Page 14 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
“Charity, my dear,” began the Dowager Countess, her honeyed voice cutting through the clinking of silverware and muted chatter of the dining room, “you simply must tell William about the latest book you’ve been enjoying.”
Charity blinked, her normally bright eyes dimming at the mention of reading. “Oh, Lady Thornhill, I confess I don’t have much time for reading,” she said, the corners of her mouth tilting downwards in a polite frown. “I prefer outdoor pursuits — walking and riding.”
“But the theater, Charity!” the Dowager Countess persisted, her voice ringing with optimism. “Surely you find joy in the dramatic arts?”
“I suppose so,” she replied, her fingers fiddling with the pearls adorning her wrist. “I don’t find them as stimulating as other activities.”
A subtle nudge from the Countess sent William back into the conversation. “Such as, Lady Charity?” he asked, his tone flat but polite.
The sudden attention caused Charity to titter, covering her mouth with a perfectly gloved hand. “Oh, Lord Thornhill, you’re quite humorous,” she said, completely missing the point of his question.
Inwardly, William groaned. This was worse than he’d imagined. He dared a glance across the table where Eris and Cassian were engaged in a spirited debate about a recent lecture on the sciences. The contrast was stark, and he could not help but admire Eris’ fervor. The sight was both comforting and maddening.
Resigned, he turned his attention back to the Eastwicks, resolutely ignoring his mother’s satisfied smirk. Tonight, it seemed, his only saving grace would be the bottom of his wine glass.
Dinner eventually wound down, the guests trailing toward the card room as a buzz of eager anticipation filled the air. The Dowager Countess, forever the orchestrator, suggested that William accompany Charity to the card tables. With a nod of assent, he offered his arm to Charity, who took it with a pleased giggle.
They ended up at a table with Eris and Cassian, and the cards were dealt for a round of Whist — a strategic game popular among the upper crust. As the game commenced, the contrast between Eris and Charity became even starker. Charity’s attention waned as she barely participated in the game while Eris played with a quiet intensity that hinted at a keen intellect.
Subtle banter began to weave its way into the game between Eris and William. “Lord Thornhill, I had no idea you were so skilled at cards,” Eris said, a note of surprise in her voice as she watched him play a winning hand. The quirk of her mouth suggested amusement rather than condescension.
“Miss Eris, you forget that life as an Earl often involves tedious social gatherings where games like these are the only escape,” he replied, matching her playful tone. It was a tease, a challenge. Her eyes sparkled in response, accepting the unspoken gauntlet.
“I suppose that’s a fair point. Although, I would argue that having a worthy opponent can turn even the dullest social obligations into a delightful encounter,” she retorted, a glint of something tantalizingly unidentifiable in her gaze. It was a subtle flirtation, wrapped in the veil of their playful banter.
Charity, blissfully oblivious to the undercurrents at play, giggled at the exchange, taking it at face value. Cassian, however, was not so naïve. He watched the exchange with a furrowed brow, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with a hint of displeasure.
The moment William leaned back, seemingly satisfied with his intrusion, Cassian leaned in. “Back off, William,” he hissed under his breath, his words meant only for his elder brother. “You have no true interest in Miss Eris, but I do.” His voice, while restrained, echoed the intensity of his words. His eyes, a clear warning to his brother, held a rare serious glint.
William, with a half-hearted smile, held up his hands. “I am simply engaging in pleasant conversation, Cassian. You have nothing to fear from me in that regard.”
The dangerous flirtation sparked an unfamiliar thrill within William, a delicious tension that made his pulse quicken. He told himself it was just a game, a way to alleviate the tedium of the evening, but deep down, he knew he was lying to himself. The prospect of playing this game with Eris was quickly becoming the most exciting part of the evening and perhaps, of the whole house party.
ChapterNine
Cassian’s response to William’s latest salvo was swift and decidedly territorial. “Yes, my brother’s skill at Whist is impressive, Eris, but don’t let him fool you. It’s not all social gatherings and tedious obligations for him.”
From the corner of her eye, Eris saw William’s mouth quirk in amusement at his younger brother’s bluster. There was an undeniable tension in the air now, a charged energy that seemed to be centered on their card game.
Eris felt her cheeks warm at the attention, not out of embarrassment but due to the excitement of the contest that was unfolding. She liked Cassian, she truly did. His easy charm and good nature were genuinely endearing. However, the intensity with which he was pursuing her was unnerving, bordering on suffocating.
She deftly played her next card, using the action as a momentary respite from the conversation. It gave her a chance to observe Charity, who was blissfully detached from the undercurrents playing out at the table.
In contrast to the heated exchange between the brothers, Charity appeared unconcerned, her eyes barely lifting from the hand she was so carefully studying. Eris found herself feeling a hint of sympathy for the girl. Charity wasn’t stupid, merely uninterested in the complexities of the social maneuverings that fascinated others. It wasn’t her fault that she found herself in the midst of a whirlwind she didn’t quite understand.
“I see you’re determined to come out on top, Miss Eris,” William interjected, pulling Eris back into the conversation. His comment was ostensibly about the game, but the subtle undercurrent suggested a different game altogether.
“Isn’t that the point, Lord Thornhill?” she retorted, the corners of her mouth curving upwards in a smile that was partly amusement and partly challenge.
This time it was Cassian who responded. “That is true, Miss Eris, but there is much to be said for camaraderie and shared enjoyment, don’t you think?” His comment, while couched in the game’s language, was a clear reminder of his interest.
Eris glanced at him, a silent apology in her eyes. She liked Cassian but not in the way he wanted. She hoped he would understand that without her having to spell it out for him. “Absolutely, Lieutenant Hudson. Games are always more enjoyable when played among friends.” Her comment was a subtle message, hoping that Cassian would understand her preference for their friendship over any romantic entanglement.
William, seemingly oblivious to the poignant moment between Cassian and Eris, pressed on with the game. “Now, let’s see,” he mused aloud, holding his hand of cards close to his chest and studying them with mock intensity. He tapped a card thoughtfully against his lips before flashing a wicked grin at Eris and laying it on the table. “Your move, Miss Eris.”
Eris picked up her own hand, casting a quick, assessing glance at her cards. She chewed the inside of her lip and then glanced up at William. His eyes twinkled with mirth which only stirred her competitive spirit. She smirked, laying her card down with a touch more bravado than necessary.
“Your turn, Lord Thornhill,” she replied, emphasizing his title as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. It was a small victory but one that she would savor.
