Page 33 of The Earl's Demure Spinster
“I know it is hard,” he told her quietly as he reached out to touch her arm. “But you will survive this. It might not feel like it right now, but your aunt is right.”
Sylvia breathed in deep, inhaling his gorgeously masculine scent. She could not take her eyes off him no matter how hard she tried.
Their intimate moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of familiar voices. Lord Edward and Lady Harriet, fresh from their own dance set, approached them, their faces glowing with the exertion and exhilaration of the dance.
“How are you both?” Lady Harriet asked with a bright smile as she flickered her eyes between the pair of them. “Are you enjoying the evening?”
Sylvia nodded emphatically, not wanting Lady Harriet to see what was going on underneath the surface. “Oh yes, it is quite a lovely soiree.”
Lady Harriet parted her lips, but no words came out. Not before the lively notes of the music echoed through the grand ballroom, signaling the commencement of another dance. Sylvia did not want to leave her safe little space where she felt secure but it seemed like she was not about to be so lucky. A familiar face with a welcoming smile was making his way towards her.
Lord Marcus approached with confident grace, his eyes fixed on Sylvia. He bowed courteously as he held out his hand. “May I have the honour of this dance?” he asked, his voice calm and inviting.
Sylvia hesitated, her heart caught in a tug of war. This was not what she wanted right now, but as she glanced towards Lord Wesley and he nodded ever so slightly, she knew that there was no escaping it. With a deep breath, Sylvia turned back to Lord Marcus and inclined her head. “Yes, of course,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. She accepted his outstretched hand, feeling the warmth of his palm against hers.As they moved towards the center of the room, her heart started beating rapidly, nerves getting the better of her.
The music flooded the room and Sylvia started to perform the steps required of her, but it was a little awkward. She wished she could think of something to say, but her mind had gone blank.
Luckily Lord Marcus did not seem to have the same problem.
“Are you enjoying the evening?” he inquired, his voice low and resonant. “I think it is quite a lovely ball.”
“It has been eventful,” Sylvia replied, choosing her words with care. There was a spark of curiosity in her tone, a desire to understand the man before her. “And you?”
Lord Marcus smiled, a subtle, knowing curve of his lips. “I am having a much better time now. Dancing with you is always delightful. The highlight of my night.”
That shifted a bit of discomfort within Sylvia because she did not feel the same way. Not with Lord Marcus anyway. It was Lord Wesley who made her heart sing, but she had already shared a dance with him. She could not do so again, not if she did not want to have people talking about her even more. But if Lord Marcus spotted her discomfort, he did not mention it.
“I have been reading a lot more since I met you,” he continued with a grin. “And for that I have to thank you. It is a habit that I have allowed to slip a little over the years.”
Sylvia smiled politely, though she could not latch on to this conversation with the same interest as she had when she spoke to Lord Wesley. “I am glad to hear that. Reading can be such a solace, I have always thought so.”
“Indeed,” Lord Marcus agreed, his grip on her hand gentle yet firm as he led her through the steps. “Your recommendations have been particularly enlightening. I must confess, I have grown quite fond of poetry.”
“How interesting.” Sylvia wished that she could engage in this conversation better with Lord Marcus, but she was still not convinced that he truly meant what he said. It really seemed like he was just trying to say what he thought she needed him to say. “Do you have a favorite poet?”
“I have been reading Keats recently,” Lord Marcus said, his words sounding a little rehearsed. “There is a certain melancholy in his work that resonates with me.”
“Yes,” Sylvia agreed. “I have always enjoyed Keats as well. His words have such a depth of feeling.”
Over Lord Marcus’s shoulder, she caught sight of Lord Wesley, and her heart undeniably skipped a beat. There was just something about him that spread a warmth through her body. No one else had ever made her feel this way.
But of course, every time she caught his eyes, she could only think of his mother’s terrifying warning. That was probably something that they would never be able to overcome, even more than the titles that would keep them apart.
She forced a polite smile as Lord Marcus spoke to her again, even though she had not really heard what he said, her thoughts still preoccupied with Lord Wesley. The dance with Lord Marcus felt endless, a test of her ability to maintain composure for as long as possible. Finally, as the music drew to a close, she curtsied and thanked him for the dance.
“It was my pleasure,” Lord Marcus said, bowing. “I hope we can continue our conversation soon.”
By the time she searched for Lord Wesley again, she could not seem to find him. He had vanished from sight which made her heart sink. She was not done talking to him yet, she might never be done talking to him, but it seemed that she was not going to get what she wanted. She was going to be spending the rest of the night alone without the one person who seemed to really understand her.
