Page 52 of An Earl's Christmas Seduction
“I think that’s enough ghost stories for one evening. You can sing us a song now, viscount,” he said, and as the candles were lit, and the atmosphere in the room returned to one of festive cheer, Amelia turned to find Nicholas smiling at her.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I thought perhaps you might’ve been scared,” he said, and Amelia shook her head.
“No, I wasn’t scared. It was just…unexpected,” she replied.
Chapter 16
The viscount insisted on some music, but instead of singing, there were calls for dancing.
“But there isn’t enough room for dancing,” Lady Turner said.
“Oh, Mother, don’t spoil our fun. We can push the furniture back and roll up the rugs,” Isobel said.
“Do say yes, Nicholas?” Clara said, and Nicholas nodded.
“I’m only too happy for you to dance. It’s Christmas, isn’t it? I’d be something of a philistine if I forbade it. Are we to be accused of Cromwellian Puritanism?” he asked, and the others laughed.
The furniture was duly moved back, and though the proportions of the room were hardly that of a grand London ballroom, the space would certainly suffice for the number of couples to be made up.
“Will ye play the pianoforte for us, Mrs. Bennett? Somethin’ lively,” the viscount said, and Mrs. Bennett sat down to oblige them.
“Anything to cure us of our memories of Lord Thornton’s ghastly tales,” she said, running her fingers across the keys.
“Or Harry could play the Spanish guitar. Couldn’t you, Harry?” Nicholas said, and Harry looked suddenly embarrassed.
“Do you play the Spanish guitar, Harry?” Isobel exclaimed, and Harry nodded.
Isobel clapped her hands together in delight, and the other guests insisted on Harry bringing forth his instrument. He did with some reluctance, and Mrs. Bennett sat back from the pianoforte, informing Sir Samuel she wanted to dance.
“If Harry plays the Spanish guitar as well is said, we shall have a jolly dance,” she said, taking her husband’s hand.
Amelia was standing next to her mother. There was an awkward atmosphere between them due to the unresolved tensions of their conversation before dinner. Amelia now turned to her mother to clear the air between them.
“Did you enjoy the ghost stories, mother?” Amelia asked.
“I did, yes. Though I didn’t think I would. I don’t like to be scared…no one does,” she said, and Amelia nodded.
“That’s very true, mother. I don’t like it, either. I don’t like to be scared by the thought of secrets between us,” she said, and her mother sighed.
“Believe me, Amelia. You wouldn’t say that if you knew the truth. Please, just forget about it. It doesn’t matter. They were idle words,” she said, but Amelia shook her head.
“Not to me, they weren’t. And not to Nicholas, either,” she replied.
Her mother looked at her in surprise.
“What do you mean?” she said, and Amelia smiled.
“If you’ll have your secrets, Mother, I’ll have mine,” she said, glancing over at Nicholas, glad to know how much he desired her.
But still she wondered what had preoccupied him earlier in the evening, and as Harry struck up a waltz on the Spanish guitar, and the viscount marshaled the other couples into a dance, Amelia hoped it would not be long before she was in Nicholas’ arms again.
“I knew she’d be the first,” Clara whispered, nodding towards where Constance was insisting on dancing with Nicholas.
Amelia nodded. She had expected as much, and now she watched the couple dancing awkwardly. There was no grace or poise, no desire, even on Constance’s part. It was as though everything was for show, which it was. Constance wanted to be seen as the natural choice for betrothal to Nicholas. but Amelia knew better, and as the waltz ended, and the viscount called for another dance to begin immediately, she caught Nicholas’ eye.
“Will you dance with me?” he asked, coming over to her and holding out his hand.
It would appear odd to refuse, and Amelia had no intention of doing that. Taking his hand, they stepped into the throng.
