She smiled as he spun her through a turn that she almost bungled with a double step. He didn’t push any more, but she could see the small pleat between his brows as if he could sense the maelstrom of feelings barreling through her. It took all her poise to keep from bursting into tears.

“You’re a disgrace.”

The ugly accusation came out of nowhere. Sarani wasn’t sure whether it was directed to her or to the duke, but he came to an abrupt stop, nearly colliding with some of the other dancers. They, too, stumbled to a halt and the music petered out.

“Who said that?” he demanded. When no one answered, he raised his voice. “Show yourself.”

A sneering Markham stepped forward. At the violent, hateful look on his face, Sarani’s entire body braced for attack. Now that the truth of her identity was public knowledge, he was an embittered man with nothing to lose.

“I did.” His eyes scraped down her person. “You can dress her in pretty clothes, but it doesn’t change who she is. And you’re a disgrace to the entire aristocracy bringing that…creature here and parading her as one of our own.”

“She is one of your own, you inbred imbecile,” Rhystan shot back. “Her mother was a countess with more patrician blood in her veins than you have in yours.”

“Her father was a blackie.”

“He was an Indian prince,” Rhystan corrected with a glare. “Do you plan to make a salient point anytime soon, Markham?”

“She does not belong here.”

A few bodies turned away from her toward the vice admiral, hands opening fans to block her from view, and Sarani felt her stomach churn.

The duke seethed. “This is my house, and I say she has more right to be here than you do. You were not invited. I warned you once, Markham, show her some respect.”

The man spluttered, his face going red. “I’m better than that…than that…”

“Careful, sir,” Rhystan warned. “You are treading in dangerous territory, insulting a duke’s guest in his own home. One would think you had a wish to meet with pistols at dawn.”

“Dueling is illegal.”

“We both know that peers are beyond the law, especially if it’s a matter of honor. If I call you out, yours would be in question, wouldn’t it?”

Sarani felt her belly quail at the threat. Goodness, no. He could not mean to fight Markham on her behalf. Her gaze scanned the room for Ravenna or even the duchess. The dowager duchess would not allow it, would she? But when Sarani found her, the duchess’s face was as implacable and as merciless as her son’s.

Sarani found her voice and stepped forward. “Stop this.”

Markham’s mouth twisted. “How dare you command me, girl.”