The dance floor swirled with elegance as couples spun, twirled, and dipped in time to the delicate strains of a waltz. The chandeliers overhead shimmered with light, casting a glow over the polished marble floor, but it felt like the entire ballroom was watching one thing—and one thing only.
Lady Lila Hart.
It wasn't enough that she had dared to come to the ball and turn heads. Now, she had caught the attention of the most powerful men in the room, including Adrian Blackwood, the Duke of Blackwood himself.
Lila moved through the crowd like she belonged there, effortlessly graceful, her smile a picture of cool composure. And even though Adrian's hand rested casually on her waist, their interactions, laughter, quiet conversations, the warmth between them only made the whispers grow louder.
They weren't just looking at Lila, they were noticing her.
Lady Evelyne Merrow watched the scene from across the ballroom, her perfectly composed expression slowly turning colder. The nobles had ceased to look at her, their attention pulled by Lila, who now had Adrian at her side. The plan was slipping away.
But Evelyne had one last trick to play.
Marianne stood by her aunt, her hands twisting nervously as she watched the elegant couples dance around her. Her task was simple: make sure Lila didn't leave this evening unscathed.
"You must do it now," Evelyne had whispered in her ear earlier, a glint of cold determination in her eyes. "Step on her shoes during the dance. Pretend it's an accident, and then you'll have her off balance. She'll lose face in front of everyone."
Marianne bit her lip, her gaze flicking toward Lila, who was currently engaged in conversation with the Marquis of Danemoor. The nobleman was entirely too close for Marianne's comfort, and his occasional glances toward Lila made her blood boil. But the task at hand was what mattered. If she didn't follow through, there would be consequences.
Taking a deep breath, Marianne strode toward the dance floor, where a young, smug nobleman had already extended his hand to her.
"Lady Marianne," he greeted her with a bow, his eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "Shall we join the dance?"
She nodded, offering a fleeting smile as they took their position. Marianne could see Lila just ahead, her back straight, Adrian at her side like a silent protector. If she was going to do this, it had to be perfect.
She caught Lila's eyes for just a moment long enough to see the cool detachment in them and then, with the precision of a predator in waiting, Marianne prepared for the moment.
As the music swelled, Marianne and her partner began to dance, drawing closer to Lila and Adrian. Her gaze was fixed on Lila's feet, timing the misstep perfectly. It was subtle—deliberate. Marianne's foot pressed down hard, stepping directly onto Lila's delicate shoe. A loud crack echoed through the ballroom as the heel snapped in two, and Lila stumbled forward.
A collective gasp rang out from the surrounding nobles.
Lila's expression flickered, the smallest sign of surprise then quickly masked by a poised smile. She steadied herself, but the damage had been done.
Before Lila could react, Marianne gasped dramatically, "Oh, I'm so sorry! How careless of me!"
The nobleman beside her looked horrified. "Lady Hart, are you hurt?"
But Lila's gaze had already flicked up, locking onto Marianne with an icy glare. She was not angry—not yet. But it was clear she was not going to let this slide. Not in front of everyone.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as the scene unfolded in front of him. He had been watching Lila, the way she moved so effortlessly in the crowd. He'd seen her laugh, and he'd seen her stand taller than the rest. But the moment Marianne stepped on her shoe—deliberately—something inside Adrian snapped.
His jaw clenched, and his hand gripped Lila's waist tighter. She was still on her feet, but he could see the rage simmering behind her mask.
"Are you alright?" he whispered under his breath, his voice low but filled with concern.
Lila nodded, but there was a fire in her eyes now. A quiet, calculating fury.
She forced a smile. "I'm fine, Adrian. I think Lady Marianne simply miscalculated."
The nobles had gathered around, murmuring, some with pitying looks, others with a hint of excitement. It was the perfect scandal in their eyes. A small, insignificant lady being humiliated in front of the Duke.
But what they didn't know was that Adrian Blackwood had seen enough. Without warning, he moved.
Before Lila could say anything, he pulled her close, his hand gripping hers firmly. He ignored the shocked faces as he addressed the crowd with chilling calmness.
"Enough," Adrian's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. The ballroom stilled in an instant.
Lila's eyes widened as she felt Adrian's strength in the way he held her, the protective, possessive edge in his every movement. But there was more beneath it, something that spoke of his authority, his power.
"Lady Merrow," Adrian said coldly, his gaze turning toward Evelyne, who stood on the opposite side of the room, her mask trembling ever so slightly as she realized what was coming. "If you value the lives of your dogs, I suggest you leash them. Or I'll make sure they never breathe again."
His words were met with stunned silence.
For a moment, everything hung in the balance.
But Evelyne only smiled, a tight, controlled expression that could never quite reach her eyes. "Your Grace," she said, her voice laced with a thin veneer of politeness, "I'm sure it was simply an accident. A misunderstanding."
"I don't care," Adrian cut her off, his voice now a low growl. "What I do care about is protecting what matters. And Lady Hart matters."
Lila stiffened at the words, but her heart fluttered in her chest. The implications of his words were unmistakable. And they weren't for show—Adrian Blackwood was furious.
He looked down at Lila, and his eyes softened, though there was no mistaking the storm that brewed behind them.
"You'll come with me," he said, his tone no longer a question but an order. Lila was about to protest, but before she could speak, Adrian swept her into his arms.
There was no time for hesitation. No time for explanation. He moved with the kind of confidence that left the entire room behind. The whispers began immediately. Some were scandalized, others intrigued but none dared stop him.
With one final, cold glance toward Lady Evelyne, Adrian carried Lila across the ballroom, his stride unwavering. The only sound was the soft swish of her gown and the sharp click of his boots against the marble.
Evelyne stood frozen in the center of the ballroom, a mask of composure that cracked only at the edges. She had lost control.
Lila was no longer the extra. She was the center of the storm and Adrian Blackwood had just claimed her as his. As they exited the ballroom, the snow greeted them like a cold embrace.
Adrian didn't pause. He continued walking, carrying Lila as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Behind them, the sound of the grand doors closing was like a thunderclap—echoing through the silence of the night.
Lila's heart was still pounding, but there was no fear now. There was only the rush of something powerful, something real.
She looked up at Adrian, her breath misting in the cold night air. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her voice soft but firm.
Adrian's eyes met hers, a storm of emotions behind them, but the one that won was clear.
"I will always protect you," he said simply, his tone resolute.
And in that moment, Lila knew that whatever happened next, whatever Evelyne schemed, whatever the court whispered she had Adrian Blackwood by her side.