Page 50 of Healing the Duke's Desires
The marquess continued on, talking about all the important people who would be attending their wedding, and it was obvious that he wasn’t telling her that because he expected her to reply. He merely enjoyed the sound of his own voice, feeling important that his wedding would be attended by highly esteemed people.
With each step, Emily’s heart whispered Alexander’s name. The memory of their conversations, their shared laughter, and the way he looked at her with genuine interest fueled her determination. As the marquess twirled her across the dance floor, Emily’s mind indulged in the possibilities.
She imagined a life where she could break free from the constraints of her societal obligations, a life where love and choice were not dictated by others. Her hopes soared, her steps growing lighter as she envisioned a future that held promise beyond the walls of the ballroom.
***
Alexander’s own hopes soared upon walking into the ballroom and seeing that Emily was there, looking as breathtaking as ever. But with her in the arms of that despicable man, all he could do was curl his fingers into fists helplessly as he watched them among the other dancers. He was unable to stop looking at them, staring at them even.
A knot of jealousy tightened in his chest. The memory of their first meeting came rushing back, and he couldn’t shake the recollection of the marquess’ haughty and dismissive behavior. The sight of them together stirred a mix of anger and frustration, coupled with a deep yearning to be the one by Emily’s side.
Rose, who had been standing next to him the entire time, seemed to notice that his gaze had become increasingly fixated on the dancing couples. She nudged him gently, raising an eyebrow as she spoke.
“Isn’t that Emily?” she wondered, although from the tone of her voice he could conclude that she already knew the answer to that question.
Alexander tore his eyes away from the dancing couple. He nodded, turning his attention to Rose. “Yes.”
“If you will permit me to say…” Rose went on, slightly apologetically, but there was something urging her to continue. “It appears that your attentions are quite captivated by her.”
Alexander suspected his cousin was offended by the lack of attention she was receiving on his part. “I apologize, Rose. I assure you that isn’t—”
“I daresay, one could hardly blame you,” she cut him off, revealing that this had nothing to do with her. She wasn’t feeling offended or neglected in the slightest. She was exposing his own emotions, and that was the most frightening thing, the fact that it was obvious to those around him. He was unable to hide his feelings towards Emily any longer.
He sighed softly, attempting to downplay the complex mixture of emotions that were swirling inside of him right now. “It appears to be more than it really is.” He tried dissuading her, but at the expense of lying to her, and even worse, lying to himself, which he was unable to do. Maintaining indifference toward Emily was impossible.
Rose’s laughter was a refined and melodious sound, tinged with gentle amusement, the likes of which he had rarely seen in her. For her tender years, she was very observant. He had witnessed this numerous times before.
“But your sentiments are as transparent as fine crystal,” she remarked, still with that amused hint in her voice. “One could scarcely deny the evident fondness you hold for the young lady.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his attire, the swell of emotions within him impossible to dismiss. It was true; he couldn’t hide the truth any longer. His feelings for Emily were undeniable. She had bewitched him from their very first meeting, and now, seeing her waltzing with the marquess, that despicable man of all people, only inflamed his emotions further.
Rose didn’t wait for him to reply. Instead, she pushed on, forcing him to come out of his shell—which was, surprisingly, exactly what he needed right now.
“Instead of sulking that she is dancing with another gentleman, why not do something about it?” she wondered, teasing him, like they used to do when they were children, but it was actually he who had done most of the teasing. Now, the tables had turned at the most surprising moment.
“I’m not sulking,” he said, like a little child being scolded by his governess. This amused them both.
“Request the pleasure of her company for the next dance,” Rose suggested. “It is a splendid opportunity to spend some time… well, almost alone with her.”
“Who says I want to be alone with her?” he asked, but again, it was obvious that they were both on the verge of chuckling loudly.
“You can lie to me if you want,” Rose said wisely with a smirk on her face. “But you can’t lie to yourself.”
Alexander sighed heavily. “I already know this, Rose.” He took a step aside, then tilted his head to take a closer look at her. “You know, you almost sound like Stirling.”
“He is known for giving sound advice.” Rose smiled. “When Father died, his words really comforted me. I should be so fortunate as to give such wise advice as him.”
Alexander smiled back. Her counsel was akin to a gentle nudge, and that seemed to instill him with the courage he needed.
He drew in a deep breath, overwhelmed with newfound determination. “You know what?” he asked rhetorically. “You are right. I should not permit this moment to elude me.”
Who knows when I will have another one,a little voice asked him deep inside his mind, and Alexander knew it to be true. He had learned to trust his gut feeling about important things in life.
He turned to Emily once more, watching as she glided across the polished floor in the arms of the marquess. Every step she took seemed to radiate a mesmerizing elegance that drew his heart toward her more and more, intertwining them until he knew the knot would be too tight.
The soft glow of the chandeliers cast a gentle light upon her, illuminating the intricate details of her gown and the sparkle in her eyes. The music swirled around them, a serenade that seemed tailor-made for her, and her laughter chimed like the sweetest of melodies.
He he wanted some of this magic for himself. Actually, who was trying to fool? He wanted all of that magic for himself. His heart soared with an intensity that surpassed mere infatuation.
