Page 4 of The Marquess and the Wallflower
“My plot is a great secret. Shh,” Julia whispered playfully as she led Emily to the other side of the room. “Trust me. There is a gentleman here whose company I think you will enjoy.”
“You did not say he would enjoy my company too.”
“That is what I meant.”
“Was it?” Emily asked with raised eyebrows, doubting the possibility. “Please, Julia, do not impose my company on some poor stranger. Any man will feel we are trying to catch him in marriage. That is not what I wish for!”
“I am simply playing a little matchmaking. What is so wrong with that?” Julia asked with a smile.
“Your innocence would be more convincing if you were not looking around this room the way a hawk hunts a mouse.”
“Ha! Stop making me laugh so. You are distracting me from my task.” Julia shook her head. “Ah! There he is. Look.”
“Who?” Emily looked around, gazing in the direction Julia was pointing. “All I see is the ice sculpture Mama ordered, that is currently melting and looking more like a goose than a swan.”
“Behind the sculpture. Take another look. The tall gentleman there, the one with the magnificent midnight blue waistcoat. That is the Marquess of Tattershall.”
Emily did not recognize the name, but she did not think long on the subject, for her mind became too busy in observing the man her sister-in-law was pointing out to her.
He was tall indeed, and clearly of an athletic build thanks to the tailcoat that was molded to his figure. What struck Emily the most was his face. His hair was as dark as a cloudy night sky, left to naturally bounce up a little at his temple, and the lines of his face were angular, creating an unusual handsomeness that she found quite breathtaking.
“Is he not handsome?” Julia asked in excitement.
“Yes, very handsome.” Emily had to admit it, struggling to find any witty remark.
“Would you like to meet him?”
“So that I can make a fool of myself? No. I do not think so.” Emily turned away at once. “Look, more wine, Julia. I suddenly find myself parched and in need of a glass.”
“Yes, I bet you do. Emily, come back!”
Yet Emily had hurried off before Julia could stop her.
* * *
“Why the hell am I here?” Aaron muttered to himself. He brushed his brow another time and looked around the room. Despite the busyness of the ballroom, he felt isolated, and lonelier than he did tucked away in his townhouse when he truly was all alone. “I should have stayed home.”
He turned to the table on which an ice sculpture was set and served himself a glass of punch, eagerly lifting it to his lips. If he were going to last the night at the ball, he felt he would need something to boost his courage.
“This was a foolish idea.” He could not stop muttering to himself, cursing every time he looked around. He had only come because his mother had pleaded with him, saying no happiness could be found staying home alone all the time. He knew she was right, well enough, but the prospect of having to come face to face with certain people tonight left him anxious to return home.
He circled the table, looking out to the hosts for the evening, the Earl and Countess of Dowding. They had greeted him warmly earlier that night, despite the fact he only knew them by name. His gaze landed on them for a minute as the Earl led his Countess toward the dancefloor. The smiles on their faces struck him a little. They were odd, in a way, clearly genuine and taking over their entire countenance.
Is it possible to be so happy?
The sound of increased chatter above the flute players told him that there were new arrivals to the ball. He turned toward the door, seeing his mother and father were the latest additions, along with Hugh, his brother.
“Hugh,” he mumbled the word with harshness. “Some brother.”
Breathing deeply and lifting his chin, Aaron decided this was no time to be cowed. He would prove to Hugh that what he had done did not affect Aaron, that he was not still hurting after all. He crossed the room toward his parents when someone else entered the room. The sight of her made him stop dead in his tracks.
Jane.
Miss Jane Drew walked elegantly into the room where she took up her place beside Hugh, looping her arm through his. She smiled sweetly up at Hugh, making those pale blue eyes dazzle. Aaron had to snatch his gaze away, reluctantly remembering the time when she used to smile at him like that. It suddenly seemed so long ago now.
Any wish Aaron had had to go and greet his parents wavered. Did he have to make small talk when Hugh and Jane were standing there together, smiling at one another like they were the only thing that mattered in this world?
“Lord Tattershall?”
