Page 37 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
“And how are your studies?” William asked, guess the answer already.
“Mr. Thornback said that I am excellent with my reading however he despairs that my diction will never be correct,” Madeline said with an exasperated sigh. “I fear I shall never become a proper lady.”
Rose handed her toddler son, Thomas the Second, to the nanny and the boy immediately thrust two fingers into his mouth. “You are doing well, Madeline.” She lowered her voice. “I did not excel in diction either, and I turned out just fine.”
Madeline’s face brightened, and William set her on the floor. Rose hugged him. “How are you? When I heard Mother had invited a house full of eligible ladies for a party, I feared for your sanity.”
William chuckled. “And you rallied everyone to come to my rescue?”
Rose shook her head and laughed. “Not at all. We came to assist Mother with her matchmaking.”
A pleasant cacophony of conversation and playful banter filled the hall, and for a fleeting moment, William allowed himself to enjoy the reunion. As he watched his sisters and their contented families, a longing whispered within him — the desire for a partner, a shared joy, and children whose laughter would echo within Thornhill’s walls. As the yearning washed over him, his gaze found Eris in the crowd, her laughter a beautiful melody amidst the din, and he dared to hope that perhaps he wasn’t as alone in his longing as he thought.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Thornhill’s manicured gardens, the hustle and bustle of the morning giving way to a more leisurely air of contentment. The guests and family members had scattered throughout the grounds, indulging in a variety of pastimes.
A game of graces, a popular lawn game, had been set up on a large stretch of the garden. Young ladies would throw and catch a ring with a pair of sticks.
Lady Charity, Lady Felicity, Miss Fairchild, and Lady Marianne were present, the first two engrossed in a spirited round of graces, their laughter ringing out with each wild throw. Eris, Miss Fairchild, and Lady Marianne watched from the sidelines, offering encouragement and occasional advice.
“Keep your wrist firm, Lady Charity!” Eris advised, standing on the sideline of the impromptu graces playing field, her voice light and encouraging. “And remember, it’s all in the toss.”
Miss Fairchild chuckled, adding her own advice to the mix. “Indeed, and mind your aim, Lady Felicity,” she said with a glint in her eyes. “You wouldn’t want the hoop to end up in the rhododendrons again.”
Lady Marianne nodded along to their words then added in her own, “And remember, ladies, the point is to catch, not dodge the hoop.”
Their comments were met with a ripple of laughter from Lady Charity and Lady Felicity, the two players in the middle of the game. Their determined faces softened into grins as they absorbed the advice, readying themselves for another round of the spirited game.
As the game proceeded, William noticed his sisters, Jasmine, Rose, and Daphne, joining the group, their husbands in tow. Their arrival changed the dynamic. They moved with the ease of familiarity around their brother, but their eyes, sharp and assessing, lingered on Eris.
The game turned more competitive with laughter and light banter filling the air. Despite the casual atmosphere, it was clear to William that his sisters were making a concerted effort to befriend Eris, their interest in her veiled but unmistakable.
Their conversation floated over to him, their voices soft and genial.
“Do you enjoy outdoor games, Miss Eris?” he heard Jasmine ask, her eyes twinkling as she watched the players’ wild throws.
Eris’ responding laughter was light and delightful, “Oh, I am more likely to send the hoop into a bush than to my partner, but it’s certainly entertaining to watch.”
Rose chimed in, “We must teach you. There’s a knack to it that, once mastered, can make the game quite enjoyable.”
And then Daphne, ever the peacekeeper, added with a smile, “Even if the hoop does find a bush occasionally, that’s half the fun.”
William tried to dismiss his sisters’ interest in Eris as simple curiosity. However, when they cornered him later, their teasing grins and pointed questions left him in no doubt of their suspicions.
“William,” Rose began, her eyes gleaming with mischief, “It seems you have been spending quite a bit of time with Miss Eris.”
Jasmine, ever the diplomat, offered a more subtle approach. “She seems like a charming lady, William.”
“Stop it, all of you,” William retorted, attempting to play down his growing fondness for Eris. “Your motherhood has indeed turned you into mother hens.”
Jasmine was the one who broke the silence, a knowing smile on her face. “A little birdie told us of your interest in Miss Eris, dear brother.”
William’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, a scowl quickly replacing his shocked expression. “Mother has clearly been very busy,” he retorted, the realization of his mother’s hand in spreading the news sinking in.
Rose laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, indeed she has. Mother is quite the information broker at Thornhill. But you know how she is, William.”
“And she seems more inclined toward Charity Eastwick if you ask me,” Daphne chimed in, her voice soft yet teasing. Her words hung in the air, sparking a newfound tension that had William struggling for a response.
He looked at his sisters, each of them wearing an expression of poorly veiled amusement. He could only sigh, shaking his head at their meddling. In the world of Thornhill, it seemed, no secret remained a secret for long, especially when his mother and sisters were involved.
