Page 57 of A Virgin to Trap the Earl of Thornhill
“Honestly, I can’t understand why you are so flustered,” Lily continued, her own nerves seemingly nonexistent despite the fact that she was the one who was betrothed and expecting a child. “It is just dinner, after all.”
“Just dinner?” Eris echoed, incredulous. “It is dinner with the Earl of Thornhill at Thornhill House, surrounded by his family. And it is our first outing since… since everything. How can you not be nervous?”
Lily shrugged, her casual demeanor making Eris envious. “I suppose I am just relieved,” she said simply. “Relieved that everything is finally out in the open. Relieved that Cassian still wants me despite my scandalous past.” A sad smile flitted across Lily’s face as her mind seemed to drift back to that fateful night. “Mother and Father had arranged for a private meeting with that rake during the holiday ball. I was to be caught in a compromising position — a kiss, an embrace, anything that would force him to propose.”
She gave a rueful laugh. “But things didn’t go exactly as planned.”
Eris watched her sister’s face, noticing the shadow that crossed her eyes.
Lily idly caressed her stomach. “One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was with child. It was terrifying. I was so scared, Eris. But I couldn’t undo what had been done.”
There was a silence, filled only by the soft rustling of Lily’s gown. Eris reached over, squeezing her sister’s hand reassuringly. Lily’s lips curved into a weak smile, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.
“But, you know,” she said, her gaze dropping to her swollen belly, “it has all turned out for the best. As scandalous as it all was, it led me to Cassian and to this little one.” She patted her stomach affectionately. “I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Eris had to admire Lily’s positive outlook. Despite the difficulties and hurdles they had faced, Lily was moving forward, seemingly unafraid. It was an attitude Eris wished she could adopt, especially with her own heart so uncertain.
“Oh, enough of this,” Lily suddenly declared, rising from her seat and moving to the door. “Nanette! Eris needs a cup of strong tea. She is as jumpy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
The familiar voice of Eris’ ladies’ maid, Nanette, sounded from the hallway. “Coming right up, Miss.”
With the prospect of the upcoming dinner and the weight of the unknown hanging heavy in the air, Eris could use all the calming influence she could get.
“Thank you, Lily,” Eris murmured as her sister returned to her seat. “I think I could use that tea. You are correct. My nerves are frayed, and I feel like my stomach is full of butterflies.”
Lily paused, the fabric of the elegant gown she had been fiddling with falling still. Turning to face Eris, she asked in a teasing yet earnest tone, “Are you ready to be the Countess of Thornhill, dear sister?”
She folded her arms, watching Eris with a small smile tugging at her lips. She looked both playful and serious at the same time, a delicate balance she had mastered over the years. The question hung in the air between them, weighty with implications and potential futures.
“Lily, that is pure nonsense,” Eris dismissed her sister’s conjecture, her heart tightening at the words. “Even if William — even if the Earl does have any feelings for me, he will not act on them. He has made it abundantly clear.”
A shadow of sadness passed over her face, but she quickly brushed it aside. It would not do to wallow in self-pity, especially when there was so much at stake.
“And why is that?” Lily asked, tilting her head to the side. There was a hint of steel in her voice now. “Does he not care for you? Is he not a man capable of his own decisions?”
Eris sighed deeply, the frustration and confusion welling up within her. “He is the Earl of Thornhill, Lily,” she reminded her younger sister. “There is more than just us at play here. He has responsibilities, duties… he cannot allow his heart to rule his head.”
“Duties that do not include happiness? Love?” Lily retorted, standing up now, her eyes blazing with an intensity Eris had never seen before. “Or is that a luxury only the common folk can afford?”
“Lily, it is not that simple.”
“It is that simple, Eris!” Lily exclaimed, her voice echoing in the silent room. “All these titles, all this wealth, it means nothing if we are not allowed to follow our hearts. And, if a woman who has brought shame upon her family can find happiness, I see no reason why an earl cannot do the same.”
There was profound wisdom in Lily’s words, a raw truth that made Eris pause. Looking at her sister, who had faced her scandal head-on and emerged stronger and more determined, Eris found herself considering her own situation in a new light.
Nanette reentered the room at that moment, her hands carefully balancing a silver tray laden with a steaming pot of tea and a selection of small cakes. Setting the tray on a nearby table, she asked, “And what gowns have you two decided upon for this evening?”
Eris turned her gaze to the rack of gowns that had been brought in earlier, her fingers tracing the edges of the richly hued silks and satins. Choosing her most conservative gown, a modest high-necked creation in a pale blue that highlighted her eyes, she held it up for inspection.
Lily, however, let out a playful tsk. “Eris, my love, the intention for tonight is for you to be unforgettable, not invisible. You need something that will make the Earl unable to look away.”
Before Eris could protest, Lily was on her feet, rifling through her own collection of gowns. After a few moments of thoughtful silence, she pulled out a daringly cut, garnet-red silk dress that Eris had only seen her wear once at a grand ball.
Lily grinned as she held it out to Eris, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Wear this one, Eris. Trust me. Tonight, we are not just aiming for his heart but his eyes as well.”
Later that evening, Eris, donned in the garnet-red gown Lily had selected for her, descended the grand staircase of their family estate. The daringly cut gown hugged her in all the right places, and the deep red complemented her complexion perfectly. Nanette had skillfully arranged her hair in an elegant chignon, allowing a few loose tendrils to frame her face.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, even her mother, Viscountess Blackwell, was taken aback by her transformation. “Eris, my dear,” she breathed, her eyes shining with a mix of pride and surprise, “You look like a queen.”
