"Someone should remind the girl what she is." Lord Asherton stepped forward. "She is supposed to warm the duke's bed, not dance with him publicly."
The silence was suffocating. Alina stood frozen, the weight of every gaze pressing down on her. But she didn't look at Asherton. She looked at Austin, who was still standing with Audrey.
Then she turned back to Asherton.
"Lord Asherton." Her voice was steadier than her hands that were trembling behind the folds of her dress.
"You seem very concerned about my place tonight," she said. "I wonder.. do you show the same concern for your wife?"
He froze.
"She left the hall twenty minutes ago. Did you notice? Or were you too busy watching me?"
A few heads turned towards the chair where Lady Asherton had been sitting. It was empty now. Asherton was surprised as he hadn't noticed.
"My wife is not your concern," he snapped, but the intensity in his voice was gone now.
