Page 3 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
Just as quickly, guilt swamped her. It wasn’t fair to blame Lily. Her sister had not intentionally thrown herself into scandal, had not chosen to bear a child out of wedlock to upend her own life, let alone Eris’. They were both victims of their circumstances, Eris realized, bound by the expectations and consequences of their status.
As she let the laces loose, her bodice finally relaxed around her waist, allowing her to take a deep breath. She collapsed back into the chair, laughing at her own antics. For the first time that day, she felt a small glimmer of her old self shining through. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Savoring the relief of loosened stays, Eris rose from her seat and explored the study. The room bore the unmistakable mark of the Earl, filled with heavy, dark wood furniture, imposing bookshelves filled to the brim with well-worn volumes, and a large desk littered with papers, quills, and inkwells.
As she moved about the room, her fingers brushed against the leather-bound spines of the books, tracing the golden letters embossed upon them. The rich scent of old parchment and ink filled the air, a smell she had always associated with knowledge and power.
Eris paused before the large desk, her eyes catching on a single item among the scattered papers and stationery — an intricately carved wooden ship, its sails made of delicate fabric, detailed down to the smallest rope and pulley. She reached out, her fingers lightly skimming over the tiny figurehead, and she wondered if this was a reminder of the Earl’s younger brother’s naval career.
Her thoughts veered toward the Earl himself. Rumors of his reputation as a rake had reached her ears, and after Lily’s downfall, Eris did not want to find herself in the same situation. In her heart, she held onto a shred of hope for a love match rather than a marriage of convenience, but she was no fool. She knew she was not Lily. She lacked her sister’s radiant beauty and the swarm of admirers that followed Lily like bees to a flower.
A sigh escaped her lips as she withdrew her hand from the tiny ship. As the second daughter, she had always been in her sister’s shadow, often overlooked and disregarded. Accepting her fate and making the best of it was all she could do. She could only hope that the man at the center of these elaborate schemes would turn out to be more than the rumors suggested. Resigned, she moved away from the desk and sank back into the comfortable chair, her mind buzzing with thoughts and anxieties. For now, she would take comfort in the study’s solitude, gathering her strength for the events yet to come.
Just as she was relaxing, a jarring sound echoed through the room. The subtle click of the doorknob turning caused her heart to leap in her chest, her breath hitching in her throat. The last thing she had expected was to be disturbed in the Earl’s private sanctuary.
As the door creaked open, the flood of light from the hallway illuminating a figure at the entrance, Eris held her breath, her pulse pounding in her ears. The sanctuary was no longer safe, and she was far from alone.
ChapterThree
Thunderous would have been an understatement for William’s mood as he stormed off toward his study, his boots clapping against the polished wooden floor with an echoing fury. He knew he needed to retreat to the solace of his private sanctuary, away from the relentless prattle of excited ladies and their ambitious mothers. However, fate had other plans for him.
From a side hallway, a burst of energy collided with him in the form of his younger brother, Cassian. The younger Hudson was in his naval uniform, the gold trim catching the light and making him look every bit the dashing hero. His face was flushed with the thrill of the unexpected house guests, and his eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“William, isn’t it exciting?” Cassian gushed, his hands animatedly moving through the air. “All these lovely ladies, all in one place, and one of them could be your wife!”
William frowned, his annoyance flaring. “You seem more excited about this than I am,” he snapped then rubbed his temple.
Cassian blinked, his smile never wavering. “Well, of course, I am,” he admitted. “In fact, I think I am already in love.”
William choked on his irritation. “In love? You just met them!” He then added, a bit softer, “You know, these women are nearly fortune hunters. You need to be careful, Cass.”
His brother’s laughter was loud in the quiet hallway. “Isn’t love about taking risks?” he asked. Before William could answer, Cassian’s eyes darted to something behind him. “Oh, the beautiful Miss Eris is waiting, and I must not keep a lady waiting, you know.”
And with that, he dashed off, leaving William alone in the corridor. A shiver of foreboding passed through him as he heard his name being called by a well-known mama of the ton, and he hastened his steps, ascending the stairs two at a time to the safety of his study.
As the door closed behind him, he heaved a sigh of relief, unaware of the surprise that awaited him inside.
Just as the latch slid into place with a comforting clink, William felt the weight of his day, his responsibilities, and his impending marital doom try to squeeze the breath out of him. He pressed his back against the door, willing the stifling emotions away, when he heard a rustle of fabric. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
A woman lay sprawled across his chaise lounge, the ties of her corset visibly loosened, her sea-blue dress hugging the undulating curves of her figure. She was long and lean, her chestnut hair shimmering with auburn highlights that sparked against her attire, offering a display of feminine allure that rivaled the finest masterpieces. It was a sight that had the power to render a man speechless, a sight that did just that to William.
“The devil!” he cursed under his breath, his hands balling into fists at his side. “I don’t know who you think you are, Miss… but your seductive display will not work. You will not trap me in marriage. Get out this instant.”
The shock in her wide blue eyes was clear even in the dim light of the study. It was as if he had physically slapped her. Her eyes, previously warm and soft, now appeared glassy, the surprise swiftly shifting into indignation.
“I beg your pardon?” she exclaimed, scrambling to her feet with an unanticipated agility. The rustle of her dress was loud in the heavy silence, the fabric pooling at her feet like a fallen cloud. Her corset lay partially undone, the ties loose and trailing down her back, making her look both vulnerable and undeniably captivating.
A flush crawled up her cheeks, spreading across her skin, painting it a delicious rosy hue. It did nothing to diminish her beauty but seemed to enhance it, giving her a glow that was both innocent and sinful, challenging and inviting, all at once. She stood there, amidst the echoing silence, a captivating figure in a whirlwind of shock, indignation, and something else that William could not quite name.
“Would not you?” he shot back, his arms crossed over his chest, his stance unyielding against the door. “You are lying on my chaise, your clothing suggestively loose, tucked away in my private study. It does not take a genius to decipher your intentions.”
Her eyes flashed with a fire that belied her outward softness, her hands clutching at the material of her dress. “I assure you that my intentions were not as scandalous as you infer. The footman merely led me here for a respite.”
“A respite?” His laughter was hollow, the sound echoing through the study like a gong. “Or an opportunity to ensnare the unsuspecting Earl of Thornhill?”
Her eyes widened marginally at the mention of his title, a glimmer of surprise flashing momentarily. Evidently, she had not expected him, the Earl himself, to be the one to discover her in this disarray. But, swiftly, she masked the initial shock, standing her ground resolutely. Her chin lifted defiantly, a silent testament to her courage.
She stood her ground, her chin tilting defiantly. “Your rank holds no allure for me, My Lord. I am no more eager to be tethered in matrimony than you.”
