Page 21 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
“That would be correct, Lord Thornhill,” Felicity answered with a small smile. She was a striking woman, her blonde hair contrasting with her emerald green dress. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence, a fact that didn’t escape William’s notice.
“Hmm, Lady Felicity, I notice that you and Miss Eris Saffron seem to get along quite well,” he ventured, watching her closely.
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Ah, you’re observant, Lord Thornhill. Yes, Eris and I have known each other for some time.”
“I see,” he replied, thoughtfully swirling his wine. “What can you tell me about her?”
Felicity let out a soft laugh, the sound light and melodious. “So, you’re intrigued by Miss Eris? That’s not something I would have expected.”
His eyes widened slightly at her candidness. “I assure you, it’s purely conversational interest,” he blurted. “As host, it’s my duty to know all the guests.”
“Oh, is it now?” Felicity retorted, a playful glint in her eye. “Very well, I suppose I can indulge your ‘conversational interest’.”
Over the course of the meal, William found himself more at ease with Felicity than he had with any other young woman that evening. Her wit matched his. Her conversation was engaging, and there was a lack of simpering adoration in her gaze that was both refreshing and, oddly, slightly disappointing.
“Lady Felicity,” he began, a glint of genuine interest in his eyes, “I sense that you and Miss Eris share quite a bond.”
A soft smile graced Felicity’s lips. “Oh, Eris,” she said, her gaze unfocusing slightly as she lost herself in thought. “She’s a breath of fresh air in this stifling world. Intelligent and articulate, she’s not one to hide behind pretty words and false pleasantries. She speaks her mind which can be quite refreshing.”
William could not help the small grin that tugged at his lips. “Indeed, I have noticed.”
“And she’s incredibly devoted to her sister, Lily,” Felicity continued, her smile wistful. “Perhaps to a fault. She’s fiercely protective of her, and this loyalty has often cast her in Lily’s shadow. It’s made her somewhat reserved, I’d say.”
The words lingered in the air, giving William a deeper insight into Eris than he had gained from their brief interactions. It painted a picture of a woman who, despite her societal constraints, was unwavering in her convictions and unapologetically herself. His interest piqued, he leaned back in his chair.
As the evening wore on, William found his mind returning to Eris more often than he would have liked. Despite the charming company he had in Felicity and her anecdotes about Eris revealing a depth of character he had yet to explore, he felt a strange compulsion to seek the mysterious lady herself. It was almost as though her presence had imprinted on him, pulling him in like a moth to a flame.
The thought was slightly unsettling, yet he could not deny the intrigue that Eris had sparked within him. It was a novelty, he mused, to feel such a connection to a woman who defied the societal norms he was so accustomed to.
While he didn’t learn much more about Eris, his ‘conversational interest’ as Felicity put it, he did appreciate the reprieve from the usual matrimonial machinations. For a few minutes at least, he could pretend he was just William, and not the Earl of Thornhill with an estate and legacy to consider. As the evening wore on, the courses continued in a grand parade — cream of asparagus soup, poached salmon with hollandaise, roasted quail, followed by a delightful array of desserts from berry tarts to delicate macaroons. However, the richness of the food did little to distract him from the puzzle that was Eris.
In the flickering candlelight, across the wide expanse of the dining table, he caught glimpses of her. Her laughter, clear and lilting, filled the room. His gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary. She was a riddle, a code to crack, a challenge he had not expected but was now wholly engaged in.
His thoughts were interrupted as the Dowager Countess stood up, signaling the end of the dinner and the start of the evening’s entertainment. Taking a deep breath, William prepared himself. The night was far from over.
ChapterThirteen
Eris sighed in relief as the final course was cleared from the table. The decadent meal, typically one of her favorite aspects of such gatherings, had felt like a torturous affair. Her stomach was tied in knots over the upcoming midnight meeting, the prospect of which had managed to rob her of her appetite entirely.
Am I mad to even consider this?she questioned herself. Yet, despite her apprehension, her overwhelming curiosity made the idea of not meeting William at midnight more unbearable than the prospect of going through with it.
The low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the muffled laughter around her felt oddly distant. She was acutely aware of William throughout dinner, her eyes often drifting in his direction. He seemed to be in lively conversation with Lady Charity and Lady Felicity, his laughter echoing in the large dining room, his charm as evident as ever. To her surprise, she found a pang of jealousy prick at her. She had to remind herself that he was, after all, the most eligible bachelor in the room, and it was only natural for the other young ladies to vie for his attention.
He is the reason all of us are here…
Her thoughts were interrupted as the Dowager Countess stood, clapping her hands together to draw attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, let us adjourn to the drawing room for some evening entertainment. We have a delightfultableau vivantplanned for tonight!”
The crowd moved, and the buzz of excitement was palpable. Eris found herself swept along in the tide of guests. She had always enjoyedtableaux vivants, ‘living pictures’ where people were posed to represent a scene or a painting. It was a popular form of entertainment, a sophisticated game of sorts, and one she usually enjoyed.
As they settled in the drawing room, she took her place, keeping her gaze firmly away from William. She felt his eyes on her more than once but refused to meet his gaze, her heart pounding against her ribs. She focused instead on the upcoming performance, using it as a much-needed distraction from the anticipation of the midnight meeting.
The tableau was well done, the poses dramatic, the costumes exquisite, and the entire scene well-lit and beautifully executed. Yet, for Eris, every minute, every second felt like it was crawling by the hands of the clock seemingly mocking her as she awaited the appointed hour.
The performance had barely concluded when Eris felt her mother’s firm grip on her arm, steering her away from the assembled guests and toward a quieter corner of the room.
“Whatever is the matter with you, Eris?” her mother hissed, her gaze scrutinizing. “You have been acting like an anxious rabbit in a cage all evening!”
Eris stared at her mother, taken aback by her observation. “I… I don’t know what you mean, Mother.”
