Page 33 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
He saw Eris shoot him an apologetic look, a playful smile dancing on her lips. “Perhaps later, Lord Thornhill,” she said, her words ringing with an unspoken promise, igniting a spark of anticipation in him.
ChapterNineteen
“Eris,” her mother started, wringing her hands in a way that Eris knew meant she was anxious. “We need to discuss your future.”
Eris had barely finished her breakfast when she was summoned to the hallway by her parents. The morning sun was just beginning to shine through the castle windows, casting a soft light that belied the tension waiting for her outside the dining room.
Her father, Viscount Blackwell, was leaning heavily against the wall, a glass of brandy in his hand despite the early hour. His complexion was flushed, his eyes glassy. It was an all-too-common sight these days, and it never failed to fill Eris with a mix of sadness and disgust.
Eris stiffened. “My future?” she echoed, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Yes,” her father grumbled, taking another long sip of his drink. “Your mother and I have noticed your reluctance to engage with the eligible gentlemen we have introduced you to. You had an excellent opportunity to seduce Lieutenant Hudson and force his hand into marriage, and you let it slip through your fingers.”
“Reluctance?” Eris felt a bitter laugh bubbling up. “Is that what you’re calling it?”
“Eris,” her mother said sharply, her gaze hard, “this is not a joking matter. Your sister’s situation is precarious, and we need to secure a match for you before it becomes known.”
Eris could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, anger simmering in her chest. “And so, I am to be bartered off to the first man who shows interest?”
“Enough, Eris!” her father barked, slamming his empty glass down on a nearby table. “This is not a negotiation. It’s your duty.”
Eris’ heart pounded in her ears. She felt a hot tear slide down her cheek, but she stubbornly wiped it away.
“Well, Mother, Father, I have made up my mind. I won’t be sold or mated like a common broodmare,” she said, her voice shaking but strong. She turned and stormed away before either of her parents could respond, her footsteps echoing down the long hallway.
She left the castle, her mind whirling. Her parents’ words. The desperate plans they were making at her expense. It was all too much. Eris felt the familiar pang of frustration and anger welling up inside her. How had it come to this? She needed space, a moment to breathe, to think. But for now, she had nowhere to go but forward.
Eris’ feet moved swiftly, almost mechanically, as she paced the gardens in silent frustration. Her parents’ words echoed in her mind, their expectations of her feeling like a noose tightening around her neck. She had wandered far from the castle’s grounds, her thoughts a tempest that mirrored the ominous darkening of the sky overhead.
Suddenly, the rhythmic thud of hooves cut through her spiraling thoughts. She turned to see William returning on horseback, his expression serious as he dismounted and approached her.
“Eris,” he said, concern shadowing his features. “Are you all right?”
Eris scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why would I not be, Lord Thornhill? Or were you hoping to find me in distress?”
William’s eyebrows lifted, a hint of amusement touching his eyes. “I see your wit is as sharp as ever, despite the storm brewing.”
“Storm?” Eris blinked then realized he wasn’t referring to her temper. Above them, the sky had turned a threatening shade of gray, and a chill breeze whipped around them.
“Shouldn’t you be inside? It wouldn’t do for a guest of Thornhill to catch a chill.”
Eris’ heart stuttered at his genuine concern, but she held her ground. “You are mistaken, My Lord. I am not a frail creature in need of protection.”
The words hung heavy between them, the unspoken tension crackling like lightning just before a storm. William’s gaze turned heated, boring into hers with an intensity that stole her breath.
“Perhaps I am mistaken then,” he murmured, stepping closer. Their heated argument seemed to fade against the impending downpour. “Or maybe, just maybe, you wanted to see me.”
Eris snorted at his audacity, about to respond when the first droplets of rain splattered against the cobblestone path. She gasped as the heavens opened, releasing a deluge that soaked them in seconds. Eris, who had been shielded from such inconveniences for most of her life, stood frozen, wide-eyed.
Seizing her hand, William guided her under the shelter of a nearby tree. Their soaked clothing clung to them, making the proximity all the more intense. William’s chest heaved as he turned to her, both drenched and equally surprised.
A sudden crack of lightning startled them both, illuminating the landscape in a blinding flash. William looked up at the tree they were sheltering under and swore.
“We can’t stay here,” he said, his tone urgent. “We could get struck by lightning.”
Eris, still buzzing with the thrill of the unexpected downpour, found herself laughing. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re here then, isn’t it, Lord Thornhill?”
His eyes flashed with a mixture of irritation and amusement. “Come on,” he said, tugging her hand and leading her toward a nearby structure. It was an old, abandoned gardener’s hut, the door creaking as William pushed it open.
