Page 53 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
“William,” she began, her voice strained, “this cannot be! Lily Blackwell is wholly unsuitable for Cassian. The Blackwell family —”
“Mother,” William interjected, his tone steady and firm, “Cassian has made his choice. And Lily is a remarkable woman who has faced adversity with strength and grace. There is no one more suitable.”
“But the scandal,” the Dowager Countess continued, her voice dropping to a mere whisper. “What this will do to our family name?”
“It will only ruin our name if we allow it to,” William said, taking a calming breath. “We can choose to support them, embrace them, and in doing so, we uphold the honor of our name. Remember, it’s the people that make a family, not a title.”
At William’s words, the Dowager Countess fell silent, her brows furrowing in deep thought. For a moment, the only sound in the garden was the distant melodies from the ballroom and the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.
Eris, who had been watching the exchange, nodded in approval. Her gaze met William’s, a silent promise hanging in the air between them. They would talk later, but for now, their attention was needed elsewhere.
The understanding in Eris’ gaze sent a shiver of anticipation down William’s spine. A torrent of emotions swept over him — love, desire, hope — each one making his heart pound harder in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to pull Eris into his arms, to declare his love for her under the starlit sky. He yearned to lose himself in the depths of her eyes, to taste the sweetness of her lips, to promise her a lifetime of love and devotion.
But not yet.
Tonight belonged to Cassian and Lily. Their love story deserved its time in the spotlight, deserved to be celebrated without the shadows of another looming over them. There was a time and place for everything, and William knew their time would come soon enough.
So, for the time being, he held his silence, the words of love he yearned to say remaining unspoken. Yet his gaze never left Eris, a silent vow echoing in the depths of his eyes. No matter what, he would wait for her. And when the time was right, he would sweep her off her feet. As he watched Eris, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight, he knew in his heart that every moment of waiting would be worth it.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
The following morning, the Saffron household was a whirlwind of activity and discussion. With the announcement of Cassian and Lily’s impending nuptials still fresh, the news had set the proverbial cat among the pigeons. Everyone was in a tizzy — the servants hurried about, the maids were abuzz with gossip, and in the middle of all the chaos, Eris sat quietly in the corner of the parlor, her thoughts lost in a different world.
Across the room, her parents debated heatedly. Her father, his face flushed a ruddy red, was in the midst of discussing the financial implications of the engagement. “Do you think Thornhill will agree to settle our debts? It is not unheard of in situations like these,” he mused aloud, stroking his thinning hair.
The Viscountess merely rolled her eyes. “You and your preposterous ideas, George. Mr. Hudson is not marrying Lily to save us from our debts. He is marrying her because he loves her!”
“Yes, but a father can hope, can’t he?” retorted the Viscount, the desperation in his voice clear. The family’s financial difficulties were not a secret. Their situation was precarious, and Lily’s marriage to the wealthy Thornhill family was, in his eyes, a ray of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
“The fact that he has agreed to marry Lily whilst she is ruined and with child should be more than enough for us, George!”
The back and forth between her parents seemed like a distant echo to Eris, their words barely penetrating the bubble of thoughts that surrounded her. Her heart, her mind, her very soul were filled with William — his bright emerald eyes, his warm smile, the soft timbre of his voice as he spoke to her. The man who, until yesterday, had been an enigma was now the man she loved, and she hoped loved her back.
What did William want to discuss with her? She had her guesses, her hopes. She longed to hear him speak the words that had been left unsaid last night, the confession that danced in his eyes every time he looked at her. But Eris was practical, cautious even. She knew better than to let her heart get ahead of her. Life, after all, was rarely as straightforward as the novels she read.
Lost in her thoughts, Eris did not notice her mother calling her until the Viscountess raised her voice, snapping her out of her reverie. “Eris! Are you listening?” she chided, a frown knitting her brows.
Jolted back to reality, Eris nodded hastily, her cheeks flushing with mild embarrassment. “Yes, Mother, I was just thinking… ” she trailed off, deciding it was best not to mention her thoughts about William. Not when the entire household was already in a state of uproar. There would be time enough for that, she decided. For now, she would hold her silence and wait for the perfect moment to reveal her heart’s secret.
Viscountess Blackwell turned her attention back to her husband, her expression serious. “You might have a point, George. This match between Cassian and Lily, while fortuitous, does not fix everything. There may still be damage to our family’s reputation and to Eris’ prospects.”
Viscount Blackwell, taking this as an invitation to share his latest thought, perked up. “Funny you should mention that, my dear. I received a letter this morning from an old acquaintance, Baron Redcliff. He has recently become a widower for the third time and mentioned he might be in the market for a new wife.”
The Viscountess’s eyes widened as she considered this. “Baron Redcliff?” she echoed, a note of incredulity in her voice. “But isn’t he quite old? And I have heard rumors he is a bit… eccentric.”
Viscount Blackwell shrugged, nonplussed. “He may be past his prime, but he is wealthy, and as you have mentioned, our situation is not ideal. Besides, he is known for not caring about societal rules. Eris’ prospects are limited.”
The mention of her own name in this conversation brought Eris out of her stupor. She rose to her feet, her eyes flashing with indignation. “I beg your pardon, Father, but I am not a problem to be solved or a burden to be passed on to the highest bidder!”
Both her parents turned to look at her, surprised at her outburst. But Eris did not falter. “I refuse to be bartered off to a man rumored to be mad simply because my sister dared to love. I am not a commodity, and I will not be treated as such. I am tired of your games and your scheming!”
Her voice, steady and firm, echoed through the parlor, marking her protest. The room fell silent, a sharp contrast to the earlier cacophony. Her parents exchanged a glance, the reality of their daughter’s conviction hitting them. Their plans, their calculations, all thrown into disarray by a woman’s unwavering determination.
“My apologies, Eris,” Viscount Blackwell backtracked, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. “Your spirit is truly commendable, and one must admit that it would indeed be quite a hazard for old Baron Redcliff. A vivacious lady such as yourself might very well be the end of the poor fellow.”
Viscountess Blackwell, trying to maintain her composed exterior, nodded in agreement. “Your father is quite right, dear. We would not want to be responsible for dispatching the Baron to an early grave. I daresay, it might cause quite the scandal.”
Despite the attempt at humor, Eris found little to laugh about. The conversation, as absurd as it had become, was a stark reminder of how women of her station were often seen — as bargaining chips, their worth measured by the wealth or status they could bring their families.
