Page 6 of Healing the Duke's Desires
Sarah raised an amused eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Admiring, you say?”
Emily fought hard to keep her composure and not grin like a madwoman, which would reveal everything. But she was quite certain Sarah knew exactly what had happened, which she proved with her next words.
“May I remind you that this is me you are talking to, my dear sister,” Sarah teased. “For a moment there, it looked like you were under some sort of spell.”
Hoping her cheeks would not betray her unexpected reaction to a complete stranger, she playfully swatted her sister’s arm. “Would you stop being silly?”
“Only if you admit that you were smitten by this man,” Sarah replied playfully.
“I shall admit to no such thing.” Emily was adamant as she tried her best to push aside her infatuation. “Now, how about that lemonade?”
***
As soon as his gaze swept across the ballroom, Alexander couldn’t help but feel suffocated by the attention and expectations that came with his title. Not only that but he felt as if everyone knew every single thing about his life. He felt more naked under those gazes than ever before.
But then, his eyes locked with those of a lady across the room, and everything else seemed to fade away. He was captivated by her beauty and grace, and a sense of familiarity washed over him. She was dressed in pale blue, a color that reminded him of his late wife, and it stirred a bittersweet ache in his heart.
The woman herself held no resemblance to Amelia. Still, there was something that struck a chord with him, a deep yearning to hear this woman’s voice, to see her smile, as if they had known each other in a different life. As they walked on, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. He couldn’t help but wonder who she was and whether she was betrothed.
He frowned at this idea. He shouldn’t care about any of that. And yet, there was a magnetic pull between them, a connection he could offer no explanation for. This odd feeling left him both thrilled as well as unnerved. He finally looked away, feeling immediately that something was missing. He wanted her presence. He wanted to know more about her. So much more.
“Oh, I cannot believe we are finally here!” Rose exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “I have been looking forward to this ball for weeks!”
Her voice brought Alexander back to the present moment, making him forget about the mysterious lady with the magnetic gaze for a brief moment. He smiled at her, but before he could say anything, Rose continued in the same excited manner.
“And I am so happy to have you with us,” she added, squeezing his hand tenderly.
He couldn’t help but look at her with pride and fondness. Rose was truly a ray of sunshine, bringing joy and light to everyone she encountered. That was why this light needed to be protected, and Alexander knew only a special young man would be able to appreciate and love her in the way Rose deserved.
“May I fetch you something to drink?” he offered them both, remembering that the mysterious lady was standing next to the refreshments table, fetching a drink of her own. Perhaps he would be able to stumble onto her innocently and—
He turned in that direction as his mind swirled, but to his disappointment, she was gone. He quickly skimmed the ballroom, but he could not find her anywhere.
“Is everything all right, Alexander?” Helen inquired politely, standing next to him.
“Of course,” he was ready with a response, smiling as he did so. “I thought I saw a close friend of mine.”
“Oh?” Helen’s eyebrow rose. “Who is it?”
“It wasn’t him.” He shrugged dismissively, hoping that he had escaped further questioning. With Helen, one could never be too certain. “A lemonade?”
Chapter 4
“Emily, my dear,” her father spoke as he brought over the man whose presence Emily had been dreading all evening. “You remember my good friend, the Marquess of Thornton?”
Emily swallowed as she curtsied a little apprehensively before the man. “Of course. It is a pleasure to see you again, my lord.”
Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it was one of those meaningless courtesies one was forced to say, for one’s reputation depended on it. In this case, there was much more than just her reputation at stake, and Emily was painfully aware of that.
“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Emily.” The marquess grinned.
Even Emily had to admit that the marquess was a man of distinguished appearance. Though age had left a mark on him, she could imagine that once, a long time ago, he was a handsome man, albeit not in the conventionally accepted manner. His hair had already turned silver-gray, and his beard framed a strong jawline. His eyes, though, were too small, almost beady.
His face bore the marks of a life well-lived, with lines etched around his eyes and mouth, evidence of all sorts of emotions and life events. This made her even more concerned, for what did they have in common? His life was almost lived to its fullest, while hers was only beginning.
“May I have the pleasure of this dance?” the marquess suddenly pulled her away from the depths of her own thoughts.
She wanted to refuse, but she was not quick enough, as her father was already nudging her toward the marquess, silently signaling to her what was required of her.
