Page 56 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
The trio stood there, silhouetted by the moonlight, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Cassian was the first to break the silence, his voice gentle yet resolute. “William, you may be the Earl of Thornhill, but you are not the earldom. You are not a title, an inheritance, or a list of responsibilities. You are my brother, a man. And that man is in love for the very first time.”
William flinched at his brother’s words, a part of him wanting to deny the truth, but he could not. He was in love, deeply so, with Eris. But there were so many obstacles. His duty to the earldom, the possible scandal, and his mother’s expectations. “I can’t just throw it all away, Cassian,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “There is too much at stake. I would let her down, let you all down.”
Lily stepped forward. Her gaze was soft but firm. “No… love is not about throwing anything away. It is about choosing what matters the most. Eris is a strong woman. She has faced society’s scorn, she has borne the weight of her father’s sins, and she still stands tall. You are not giving her enough credit. She will not cower at the gossips.”
Cassian nodded in agreement, his gaze meeting William’s. “And as for the taint on the Saffron name, Lily and I are to be married. Our union will help mend that. I assure you, William, the whispers will fade with time. And even if they do not, the love between you and Eris is more valuable than the hushed tones of gossip.”
William found himself nodding slowly. Their words were true. Eris was stronger than he had given her credit for. She was a force to be reckoned with, a woman of strength and determination. And he was in love with her.
His duties to the earldom would always be there, but he could not deny himself the chance at happiness. After all, what was the use of all his responsibilities if he had no one to share his life with? His mind was made up. “You are right,” he admitted. “I love Eris, and I will fight for her.”
Cassian clapped him on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. “That is the spirit, brother. Miss Eris is worth fighting for.”
As they stood there, bathed in the silvery light of the moon, William felt a sense of resolution settle over him. He would face whatever came his way because he was fighting for love, for Eris. And that was worth any risk.
Their conversation was interrupted by a discreet cough from the shadows. Turning, they saw Lily’s maid emerge, a blush creeping up her cheeks. At William’s arched eyebrow, Lily burst into laughter. “I have learned my lesson, My Lord,” she assured him, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “No more scandal for this lady.”
Cassian took Lily’s hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. A tender smile curled his lips as he murmured a quiet goodbye. The pair exchanged a lingering glance before Lily slipped away, the soft rustle of her gown disappearing into the night along with her.
Once Lily was gone, the brothers were left in the quiet solitude of the gardens. Cassian broke the silence, his voice soft yet filled with awe. “I can’t believe how fortunate I am, William, to have fallen in love with Lily.”
William watched his brother, his own heart swelling with a mixture of admiration and affection. “You are a lucky man, Cassian, and you have a big heart,” he agreed, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Just do not forget it.”
Cassian chuckled, clapping his brother on the back. “Never,” he vowed, his gaze earnest.
As they stood there, under the soft glow of the moon, they made a silent pact. They would stand with each other, against the ton, against the disapproval of the gossips, against the world if need be. They were brothers, bound not only by blood but by the shared understanding of a love that defied society’s expectations. And they knew, without a doubt, that it was a bond that nothing could break.
* * *
As the sun rose on the following morning, William found himself in the midst of a whirlwind. The scandal sheets buzzed with the Saffrons’ story, their pages filled with lurid tales and wild speculations. His mother’s pleas for her sons to distance themselves from the women resounded in his ears, her words echoing with the fear of ruin and disgrace.
“Listen to this, William!” his mother, the Dowager Countess, implored over morning breakfast tea. Her voice wavered with despair as she read aloud the latest scandal sheet. “The entire ton will be talking about this!”
Cassian, ever the unflappable one, continued to butter his bread, a placid smile on his face as he responded to his mother’s distress. “I do recall, Mother, the uproar when Rose ran away from her own wedding. The scandal sheets had a feast for months! Yet, here we are. The earldom is still standing, and our family is still respected. This, too, shall pass.”
His words hung in the air, casting a sudden stillness over the room. Their mother’s face seemed to fall, her gaze flickering over her sons, reading the echoes of their late father in their shared features. William could see the struggle in her eyes, the battle between her stubborn adherence to the conventions of society and the love she held for her family.
“I believe Father would have wanted us to stay strong in the face of adversity, Mother,” William said, his own voice imbued with a quiet conviction. “He would have wanted us to hold our heads high and to remember that the strength of our family is not dictated by society’s fleeting opinions.”
The Dowager Countess seemed to deflate at his words, her shoulders sagging as she conceded to the wisdom of her children. After a moment, she rose from the table, her movements still as regal as ever despite the weight of her age and worry. “Very well, then,” she said, her voice firm but slightly shaky. “I shall place my trust in all of you as your father would have wanted. We shall weather this storm as we have all others, as a family.”
No sooner had she left the room when the front door opened, and in swirled Rose, Jasmine, and Daphne, a flurry of silk and lace. William’s confusion was immediately replaced by joy as they descended upon the breakfast room, claiming the remaining fruit and bread with laughter and excitement.
“Good morning, William,” Rose greeted, her eyes twinkling. Jasmine and Daphne chimed in with their own greetings, their cheerfulness bringing a touch of normalcy to the tense morning.
“What are you three doing here?” William asked, perplexed.
“Preparing for tomorrow’s dinner,” Jasmine replied, a cheeky grin on her face. “You did not think we would let you entertain the Saffron sisters without our help, did you?”
William blinked in surprise. “Lily and Eris? They are coming here?”
“Indeed,” Daphne chimed in, her eyes alight with excitement. “And we are going to ensure it is a night they would not soon forget.”
ChapterThirty-One
“You are even more clumsy than usual, Eris,” Lily jested as Eris fumbled and dropped another hairpin. “Are you certain you are not the one in a delicate condition?”
Eris turned her head to shoot Lily a reproachful look, which only seemed to amuse her older sister further.
