CHAPTER THIRTEEN

His aunt frowned at him in response, but he did not give her time to reply. He placed his wine glass behind him and walked as discreetly as he could around the dancefloor and towards the doorway.

He kept his gaze downcast until he reached it, glancing behind him to find that most of the guests were either involved in the dance or watching it. Lionel stood in the centre of the current set, opposite Miss Fairfax. His cousin’s wide smile and relaxed movements sent a pang of regret through Adam’s body, but as his gaze fell on Seraphina, he felt all the more determined to follow through with his plan.

He compressed the handle of the door and moved outside.

The bitter cold hit him full in the face as he closed the door behind him. The snow was falling but in much smaller flakes than it had earlier that day and there were patches of ice over the terrace.

He looked along the narrow walkway to see a figure ahead of him, her breath billowing out above her as she looked out into the night.

The clouds obscured the stars but lowered a blanket of snow across the country, making everything look ghostly and magical at once.

Adam approached her, feeling his heart beating so wildly he could barely draw in a full breath. His chest was tight, his fists clenched. He felt as though he were standing on the edge of an abyss and that the only guiding light to reach the other side was standing before him.

For the first time since Anastasia’s death, he felt a desire for companionship. His interactions with Emilia had been some of the easiest in his life, and the way her music sang to his soul could not be anything but a sign he was ready to move forward.

She was no longer simply a woman dogged by scandal, forced to live a life of her parents' choosing. Adam was no longer simply a widower mourning his wife—he believed they could help one another, and in time, a true connection could form between them that might be the greatest he had ever known.

“Lady Emilia,” he said softly, watching in wonder as she turned to him.

Emilia had been standing on the terrace for too long, and her fingers were numb already, but she was reluctant to return inside. She knew what awaited her in that ballroom, and it was nothing in the world that she wanted.

Her mind had been playing tricks on her, focusing on a dark future where she watched as Lord Bellebrook announced his engagement to Lady Seraphina. Emilia stood idly in the shadows, married and miserable, with the duke by her side.

Then she heard her name uttered behind her from the one voice she had never expected to hear.

Stunned, she turned to find herself alone with the earl. She felt her heart skip a beat in her chest, her eyes widening in amazement.

“Lord Bellebrook,” she managed with a smile. She could think of nothing else to say.

“Lady Emilia, I hope you will not think we too forward, but I felt compelled to follow you tonight.”

Emilia could not breathe, her fingers pulling at the side of her gown, the impossible promise in his words seemingly beyond her wildest imaginings.

“I shall come directly to the point, Lady Emilia. I fear we do not have much time until we are both frozen statues of ice after all.” He huffed a laugh but took a step forward, his gaze earnest. “You and I… I believe we have a connection. It may be fleeting at present, but I wish to be honest with you. Lord knowsthe world in which we live is designed to deceive, and I wanted to ask you, truthfully, do you wish to marry the Duke of Elderbridge?”

Emilia stared at him, amazed by his direct question and alarmed by her own response to it.

Never in my worst nightmares.

“No,” she said softly. She could see his breath mixing with hers only feet from her, his eyes twinkling in the darkness. “No, but my parents wish it for me.”

“My aunt wishes for me to marry Lady Seraphina.”

Emilia nodded. “It would be a suitable match.”

“It is not. Not to me.” He paused, taking a smaller step forward again. “Lady Emilia, I have been captivated by you these last few days. Since the first moment I heard you play, I have felt something within me that is linked to you in ways I cannot explain. I know we do not know one another well, but we are both indifficult positions neither one of us would choose. I am not merely asking this for the sake of your life but for my own, too.”

Emilia’s breath shuddered before her, her lungs screaming, her heart pattering a staccato rhythm so violent she thought it might burst out of her chest altogether.

“You might think me mad, but I believe we can help one another and forge a new future together. I am asking, my Lady, if you would do me the honour of agreeing to marry me.”

***

The night sky felt endless, the countryside about them unravelling before them like a spool of ribbon into the darkness.

Emilia would never have dreamed that Lord Bellebrook would have come out here to say such a thing. What was more alarming was the all-encompassing relief and joy that his proposal brought for her.

I will be free of the duke, she thought happily, and I will have a good man of good reputation to call my own. How have I been so lucky?

She did not speak for a moment, watching his handsome face contort into worry and concern.

“I know that—”

“Yes, my Lord. I accept.”

There was a frozen moment of stillness in the dark between them. An owl hooted, and the strains of the music from the ballroom looped and spiralled in the air.

A smile bloomed over Adam’s face, so wide that Emilia was enraptured by it, and he let out a long breath as though all of his prayers had been answered at once.

“You are sure?”

She answered his smile with one of her own. “I am,” she nodded urgently. “You are right, we have not known one another long, but I admire you for your honesty and candour, my Lord. I would count myself very lucky to be able to call you my husband.”

He took another step forward, the cold world around them seemed quite warm in that moment. As though they were cocooned in their own private wonderland.

“But we should be careful,” Emilia continued. “An abrupt announcement would arouse suspicion, particularly in a setting such as this.”

Adam looked back at the lighted windows of the ballroom, a frown marring his handsome features and he nodded.

“Yes, you are right. What would you propose?”

“We have been seen together already, of course, but I would say that we could make it known over the next few days that we are closer than we had been. Our relationship could unfold more naturally to those present, and the conclusion will not be so shocking.”

Adam nodded. “I suppose I could ask for your hand after Christmas.”

Emilia felt alive with excitement, and she could see the same expression on Adam’s face.

“I suppose it would not seem honest to many, but I have no qualms in deceiving the gossipmongers for a little time; they have done me no favours over the years, after all.”

Adam grinned now, his wide smile invoking the same calmness and contentment that Emilia had experienced before.

“No, indeed. I would not wish to deceive my aunt, but I have been becoming increasingly concerned that any attention to Lady Seraphina will lead me down a dangerous path. Perhaps we can agree that we will not allow ourselves to be cornered by… undesirable members of the party.”

That surprised a laugh from her, and Emilia covered her mouth, concerned about being overheard as Adam gave her an answering smile.

“Yes, that might suit me very well.”

“The duke is a persistent man,” Adam stated, his voice lowering, his expression darkening.

“Indeed. And the marquess’ daughter speaks enough words for the whole party put together.”

Adam snorted, straightening as he collected himself, his eyes full of mischief. There was palpable excitement and happiness between them now, and Emilia felt as though she could float away into the night and never have another care in the world.

“Thank you for your honesty, my Lord,” she said sincerely. “I appreciate it more than I can say. And I have truly enjoyed your company. I can only hope we will have a good partnership.”

“I hope the same. More than you know.” He glanced behind him furtively. “We should return before we are missed. You should precede me, and I will walk around the other side. I would not wish anyone to see us together unchaperoned; I would hate for it to cast even a shadow upon your reputation.”

Emilia smiled and nodded. “I suppose I shall see you inside, then.”

“Indeed, you shall. Might I request the honour of the next dance? I shall endeavour not to tread upon the toes of my intended.”

Emilia’s fluttering laugh came easily, and she could not help but smile as she made her way to the door.

“I should be very pleased to dance with you, Lord Bellebrook.”

“Then I shall look forward to it, Lady Emilia.”