Page 8 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
Her father gave a curt nod in return, settling back in his chair and picking up a conversation with a nearby Viscount. Eris turned her attention back to Cassian, but the warning in her father’s voice echoed in her mind. Their family was balanced on a knife-edge. One wrong move could send them tumbling into ruin. She knew she had to tread carefully, but the fiery, defiant part of her was growing weary of always having to watch her step. The fortnight was only beginning, and already she felt as though she was tiptoeing through a field of landmines. She hoped she could make it through without causing any explosions.
She suppressed a sigh, her appetite dwindling with each passing second. The entire fortnight loomed ahead, a gauntlet of societal expectations and parental pressures. A feeling of dread washed over her at the thought.
She resolved to simply take it one moment at a time. After all, what more could she do?
ChapterSix
“My dear Lord Thornhill, have you heard the latest gossip from London?” Lady Charity began, her fluttering lashes and perfectly pink cheeks radiating with excitement.
“Lady Charity, I am afraid I have been remiss in keeping up with the latest chatter,” William replied, a polite smile on his face, his eyes still flickering toward Eris and Cassian, their conversation a soft hum in the background.
“Oh, but it is scandalous! The Duchess of Aylesbury was spotted at the opera with Lord Frampton and without her husband! Can you imagine?”
“Indeed, the audacity of some is astounding,” William said, his attention only half on the vapid conversation.
Silence fell as Lady Charity waited for him to ask more, to delight in the idle gossip as she did, but when no question came, she pouted, and his mother nudged him.
“William,” Lady Hudson chastised in a low whisper, “the Duke of Eastwick is a powerful ally. Lady Charity would make an excellent wife. Be courteous.”
William gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He turned back to Lady Charity, summoning up a smile. “My apologies, Lady Charity, my mind wandered. Pray, continue with your delightful tale.”
Inwardly, he braced himself for another onslaught of frivolous gossip, his mind still drawn across the table. He could not help but notice that Eris laughed at something Cassian had said, the sound ringing clear and true above the surrounding chatter. His mother’s words echoed in his mind, and he could not suppress a grimace. Advantages and alliances be damned; if this was what married life had in store for him, he wanted no part of it.
“Miss Eris, how does your sister fare? I had heard she was unwell. I trust she’s on the mend?” Lady Hudson asked, a perfectly polite smile painted on her face.
William watched Eris’ face flush and her eyes dart anxiously about the room. “She is… ah…” she stuttered, clearly flustered.
“Miss Eris, it is a simple question,” William interjected, a hint of steel in his voice. He wanted to challenge her. “Is your sister well or not?”
His words hung heavy in the air. Eris looked as though she had been slapped. She opened her mouth then closed it, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of crimson. It was her mother who came to her rescue, filling the awkward silence with a rushed explanation about Lily recovering from a bout of influenza.
Eris met his remark with a determined look. “Yes, Lord Thornhill, as my mother informed you, Lily is recovering well. We are most thankful for your concern,” she retorted. The words were polite, yet her tone had an edge to it, each syllable as sharp as a finely honed blade.
“Well, then, Miss Eris, let’s shift to a lighter topic,” he suggested, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. “How are you enjoying the party so far? Is it meeting your expectations?”
Eris raised an eyebrow, meeting his veiled challenge head-on. “Oh, indeed, Lord Thornhill, the event is most enlightening,” she said, her tone laced with quiet defiance. “It’s a marvel to witness such a display of genteel manners and elaborate courtship rituals.”
The charged banter between them hung in the air. “The spectacle is certainly enchanting, is it not?” a saccharine voice interjected, effectively breaking the brewing tension. William turned to see Lady Blackwell, her face an immaculate portrait of decorum and delight. “Your mother has outdone herself, Lord Thornhill. It is quite a memorable gathering.”
William, in his observation, noted the practiced charm in the Viscountess’ address and the coyness in her manner. It was as though she was playing a well-rehearsed part in a play, her performance oozing the very grace and elegance that the elite class valued. Yet, beneath the rehearsed pleasantries, he detected an underlying ambition. She did not differ from his own mother in many ways, their goals intertwined in the same aristocratic dance.
He inclined his head, acknowledging the compliment. “My mother will be glad to hear your praises, Lady Blackwell. It is indeed her forte to bring people together.”
Eris, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stiffened visibly at her mother’s intervention. Her features briefly flickered with annoyance before she composed them into a polite mask. However, he could still see the defiance simmering in her clear blue eyes, a mirror to her earlier retort.
Indeed, the evening was turning out to be far more interesting than he had expected. He looked forward to their next verbal skirmish, his curiosity about Eris and her family growing. His eyes locked with Eris’ once more, a silent agreement passing between them — this was far from over.
Cassian seemed unperturbed by the prickly exchange, his eyes gleaming with good-natured humor. He casually leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine idly. “Ah, my brother William has always had an inexplicable charm,” he commented, his tone teasing.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, a strange mix of defiance and amusement. “Your brother’s charm is distinctive,” she agreed, her eyes holding his. “Yes, distinctive,” she echoed, holding William’s gaze for a beat longer before diverting her attention to the rest of the room.
William’s eyes followed Eris’ gaze around the room, observing the sudden chill that descended over the gathered young ladies. He could almost feel the prickling heat of their collective indignation. His gaze then landed on Eris’ parents, whose disapproving stares seemed to deepen the lines on their already stern faces.
His lips curled into a knowing smile.Ah, the delicious irony.The object of their collective ire was the last woman he had any intention of being entrapped by. A mischievous spark ignited in his eyes as a plan formed in his mind.
Casting a sideways glance at Lady Charity, he decided to capitalize on the situation. “Lady Charity,” he said, his voice deep, rich, and meant to carry across the table, “I must say, the trout amandine is quite delightful tonight, don’t you think?”
Lady Charity blushed furiously as all eyes, including Eris’, shifted toward her. “Why, yes, My Lord,” she stammered, caught off guard. “It is indeed flavorful.”
