Page 7 of Healing the Duke's Desires
“Of course she accepts, my lord,” her father asserted whilst eyeing her gravely. Refusing would mean dire repercussions.
Emily inhaled, placing her hand in the marquess’. “As my father said, I would love it.”
He grinned even more broadly while she allowed him to lead her to the center of the ballroom, where other couples were already swirling to the sound of the waltz. She smiled back politely as he faced her to him. He started to move first and she simply followed, as she had been taught to do.
“It is a lovely ball, is it not?” she asked, seeking refuge and comfort in light conversation, not wanting to endure his silent gaze throughout the entire duration of the waltz.
“I suppose so,” he said indifferently, but he continued with more zeal. “Last year, I organized a ball at my country estate, and that truly was a testament to my family’s influence and standing.”
Emily remembered that ball well. There had been some mistake with the music and they had played the wrong song. Well, it wasn’t the wrong song, it was merely not the one that had been requested by the marquess, and she remembered the unnecessary commotion that followed, ending in one of the musicians being escorted off the premises for having been the main cause of the mistake.
It was all a rather silly reason to get so upset and even to throw a man out, but the marquess was adamant that mistakes needed to be rectified, and those who erred needed to be taught a lesson. It was just one of the things that frightened her about this man.
“It really was,” she decided to say, keeping most of her opinions to herself. She kept thinking that this waltz would end soon, and she would sneak off somewhere onto the terrace and hide away there with Sarah.
“Yes, my family has always taken great pride in hosting such gatherings,” he continued, staring her down. She even felt that he was holding her hand a little too tightly, almost as if she were a little bird and he was afraid that when he looked away, she might fly off. “It is essential for our reputation and of course, for securing advantageous alliances.”
Emily forced herself to maintain a pleasant façade, though inside, she felt a growing sense of discomfort. She decided to steer the conversation away from Tobias’s self-centered remarks.
She always believed that someone’s worth was seen through their actions and the way others spoke about him or her, not in the words one used to describe oneself. It seemed to her that the more time she spent with this man, the more assured she was of their utter incompatibility, and those were differences that were completely insurmountable.
“And here I was thinking that balls were for one to enjoy oneself.” She tried to lighten the conversation, but it was a weak effort that was met with more self-acknowledging remarks. She could see that this was where every conversation would end.
“Most certainly not,” he shook his head. “I have attended countless balls, and the purpose is always one and the same. That is why one always invites the most esteemed members of society. If they do not attend, the ball is a fiasco.”
Emily couldn’t help but think that he did not consider her family among those esteemed members. To be quite honest, they were not, especially with the financial state they were currently in. She didn’t know what to say to that, to keep the conversation on neutral ground. Fortunately, she didn’t need to say anything because he continued in the same direction.
“Tonight, I must admit that I am not focused on creating an advantageous alliance, but rather, on dancing with you,” he said without any emotion in his voice. In all honesty, she doubted that he was able to convey any emotions through words. Maybe not even in actions. He seemed stiff and grave, the opposite of what she considered attractive in a man, whatever age he was.
“That is most kind of you to say, my lord,” she replied courteously, counting the seconds until the end of this waltz, after which she swore she would find her sister and hide somewhere until the end of the night.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” He tried to smile, revealing a row of slightly uneven teeth. “I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting partner. But then again, it is easy to lead someone as skilled in dancing as you.”
She resisted frowning. He’d tried to compliment her, and yet it had somehow ended up being a compliment to himself again.
“Thank you,” she echoed, hoping her eyes would not betray her real emotions.
“Your father assures me that you sing and play the pianoforte with equal skill,” he told her in a way that almost sounded as if he needed convincing in order to believe that.
“I would not call myself overly skillful in any of those fields.” She shook her head, allowing herself to look away for a moment. She longed for the safety of her sister’s presence and that corner where no one would bother them until the end of the festivities.
He frowned, not liking her answer one bit. “If what your father says is not the truth, I accept your words. If it is, I assure you that false modesty is not a trait I want in a woman. Facts should be accepted as they are, without diminishing their worth.”
Emily felt as if she had said the wrong thing without even saying anything. Her stomach clenched with unease. The only way to be right with this man was to agree with everything he said, and she hadn’t been taught to be silent and obedient. At least, not up until this moment.
“Still, one needs to be humble even when there is reason to boast,” she reminded him as politely as she could, which sent the man into yet another tirade regarding the true state of things.
If she were to be completely honest, Emily wasn’t even listening to him. All she could hear were snippets of his monologue, which he seemed all too content in sharing.
“… facts… boast… my family… renowned… myself…”
Emily didn’t even try to make heads or tails of what he was saying. Obviously, he didn’t care whether she was really listening to him. He simply wished to make a point by talking. She looked to her side and noticed that her sister was dancing to the same man who had been introduced to them during the previous ball.
Henry Wilcott was the son of a rather wealthy and successful merchant, but still, he had no title, and as such, Emily knew he would not be approved of in the eyes of her father. But the look in her sister’s eyes told her everything she needed to know.
Suddenly, the music ceased, and Emily thanked her lucky stars that it was so. The marquess escorted Emily across the ballroom to where her mother and father were standing. She could see the look of disapproval as her father stared at Sarah and Henry, but that all changed hastily when Emily approached him with the marquess.
“Ah, you two looked splendid together,” her father gushed theatrically. “I do believe you were the most skilled dancers of them all.”
