Page 22 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
Her mother’s eyes narrowed, her grip on Eris’ arm tightening. “Oh, don’t play coy with me, Eris. You’ve barely eaten, you’ve hardly spoken, and you’ve been darting glances around the room like a cornered animal. It’s unseemly!”
Eris swallowed, the knot of tension in her stomach growing tighter. Her gaze drifted toward her father, who was sprawled on a nearby chaise, snoring softly, a half-empty glass of port still clutched in his hand.
“And you could learn a thing or two from Charity Eastwick,” her mother continued, following Eris’ gaze to where Charity sat, engaged in animated conversation with William. “She has certainly captured Lord Thornhill’s attention.”
Eris’ gaze flitted back to her mother, her heart skipping a beat. “What does Lord Thornhill have to do with anything, Mother?” she asked, a touch of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
Her mother’s expression softened, her grip on Eris’ arm lessening. “Nothing, dear. It’s just… well, you have a good thing with Lieutenant Hudson, and I don’t want you to jeopardize that with your peculiar behavior tonight.”
Eris took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a wave of resentment wash over her. Her parents, once pillars of support, now felt more like jailers, pressuring her into a match that, while advantageous, was not of her choosing. “I am just tired, Mother,” she said quietly, pulling her arm away. “It’s been a long day.”
Her mother sighed, giving her a scrutinizing look before finally nodding. “Very well, Eris. But remember, the opportunity we have now. It may not come again.”
As her mother walked away, Eris was left standing alone, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She was acutely aware of the ticking clock, the minutes slowly counting down to her clandestine meeting with William. The anxiety she felt was now tinged with a new layer of complexity, a sense of rebellion against the expectations laid on her. She was no longer just Eris, she was a pawn in the societal game, and the reality of it was more daunting than she had imagined.
The next performance was a recitation of Shakespeare’s sonnets. A quartet of young ladies took the center stage, the flickering candlelight casting dramatic shadows on their faces as they began to recite, their voices harmonizing beautifully. The room was hushed, the guests enthralled by the rhythmic flow of words.
Lieutenant Hudson leaned over, whispering in Eris’ ear. “Do you enjoy sonnets, Miss Eris?”
Eris turned her gaze to him, her polite smile slightly faltering. “I respect their poetic structure, but I must admit, I have always found them somewhat uninspiring,” she confessed.
Lieutenant Hudson’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? I must admit, I do enjoy a well-crafted sonnet.”
Eris suppressed a sigh, looking up at the Lieutenant. “You don’t have to pretend to agree with me, Lieutenant Hudson,” she said, her tone gently chiding.
A slow blush crept up Cassian’s neck, making him look endearingly bashful. “I apologize if I gave that impression, Miss Eris. I do enjoy sonnets, but I also respect your opinion and won’t try to change it.”
The sincerity in his words made Eris soften. “Thank you, Lieutenant Hudson,” she said, the corner of her mouth lifting in a half-smile. They shared a moment of understanding before Hudson diverted the conversation to a safer topic.
“You mentioned your sister, Lily, earlier,” he said, his voice softer now. “She seems to be quite dear to you. Tell me more about her.”
“Ah, Lily,” Eris began, her voice fond as she reminisced about their childhood together. “We were quite the pair growing up. Always looking for the next adventure, the next mystery to solve.”
She laughed, sharing a humorous incident from their youth. “Once, we had this grand notion to start our own investigation, inspired by the novels we’d been reading. We would sneak about the estate, questioning the staff and even our parents. It all came to a head when we misplaced Father’s pocket watch and claimed it was a theft that we needed to solve.”
Cassian chuckled along with her, clearly enjoying the anecdote. “I can’t imagine your parents were too pleased with this mystery venture.”
Eris shook her head, grinning. “Indeed not. Especially when Lily and I presented the ‘stolen’ watch at dinner that evening, declaring the case solved. Mother was mortified, and Father tried so hard to look stern, but I could see the laughter in his eyes.”
Her gaze grew distant, fond memories of Lily keeping her company in the midst of the party. Her laughter faded, replaced with a wistful smile. It was then she felt the tug of her thoughts toward William. She stole a glance at him, his presence like a pull she could not resist. He was engaged in an animated conversation with Charity and Felicity. The sight of them together stirred a strange feeling in her, a mix of jealousy and anxiety that she quickly dismissed. Her thoughts then strayed to their scheduled midnight rendezvous, and she found herself caught between anticipation and a healthy dose of trepidation.
Her attention snapped back to Cassian when he touched her hand lightly, concern marking his features. “Miss Eris, is everything all right?” he asked, and Eris realized that her momentary distraction must have shown on her face.
“Yes, Lieutenant Hudson,” she reassured him with a smile, silently willing her roiling thoughts to still. “I was merely lost in the past for a moment.”
A gentle thrum of excitement laced with unease coursed through Eris as the evening wore on. The guests gradually began to make their farewells and depart to their respective rooms, the grand hall emptying of its vibrant colors and chatter. The hour was late, the clock’s hands indicating it was perilously close to midnight.
She excused herself from the last remnants of the gathering with a promise to Cassian that they would continue their conversation on the morrow. His face lit up at the prospect, unaware of the tight knot of apprehension that twisted in her stomach.
Feigning a tired smile and waving off the few ladies that attempted to engage her in idle gossip, she managed to slip away unnoticed. Her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum, each beat echoing her inner turmoil.
Moving with light steps, Eris navigated through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors toward the grand library. She was careful to avoid the roaming servants, keeping to the shadows and using the rich drapery and extravagant statues for cover.
Finally, she arrived at the heavy wooden door of the library. She pressed her palm against the cold, polished surface, hesitating for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open and stepped inside, the looming shelves of books offering a comforting solitude. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the fireplace casting long shadows and bathing the room in a cozy warmth.
Eris wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware of the chill in the air. Her thoughts spun, caught between the excitement of the forbidden and the nagging fear of being discovered. But now, there was no turning back. The only way was forward, and she braced herself for Lord Thornhill’s arrival. The library, once a haven of peace, now felt like a stage set for an unpredictable drama. All she could do was wait and wonder what the night had in store.
A sound echoed through the cavernous room. It was a soft creak, the unmistakable sound of the library door inching open. Eris froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was cloaked in shadows, and she could barely make out the figure that stood at the entrance.
