Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

" S o we will not be having dancing lessons this afternoon?" Eliza asked Emily once they'd finished their tasks for the day. She tried to keep the disappointment and the hope out of her voice.

Emily smiled sweetly, but she seemed to be guarded from her usual openness. "Daniel and Adam both had obligations they needed to fulfill this afternoon. It appears that they will be quite busy until the ball."

"Oh. I see," Eliza said. She pushed away the disappointment. Schedules still had to be kept. She could understand that, couldn't she? It had been all she could do to keep up on her own garden before coming over to help Emily each day. She enjoyed spending time with Emily and getting to know her better, but she had helped Emily to the detriment of her own schedule in some regards. It had been nearly a fortnight since she had seen Lady Margaret. It made sense that Captain Blackwood would have to take care of things for his estate and other interests. After all, he had been concerned about putting on the ball in the first place, citing his many responsibilities and his inability to fit something as monumental of a project as hosting a ball. Surely, there was nothing personal about that decision.

"Oh, but you are disappointed," Emily said, her eyes filled with compassion and a hint of a gleam of something else.

"No, no. Of course not. I just wanted to make sure that the Captain felt ready for the ball."

Emily smiled. "I had the same concern, but he has assured me that there will not be a need for more dancing lessons this week, and it will work out fine for him."

"That is good news, then. I am glad we were able to cover so much yesterday. I shall congratulate him at dinner this evening."

"It is a blessing, especially with his schedule. I wonder if we will see him much before the ball. He and Adam are dining with a friend this evening, but you are welcome to stay and keep me company this evening if you would like."

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it away. She did not want to appear rude or ungrateful for the hospitality, so she graciously accepted Emily's invitation. She adored spending time with Emily. It wasn't a punishment. Even with the distance between them, she had still been looking forward to seeing Captain Blackwood.

Eliza Montrose arrived at Blackwood Manor, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She was only two hours early for the ball, but the grand foyer was a whirlwind of activity, with servants darting to and fro, arranging flowers and lighting candles in preparation for the evening's ball. As she stepped inside, Eliza caught sight of Emily standing amidst the chaos, looking every bit the gracious hostess.

"Ah, Eliza! You're just in time," Emily exclaimed, rushing forward to greet her with a warm embrace. "I've been fretting over the final details all afternoon. Do you think we have enough bouquets? And do the candelabras look well-placed?"

Eliza surveyed the room with a practiced eye, taking in the elegant arrangements of lilies and roses that adorned each table, and the soft glow of candlelight that cast a warm, inviting atmosphere. "Everything is absolutely stunning, Emily. The entire evening will be a success."

"Thank you, my dear," Emily replied, visibly relieved. "Now, let's make sure everything else is in order before the rest of the guests arrive. "

As they moved through the house, discussing seating arrangements and menu selections, Eliza couldn't help but feel the excitement building within her. There was something undeniably enchanting about such an affair—the glamour, the music, the prospect of stolen glances across a crowded dance floor.

Her heart raced as Captain Daniel Blackwood entered the ball room. His tall, broad-shouldered figure exuded a commanding presence, and his dark hair contrasted sharply with his piercing green eyes. Although it had only been a couple of days since she had seen him, her pulse quickened, and her breath caught.

"Eliza, are you quite all right?" Emily asked, concern etched across her face. "Do you think the lilies should go over on that table instead?"

"Y-yes, I'm fine," Eliza stammered, struggling to regain her composure. "The lilies are expertly placed already. I wouldn't move them."

Emily looked beyond her friend, a knowing smile on her lips. "Daniel looks very captivating in his dress coat, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does." Eliza could not deny the truth of her friend's words, but she refused to let her growing feelings for Captain Blackwood dictate her actions. She would not act as a debutante would. She was determined to maintain her composure, even as her heart threatened to betray her with every beat.

Despite the whirlwind of activity around her, Eliza's gaze remained fixated on Daniel as he navigated the ballroom with a mixture of determination and apprehension. It was evident that he, too, felt the pressure to make a good impression at the ball, though she could not fathom why someone so striking would have any cause for concern.

He bowed to the two women, and Eliza and Emily curtsied in response.

"We have little time for formalities right now, Daniel. We do have a ball that we are finalizing," Emily said, with a twinkle of laughter in her eyes.

"I am very much aware that you are hosting a ball this evening."

"Correction, Daniel. It is your ball."

"You and I both know that it is more yours than it is mine." Daniel shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Miss Montrose, I did not realize that you would be here already."

"I came to help Emily with the final touches."

"I insisted that she come early. It's always so nerve-wracking right before the start of a ball. There are endless amounts of things to check on," Emily said. "In fact, I just remembered that I need to go and check on something very particular with the housekeeper and the cook. Please excuse me."

"Do you need some help?" Eliza offered, seeing what her friend was trying to do by leaving so quickly.

Emily smiled. "No, no. I can manage. You stay here and supervise the rest of the flowers and the arrangements on the refreshment table."

"Everything looks very nice," Daniel said, surveying the room with a hint of approval in his tone.

Eliza smiled, doing her best to keep her pulse steady despite the flurry of activity around them. "Emily is the one with the vision for all of this."

"She told me that you were most particular about all the flowers," he said, his voice lighter now.

"Flowers are something I know a thing or two about. I'm sure the entire evening will come together nicely."

Daniel nodded, but his fingers tugged at the knot of his cravat, clearly displeased with the way it lay. "Yes, it is all looking very elegant." He glanced down, frowning slightly. "I should not wish to spoil the look, but this cravat … it is being most stubborn."

Eliza couldn't help but chuckle softly. His sudden awkwardness was endearing, a stark contrast to the usual calm composure he exhibited. "I'm sure it would have been fine the way your valet tied it, had you not fiddled with it so much."

He dropped his hands, but it was more askew than when he first entered the room. He looked at her with a half-amused, half-sheepish expression. "You are right, of course. But now it seems a hopeless case."

Eliza tilted her head slightly, her smile lingering as she observed the state of his cravat. "Not hopeless, Captain, just a little ... out of place. "

He met her gaze, something softening in his eyes. "Would it be too much to ask for your help? I cannot see what I am doing, and I fear it's beyond repair."

Eliza did not think her pulse could race faster, but she was wrong—it picked up speed. She nodded, trying to keep her voice steady at the request. "Very well, Captain."

He bent slightly toward her, and as Eliza reached up to adjust the cravat, she could feel the warmth radiating from him, mingling with the subtle scent of sandalwood and clean linen. Her fingers brushed the fabric of his collar, feeling the heat of his skin through the thin cloth. The cravat was slightly crooked, tied in haste, but as she worked to untie and retie it, she became acutely aware of his closeness—how his breath seemed to still as her fingers brushed his throat, how his chest barely rose and fell as if he, too, was caught in the moment.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the folds of the cravat, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the sensation of being so close to him. She could feel him swallow under her touch, his throat moving against her fingertips, and the gesture sent a warm shiver through her. Eliza kept her eyes on her work, but when she finally glanced up, she found him watching her with an intensity that made her heart race.

Her voice came out softer than intended as she said, "There you are, Captain. Perfectly straight."

Daniel's hand instinctively rose to touch the cravat, but instead of adjusting it, his fingers grazed the fabric as if testing her handiwork. His gaze never left hers, and his voice was low when he said, "Thank you, Miss Montrose. Your approval means a great deal to me."

Eliza bit her lip, her heart still racing from their closeness. She took a step back, needing to put some distance between them before her thoughts got the better of her. "You're welcome," she managed, though the warmth that had spread through her showed no sign of fading.

"You look very beautiful in that light blue color," Daniel said.

Eliza felt her cheeks warm. "Thank you, Captain."

Before the moment could linger too long, a servant entered the room, announcing that Emily was in need of Eliza's assistance. Eliza nodded, grateful for the interruption, though her pulse still thrummed with an excited energy she couldn't quite control.

"I should go and help Emily," she said, curtsying with more haste than elegance, eager to regain her composure.

"Of course," Daniel replied, but before she could turn to leave, he reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a soft squeeze. His touch sent a spark through her, and the unexpected contact left her momentarily breathless. "I look forward to the ball tonight," he added, his voice filled with something unspoken, something that lingered in the air between them.

"As do I," Eliza replied, her voice catching as she glanced at his hand still holding hers. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the thought of dancing with him later this evening, of being that close to him again. The very idea made her head spin.

He released her hand slowly, his fingers brushing against hers as he let go, and Eliza quickly turned to leave, the warmth of his touch lingering long after she stepped away. She could still feel the gentle pressure of his palm, the quiet intensity of his gaze, and as she walked toward Emily's waiting presence, she knew one thing for certain: tonight's ball would be more than just a social occasion—it was a moment she would remember for far longer than one evening.