a simple yet intimate act that turned eyes in their direction as they walked past. Yet his hands never left her waist.

However, at this point, everyone was relegated to the background, and Colin's focus was solely on his wife, her trembling figure against his palm.

The sound of her heavy breathing only served to heighten the emotional intensity between them.

As their eyes locked, he found himself captivated in her gaze. He could sense her gratitude as she leaned close to him.

Drawing her even closer, Colin's next move was instinctual. He couldn't let go of her just yet. . In a husky tone, he leaned close and asked, "Shall we dance, my dear wife?"

Jane's eyes were filled with an emotion he couldn't quite read. But he loved seeing it on her. "I would love to."