Page 52 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
Viscount Blackwell scowled, his eyes darting back and forth between his daughter and William. “And what would you have me do?” he barked, his voice bitter. “Lily has ruined any chance for Eris with her wanton ways. Our family is ruined and now everyone knows her shame.”
“Lily has not ruined anything,” Cassian spoke up, his voice clear and loud in the silent courtyard. He moved to stand beside his brother, squeezing Lily’s hand in reassurance. “She may have made a mistake, but I am as much to blame as she is for this evening. I am the man who fell in love with her. I am the man who wishes to make her my wife.”
The courtyard was silent. The only sound was the distant hum of the ball inside and the soft rustling of the leaves in the night breeze.
Viscountess Blackwell, who had been standing quietly beside her husband, suddenly clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh, thank the stars!” she cried out, relief washing over her face. “We are saved!”
She rushed over to Lily, clasping her hands in hers, tears of relief streaming down her face. “Oh, my dear Lily, I knew you would not bring shame upon us! You have always been such a clever girl!”
Lily pulled back slightly, extracting her hands from her mother’s eager grasp. “Mother,” she began, her voice steadier than anyone expected, “let’s not forget that it was your clever plan to have me seduce a scoundrel to secure a future for Eris and I.”
Her words hung in the cool night air, a silent accusation. The smile on Viscountess Blackwell’s face faltered, her eyes darting nervously toward her husband.
“But it was not the scoundrel who won my heart,” Lily continued, turning toward Cassian. Their hands linked once more, a symbol of their solidarity. “It was Mr. Hudson. His letters gave me hope when I had none. His words became my refuge when I felt my world crumbling.”
Cassian, standing tall beside Lily, gave a small smile. “I merely offered words of friendship, comfort. It was Eris who revealed Lily’s predicament to me. I could not stand by and do nothing.” He turned toward Eris, and his gaze was full of gratitude. “I must thank you, Eris. It was your stories of your sister that brought Lily and me together. Our love story would not have been possible without you.”
Viscountess Blackwell looked shocked, and for the first time that evening, she seemed lost for words. But in the background, Viscount Blackwell was growing increasingly red in the face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then seemed to think better of it.
The night was indeed full of surprises. And for once, the Blackwells found themselves on the receiving end of them.
Eris, who had been silent up until now, spoke up, her voice soft but clear. “I am truly happy for you, Lily. No one deserves love more than you do.” Her words carried an undercurrent of sadness that William, who had been standing beside her, could not help but notice.
He looked at Eris, the love in his eyes clear for anyone who chose to see. He opened his mouth to say something, to proclaim his love for her right there under the starlit sky, but before he could utter a single word, Cassian spoke up, capturing everyone’s attention once again.
“Viscount Blackwell, I believe it would be in everyone’s best interest if you announce our engagement to all the guests,” he suggested, his tone leaving no room for arguments. “It will put an end to any whispers or speculations.”
Viscount Blackwell’s eyes darted from Cassian to Lily, his mouth opening and closing several times in disbelief. Beside him, his wife, the Viscountess, wore an expression akin to horror. It was as if their tightly woven world of titles and propriety had shattered, revealing a raw and unwelcome reality. Their family name, already teetering on the edge of disrepute due to Lily’s indiscretions, was now linked with a man they would have never approved for their daughter.
However, in this moment of conflict and defiance, William stepped forward, his gaze stern as he addressed the Blackwells. “You would be fools to object to their marriage,” he stated, his voice laced with a mix of anger and relief. “Cassian is a man of honor, and Lily is deserving of a man who will love her without reservation. They will restore honor to the Blackwell name far more than any forced alliance ever could.”
His words echoed around the courtyard, a stark reminder of the truth. It was not Lily who had tainted their family’s reputation but their own actions and misplaced priorities.
Chastened, the Blackwells had little choice but to follow Cassian’s advice. Swallowing their pride, they prepared to return to the ballroom, ready to announce the unexpected betrothal.
As the family moved to leave, William, feeling the pull of Eris’ presence, tried to keep her back, but his attempt was cut short by the Viscountess. “Come, Eris,” she ordered, a hint of desperation edging her voice, “we must face the guests and explain this turn of events.” Her eyes, filled with a mixture of shock and disappointment, flickered toward William, her disapproval palpable.
Caught in a tug-of-war between duty and desire, Eris gave William a long, longing glance. It was a look filled with unspoken words, regret, and a hint of sadness. He watched as she withdrew her hand from his grasp, reluctantly stepping away from him to follow her parents.
At that moment, all William could do was hope that the emotion swirling in his heart was mirrored in his eyes, that Eris had somehow managed to read his unspoken declaration of love. As she moved further away from him, he felt a chill settle in his heart. His eyes met hers once more, and in the dim light of the garden, he saw the same longing he felt. Their gaze held, and a silent conversation passed between them until the moment was cut short as Eris was ushered away, leaving William alone under the star-studded sky.
As the fading echoes of Eris’ footsteps left him in solitude, William gazed up at the starlit expanse. “I will find a way, Eris,” he whispered to the skies, his voice barely more than a murmur in the quiet night. “I will let you know how I truly feel… before it is too late.” He paused, taking a deep breath, allowing himself to feel the magnitude of the moment.
Drawing in a final lungful of the cool night air, he steeled himself and followed the path the Blackwell family had taken back inside the manor. His pace was steady, his heart pounding against his ribs in a staccato rhythm as he contemplated the prospect of publicly declaring his feelings for Eris.
Upon reentering the grand ballroom, he found the orchestra resuming their positions, the soft murmur of the crowd slowly dying down as Viscount Blackwell took center stage. The Viscount was a commanding figure, and as he raised his hand, the chatter quieted almost instantly.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he began, his voice ringing out across the silent room. “Thank you for your patience. Tonight, I have an important announcement to make, one that brings me immense pleasure.”
He paused for dramatic effect, allowing the anticipation to build. William made his way toward Cassian, the pair standing side by side as they watched the scene unfold.
“Tonight, it is my absolute honor to announce the engagement of my beautiful daughter, Lily, to the distinguished Lieutenant Cassian Hudson,” Viscount Blackwell continued, gesturing grandly toward the couple who stepped forward hand in hand.
The ballroom erupted into polite applause and surprised whispers. Despite the evening’s earlier scandal, the announcement was received with genuine excitement.
Cassian and Lily were a vision, lost in their own world as they gracefully twirled around the dance floor. The sight elicited a soft smile from William, feeling a genuine happiness for his brother and the woman he was set to marry. He found Eris standing nearby, her gaze mirroring his own as they watched the couple. “Eris,” William murmured, leaning closer to her, “we need to talk.”
However, their moment of privacy was abruptly cut short as the Dowager Countess appeared at his side. Her face was drawn into a tight frown, her gaze flickering over to Lily and Cassian.
