Page 68 of A Duke Reformed
Solomon stilled.
For a moment, the noise of the ballroom faded. The voices, the violins...none of it touched him. All he could see was her, and against his will, something in his chest eased. He had missed her. More than he had admitted. More than he had understood.
Solomon crossed the room swiftly, his eyes never leaving her. All he could see in that moment, all he could feel, was her.
He stopped in front of her, bowing his head slightly in greeting. "Miss Lockhart," he breathed. "May I speak with you? Alone."
Emma blinked. Her lips parted, but no sound came. She was visibly stunned. Her hands twitched slightly, and the glass of wine in her hand faltered.
When she did not answer, he asked again, clearing his throat first, "Emma? A moment."
The silence between them stretched, taut and uncertain. Emma just stared at him, blinking constantly.
Cecilia looked from Solomon to Emma, then gave Solomon a discreet smile. "I shall go admire the flower arrangements. I hear the Marquees' gardener is famous for his...peonies." She gave Emma a quick squeeze on the arm and slipped away, leaving them alone in the corner of the ballroom.
The moment Cecilia stepped away, the silence continued to stretch between them. The music swelled in the background, people scattered around, but Solomon didn't move. He stayed close, yet careful to give her space.
Emma glanced around, uncertain, then looked up at him. "You're here," she said quietly, as though the sight of him still hadn't settled into her mind.
"Did you come for the ball, Your Grace?" She seemed to have gathered herself, as the fierce look in her eyes that he was all too familiar with returned.
Solomon's eyes searched hers as he took in the moment. His first instinct was to tell her the truth. That he had come back for her, that he hadn't slept a full night since learning of her supposed engagement, that every hour away from her had been tormented by confusion and longing.
But he stopped himself.
He paused to consider. What good would it do to lay himself bare? What if she didn't care? What if she had meant to push him away? He would confront her, and that would be the end of it. What reason would he have to see her again?
"I had some things to take care of in town. Lord Alexander's ball seemed as good a place as any to start the evening."
He paused and offered her a small smile. "Also, I didn't want to miss your wedding."
Emma blinked, startled. "My... ?"
"Wedding. To Edmund," he clarified smoothly, eyes locked on hers. "You are engaged, are you not? I assume the wedding is soon. I thought I ought to extend my congratulations in person."
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. "Oh, yes. That is quite thoughtful of you, Your Grace," she finally said. "Thank you. Preparations are going well."
He nodded slowly. "How is Edmund?" he asked, placing both hands behind his back. "I hope everything is truly going well. If there's anything I can do to help with the preparations, do let me know."
"We have everything covered, Your Grace," she replied hastily this time. "Edmund is taking care of everything."
Solomon's jaw tightened as a rush of jealousy spiked through him. He should have expected it. Should have braced himself for her to double down on the lie. Yet, it still stung. Why was she so determined to keep the lie up?
"Well, I should be congratulating you as well, shouldn't I?" Emma's voice snapped him back to reality. She crossed her arms over her chest, staring intently at him.
"Congratulate me?" Solomon's brow creased. "I beg your pardon?"
"Why, yes," she responded. "Your engagement. In the North. I imagine your bride is thrilled."
Solomon blinked, completely thrown. "My bride?"
Solomon stared at her, then slowly glanced around the ballroom. Now the stares made sense. He had dismissed them as nothing earlier, but he could not deny that the attention was more intense than before.
"What exactly did you hear?" he asked and crossed his arms too. "What news of mine has spread all the way to London?"
Emma's chin lifted in defiance. "They say you went to the North not for business, but for a proposal. Marriage with the daughter of a powerful lord there. That you've even rented an estate to begin the transition."
Solomon didn't answer right away. His silence stretched long enough that Emma shifted on her feet, unsettled. He blinked, taking in her words. Then he gave a low breath, the kind that masked irritation under restraint. "I see."
