The Ice Princess

Chapter 4

As Liam's friend walked over to where Blair and her group was, she realized that he was the other man who was in love with Katherine. Poor guy really. He was talking to Camilla, Liam, and Owen while she was assessing him. Up close he was even more handsome and looked every part of the powerful knight everyone said he was. 

The Duke had short blonde hair that would have laid lazily over his forehead if it were not gelled back and he had a striking pair of dark blue eyes that matched the intensity of his presence. Blair never seen such blue eyes that dark. He was wearing dark suit with badges and gold braided tassels hanging across his right chest that connected to his families heriloom crest brooch. He was every bit of the great soldier everyone talked about.

Judging from his tan skin, he was probably outside a lot and his bone structure was ever much of a Dukes, sharp and defined. One could point out he was a soldier from his body, for he had a very muscular and athletic build. One any girl would melt over for. He was better than Grant in every-way, but poor him really, the girl he loved chose someone else.

Blair was surprised that such man would ever even fall in love. From the looks of it, Lady Spencer looks way to feeble to even approach him. Lord Hastings looked unapproachable and every bit intimidating, it must've been he who approached her with interest. Of course, Lady Spencer is a beauty. It's just surprising that such a stoic and distant person would converse with someone of the total opposite of him. Hmm. Maybe it was true that opposites do attract, Blair thought. 

But judging from the interaction with his friends, she guessed he was not all that somber, it must just be with the ton. 

Camilla was introducing him to them when Blair felt that his eyes were lingering on her a while longer than the others. She glanced around the room totally zoned out once again when she felt eyes on her again. She turned towards the Lord she had just met and narrowed her eyes on him. 

What was his deal?

"Don't worry about Blair here your grace-" 

"Call me Ryder. If you are going to be my sister-in-law one day, you can call me Ryder."

"Well as I was saying, Ryder, she's like this with everyone she doesn't know." Blair rolled her eyes at Camilla's comment, but she knew it was true.

"That she is. Sent chills down my back every time for the first couple days I met her."

Blair smiled at Liam, "That was because you were courting my dear friend."

Owen laughed out loud. "You're telling me, she kicked me in the shin the first time I met her." 

Owen had that one coming. Rake tried to make a move on her. Of course he was just teasing, for Blair was sure he had a thing for Eloise. "And that was because you were being an arse."

"Then what about me?" 

She glanced up at him and narrowed her eyes, surprised he asked such a question. "Well, you, I just don't know you."

"Well then, let's change that," the Duke put his hands out ever so confidently, "can I have this dance my lady."

Blair stared at his hands and slowly looked back up with her usual stoic emotionless expression. What is he thinking? Everyone knew not to ask her for a dance, not that she didn't know how to, but that she didn't want to dance with them. For all she had to do was gaze into the eyes of anyone who dared asked for a dance to send them walking off. No one approached her except for those who knew her.

And this Duke. Who is he? Blair knew that he was Liam and Owen's friend, but there was something about him that made her wary of him. When Blair first met Liam, he was obviously just helplessly in love with one of her best friends. And then when she met Owen, he was just a fool playing around. But this Duke here was different. He looks like he had a different agenda planned and although she didn't know what it was, she knew he couldn't be trusted. 

"I'm not feeling well today, your grace." The Duke, retrieved his hand back giving Blair a tight lipped smile.

"Well then perhaps next time."

Blair jotted her chin in the air, "Perhaps...or perhaps not."

She saw his brow twitch as his jaw shut tightly and smirked to herself inwardly.

"I'll hold you to it then." He said maintaining his stoic expression mirroring hers. 

"I didn't promise anything your grace."

The Duke glanced somewhere really quick. "Well then I must get going, until next time." He bowed and looked up into Blairs eyes, "My lady." 

Blair felt victorious over their small banter for this one actually fought back. Usually all she had to do was glare at anyone who approached her. 

He said his greetings to everyone else and walked away towards his parents.

Blair stared at his back as he walked away. What did he want, she wondered before she heard a loud sigh coming from Camilla.

"Why won't you ever accept a dance from anyone, Blair? You're always rejecting every offer and it's no wonder no one approaches you anymore. At this point, you're never going to find a suitor."

Blair rolled her eyes annoyed at her friend, for she didn't care about marrying anymore. After her obsession with Grant, marriage wasn't her priority anymore. "I'd rather become a spinster than dance my days away with pointless people."

"Well, you could have at least danced with Duke Hastings." Camilla's face immediately lit up and Blair instantly knew what was coming and metal groaned. "He seemed interested in you, maybe you two can-

"-No."

Camilla pouted, "You didn't even hear what I was going to say."

"I don't need to."

Camilla ignored Blair and continued to press on, "His gaze was focused on you the whole time. Besides, this is the first person I've seen who didn't run away after being rejected from you."

"That's enough, Camilla."

Camilla pursed her lips together and frowned. Blair focused her attention elsewhere, done with the conversation, looking around the ball room some more trying to waste time, hoping that the night would come to an end already.