CHAPTER TWELVE

That evening her mother had arranged a small soiree in the ballroom. It would not be as grand as the first ball of the house party, but there were still some guests joining them for the evening which meant there would be some variety in those attending.

Emilia fussed with her gown as her maid put the finishing touches to her hair. Her mother had ordered her dress some weeks before for this very occasion and Emilia loved the look of it.

It was dark green in colour with a hint of purple in the train and it picked out the copper strands in her hair. As she descended the stairs, she stopped halfway down, noticing the duke hovering outside the ballroom. The remaining guests were already inside as newcomers began to draw up in their carriages in front of the doorway. Emilia could see Lionel and Charlotte laughing together just inside the room.

There was no reason for the duke to be waiting outside unless he had intended to speak with her. As soon as she took another step, he glanced up with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes and walked over to her.

“Ah, Lady Emilia, you are a vision,” he said, putting her teeth on edge.

“Your Grace,” she said and was forced to take his arm. Emilia tried to remain relaxed but could feel the tension growing in her shoulders.

“Let me get you a glass of punch; your mother has infused my soul with Christmas these last few days. I have never seen such beautiful and abundant decorations.”

Somewhere in the compliment, there was a hint of reproof, but Emilia could not put her finger on what it might be. Many households did not decorate to the extent that her mother had done, but Lady Sternwood adored all things during the festive season, and Emilia was proud of her for all the work she had put into the ball.

They walked inside, Emilia feeling a pang of longing as she saw Adam across the floor. He was standing with his aunt, leaning in and whispering something in his ear. Adam’s gaze was fixed on Lady Seraphina Cheswick on the other side of the room, and Emilia’s heart clenched.

She would be a far more suitable match. She thought sadly. No hint of scandal, and she is younger even than me.

She wondered how old Lord Bellebrook’s late wife had been and what sort of a woman she was.

“Here you are,” the duke said, handing her a crystal glass. “Fruit cordial. I remember it is your favourite.”

He had seen her drinking it once not two days before, and Emilia was finding it more and more difficult to retain the smile on her face.

“Pray tell me, your Grace, you have six daughters, is that correct?”

“Indeed I do. Bertha and Miriam have been married for some years. Eliza was married last June and lives not too far from here.”

Emilia nodded but was increasingly aware of eyes moving toward them from around the room. Lady Pinkerton nodded to her with a beaming smile.

Everyone can see his intentions toward me when he stands beside me like this. This is torture!

“Would you do me the honour of a dance, my Lady?”

Cornered and unable to refuse, Emilia had no choice but to take his hand. She prayed that she might fall awkwardly and sprain her ankle, but the duke’s arm was firm and confident against hers, keeping her well-supported.

As the duke led her to the floor, she saw Lord Spencer and Charlotte were at the other end of the line with Lord Bellebrook and Lady Seraphina making up another pairing.

Emilia’s chest tightened horribly as she looked at Adam and Seraphina. All the hopes and fantasies she had entertained over the last few days seemed impossibly foolish now she saw him standing up with another. They made a very attractive pair.

As the dance began, Emilia noted that her mother had chosen a set that required no movements between partners. She, therefore, had to endure endless prattle from the duke about her accomplishments, how much he adored the pianoforte, and how his daughters had enjoyed it, too.

Thankfully, Sophia was the only one dancing and was some way from them. Emilia was spared her scoffs of disagreement as the duke told the bare-faced lie.

She was under no illusions that if she became their stepmother, she would have no more authority over them than a servant. Her feet faltered a little as she continued the steps, the room around her seeming to blur into a confusing mess of colours and sounds as the reality of what was happening lowered over her.

I am going to be promised to this man for the rest of my life because of a scandal in which I played no part and did nothing wrong.

The duke was looking at her oddly and she realised her fists were clenched tightly at her sides, and she had missed a part of the dance with him. She concentrated on the steps, and as the dance blissfully came to an end, she curtsied, yearning for the escape of the refreshment table.

To her horror, however, her father and mother immediately came toward her. She thought she might detect some sorrow in her father’s expression for a few seconds, but it lifted almost as soon as it came.

The duke’s daughters all came to stand with them, and the duke was so close to Emilia that she could smell the whisky on his breath. She kept her back taut, trying to retain her composure. Sophia was all smiles now, as were Caroline and Penelope. Emilia was taken aback by how affable they were.

“You are an excellent dancer, Lady Emilia,” Sophia exclaimed, glancing at her father with a sharp smile. “I must say I greatly enjoyed your recital this afternoon.”

The speech felt practised, as though she were reciting it herself. Emilia wondered if their father had scolded them for their coldness toward her; she would not be in the least surprised if that were the case.

“Thank you, your own recital was very well read. I do not have the aptitude for poetry that others do.”

“But you make up for it with your skill on the piano.” That was Caroline’s voice. Of all his daughters, she seemed to bethe one who followed the others rather than being actively hostile on purpose. If anything, she simply appeared bored.

“Lady Emilia has many accomplishments, as my girls have pointed out over the days we have spent here. Lord Sternwood, I compliment you on an excellent house party so far. I have never enjoyed so many diverting activities and with such excellent company.”

Emilia’s face was hot, her palms sweating profusely. The new dress suddenly felt tight and suffocating and she was alarmed to find that her vision was fading in and out of focus.

She could not bear it. This insufferable man and his terrible children were going to trap her into a life of misery. She would be surprised if there were even a piano in his house. Even if there were she could imagine him giving her permission to use it only when he saw fit. He did not seem the kind of man who took kindly to a woman exercising her intellect and choosing her own pursuits.

Emilia endured another ten minutes of talking before her mother suggested another dance. This time, the duke appeared to notice that he could not focus all his attention on Emilia so soon and asked Lady Seraphina instead.

“Mama, I am just going outside to get some air,” Emilia said as carefully as she could. She expected her mother to insist that she remain, but to her surprise, Lady Sternwood turned to her with concern.

“Yes, my dear, you look very flushed. Are you alright?”

“Just a little tired from the dancing. This is such a beautiful evening, though, Mama. So many of the company have remarked upon it.”

Her mother smiled in delight at the praise and rested a hand on her arm. “Do not stay outside too long. If you are flushed, you will not feel the cold, and it is bitter out there.”

“I shall not. Thank you, Mama.”

With overwhelming relief, she walked swiftly to the side of the ballroom and to the high doors that opened out onto the terrace.

Within seconds, she was outside in the freezing cold, shutting the door behind her and closing her eyes, trying to control the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her.

From the other side of the floor, Adam watched Emilia leave the room, frowning at her hurried footsteps. He had found his gaze constantly drawn to her throughout the dance. Seraphina had been far more tolerable, and he had been able to speak at least two sentences before she interrupted him this time, but he was aware he had barely listened to anything she had said.

Her parents were across the room speaking with her, and he could easily guess the subject of their conversation.

“It is an excellent match,” Augusta said beside him for the fourth time. Adam shifted his weight, rolling his shoulders and trying to breathe steadily as his anger increased. His aunt was becoming desperate. The constant shadow of Frederick was clearly agitating her and her intimations had become more and more obvious as time drew on.

Frederick’s presence had begun to creep into everything she did, and he could tell she was worried about his influence. Without an heir, the title would pass to Frederick without contest, and Adam and Augusta both knew how dangerous it would be for Frederick to get his hands on Adam’s father’s money.

Adam would happily have lent Frederick anything in the world if he could be trusted, but he had squandered his own fortune at an alarming rate.

Frederick had always been disingenuous and bitter. He saw himself as a victim, excluded unjustly from Adam’s father’s good graces. He knew how to speak well in company and had excellent breeding and manners to recommend him, but he had debts across the country that he was unable to pay, and Adam had no intention of opening his coffers to help him again.

If Frederick took over as the Earl of Bellebrook, the estate would be ruined in months, not years. He glanced at the door that Emilia had left through. There was an element of madness to the feelings that had crept through him in the days he had spent at this house, but one thing had remained steady—his regard and connection to her.

Thinking of her playing music stirred something deep within him. Watching her countenance and speaking with her of her hopes and dreams had given him a purpose in a way that he had not felt for a long time. He did not want Lady Seraphina and did not wish to be strong-armed into marriage to a woman he did not care for by his aunt.

Increasingly aware of the narrowing circle of his own choices, Adam was willing to takea risk. It would undoubtedly help him , and if it assisted Lady Emilia in the process then it would be all the better.

“If you will excuse me, aunt,” he said suddenly, making up his mind. “I am going to get some air.”