Page 4 of The Lord's Icy Temptress
The hidden truth that threatened to unravel her carefully constructed façade. She thought that she could push it down. Seraphina had tried to ignore it, but the lie she had uncovered sat there as a constant presence in the back of her mind. She would give anything for a proper distraction.
Finally, Seraphina spotted Elizabeth in a cozy corner of the ballroom, her friend’s eyes lighting up as she approached. They exchanged warm greetings, and Seraphina couldn’t help noticing the subtle excitement dancing in Elizabeth’s eyes.
“Is not this ballroom simply exquisite?” Elizabeth exclaimed, her voice filled with awe as she surveyed the elegant decor. “The Duchess of Windermere certainly knows how to host a soirée.”
Elizabeth had always been the more optimistic of the two. Nothing ever seemed to get her down. While it was also her third season, the magic of the marriage mart was not lost on Elizabeth. She still managed to see everything placed in front of her as an opportunity.
Seraphina nodded, a smile gracing her lips. “Indeed, it is a sight to behold. The attention to detail is impeccable. I can see why this event has been the talk of the ton.”
“Come now; you cannot say that our host has not wholly outdone herself this year,” Elizabeth asked as she grabbed the pair glasses of wine. Seraphina happily accepted hers.
Seraphina smirked. “Fine. I relent. She has spared no expense. I wish I could see it all with your enthusiasm. Instead, when I look out at this room, all I see are people waiting for me to do or say something gossip-worthy.”
“Perhaps you should shock them all by simply behaving?” Elizabeth teased with a giggle.
“Now, where would the fun in that be?” Seraphina laughed.
“There are some new faces, at the very least. You will have some variety to choose from.”
“I doubt there is any that shall strike an interest. My reputation tends to precede me at this point. Besides, endless conversations about the same thing are so exhausting. I do not know how you can tolerate it,” Seraphina answered easily.
“I still maintain that you are simply not as well versed in conversation as everybody has been fooled into thinking.” Elizabeth nudged her with her shoulder softly and then froze. “Oh my … do not look now., but I think things are going to get a lot more, uhm, interesting for you.”
Naturally, Seraphina turned to look immediately. Her heart dropped into her stomach with a sense of impending dread as her eyes settled on the same man Elizabeth had. None other than the insufferable man that she had the misfortune of being courted by during her first season, Lord Reginald Blackwood.
Seraphina’s stomach dropped. A feeling of dread leaving her cold.
She quickly spun away from him in hopes that he would not look at her either if she did not look at him.
“What is he doing here? I thought he had left for good after telling everybody I had broken his heart,” Seraphina remarked dryly. She had done no such thing, of course, but his ego would not have allowed him to leave London quietly. “I had hoped he would have found other pursuits to occupy his time.”
Elizabeth nodded, her gaze fixed on Lord Blackwood. “I heard he inherited a modest sum when his parents passed, but it seems insufficient to clear his outstanding debts. Perhaps that is why he has resurfaced.”
“It would not surprise me that he is looking for another wealthy young woman to wed,” Seraphina murmured, her tone tinged with a hint of resignation. “Financial troubles have a way of bringing people back into society’s spotlight, regardless of their intentions.”
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed with concern. “Do you think he holds any grudges against you? After all, you did reject his proposal.”
Seraphina’s gaze flickered towards Lord Blackwood once more before returning to Elizabeth. “It is possible. Rejection can often breed resentment. But I hope he has moved on, just as I have.”
Elizabeth placed a reassuring hand on Seraphina’s arm. “You made the right decision, my dear. A loveless marriage for the sake of convenience would have brought you nothing but sorrow. Your happiness should never be compromised. Besides, it serves him right for not being able to appreciate a good thing properly when he had it.”
Seraphina chanced an anxious glance over her shoulder, only to find Lord Blackwood’s beady gaze firmly locked on them. He did not even appear to blink. Seraphina had to repress a shudder.
“I cannot fathom why Lord Blackwood insists on staring at us,” Seraphina murmured, her tone tinged with annoyance. Given how roughly things had been ended between the two of them, it made even less sense. Had Mother seen that he was back yet?
She felt the urge to find her mother and express her clear discomfort about Lord Blackwood’s sudden attention to her. Was he going to attempt to stir up trouble? “It is quite impolite and rather unsettling.”
Elizabeth nodded, her eyes darting towards Lord Blackwood before returning to Seraphina. “Indeed, his gaze is rather relentless. It is as if he holds a grudge or harbours some sort of resentment towards you. I wonder what could have caused such lingering animosity.”
Seraphina’s brows furrowed, a mixture of confusion and frustration evident on her face. “Nothing that should not have been soothed by his three years outside London.”
Elizabeth’s expression turned thoughtful as she mused, “Perhaps it is his wounded pride. Rejection can breed resentment and fuel unrequited desires. But it is no excuse for his discourteous behaviour.”
Seraphina sighed, her gaze lingering on Lord Blackwood for a moment longer, the dread in her stomach growing before she turned her attention back to Elizabeth.
“Regardless of his motivations, I will not let his presence or unsettling gaze ruin our evening. Let us enjoy the festivities and pay him no mind. We have better things to occupy our thoughts and conversations.”
Elizabeth smiled, a determined glint in her eyes. “You are right, my dear Seraphina. Far more delightful and worthy gentlemen in this room deserve our attention. Let us revel in the joy of the evening and dismiss Lord Blackwood and his ill-mannered stares from our minds.”
