Page 6 of Courting the Earl
Lydia shook her head, her blond curls bouncing. “No. I’m just glad we won’t be sitting at home this evening with nothing to do.” She was practically vibrating with excitement.
Eleanor had to admit her cousin’s happiness was infectious. It didn’t hurt that Lydia had marched into her room that evening and chosen Eleanor’s gown herself. And so instead of one of the more demure dresses she’d planned to wear, Eleanor was wearing a lavender gown that was quite fetching against her dark hair. Eleanor’s eyes were still brown, but overall she thought she looked pretty enough even though she was quite a bit taller than most of the women present. She’d never be the beauty her cousin was, but then most women could never attain that level of perfection.
And tonight her scalp wouldn’t ache when she took down her hair. Lydia had forbidden her from wearing her hair so tightly. Instead, she sported a loose chignon and a few curls framed her face. She wasn’t on a par with her cousin of course, but she felt pretty. Perhaps someone would even ask her to dance.
Finally it was their turn, and her aunt and uncle stepped into the ballroom. She and Lydia followed as the butler announced them.
Eleanor’s eyes swept over the spacious room, taking in the high ceilings and candlelit chandeliers. And there were so many people. It took her several seconds to realize that all those people were staring at them. Or rather, they were all looking at Lydia. And then the whispering started.
Eleanor loved her cousin, she really did, but she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have even one person look at her in the same way everyone was now staring at Lydia.
Chapter 4
Unlike the growing crowds of people filling the large ballroom, Geoffrey wasn’t thrilled to be attending the Clarington ball. But since this was the battlefield upon which his current war would be waged, here he was. Along with what seemed to be every other member of society minus his sister and brother-in-law. Abigail was quite far into her pregnancy and went to bed early most evenings, so he’d have to face tonight on his own.
He’d considered making himself odious to Miss Lydia Pearson so the young woman would beg her father to end the betrothal but had quickly discarded that plan. If he were the only one affected by his actions, he would have no issue acting the cad to drive her away. But he needed to consider his sister. Causing a scandal would hurt her far more than it would him.
Viscount Holbrook sidled up next to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Try not to look as though you’re being led to your death.”
Geoffrey scowled at him, which caused Holbrook to chuckle. He wouldn’t admit as much, but he was glad he wasn’t entirely alone.
By unspoken agreement, they moved off to the edge of the room. Most people were congregating closer to the entrance so they could scrutinize each new guest as they were announced.
Holbrook was busy examining the guests who were already present. “Tell me about this young woman you’ll be marrying.”
Geoffrey clasped his hands behind his back. Of course Holbrook knew about that. The man seemed to know everything. Since an announcement wouldn’t be made until the end of the season, he must have heard about the betrothal from Abigail.
He scanned the ballroom again. He hadn’t heard Appleby’s family being announced, but then he hadn’t really been paying attention as the butler droned on with the seemingly unending list of guests. He hadn’t been there long, and he was already tempted to escape to the card room.
“Did my sister send you here to keep an eye on me?”
Holbrook chuckled. “Believe it or not, it was her husband.”
Geoffrey had a hard time imagining that conversation. Holbrook seemed to go out of his way to annoy Geoffrey’s brother-in-law, flirting with Abigail outrageously whenever Cranston was present.
“I’m amazed he even speaks to you.”
Holbrook shrugged. “We’ve come to an understanding. And most importantly, he loves and trusts his wife. Even if I wanted to try my hand at tempting her away…”
Geoffrey scowled at the man.
One corner of Holbrook’s mouth quirked up. “I consider your sister a friend, nothing more. I had a duty to look out for her when my bastard of a great-uncle died and left his widow with very little to provide for herself and her daughter.”
“That’s not how Cranston tells the story of your friendship.”
Holbrook chuckled. “Cranston was being willfully stubborn about his wife. Everyone but her could see he was obsessed with her. I did what I could to make him realize that he had to stop pushing her away.”
Geoffrey could just imagine how that went. “I’m surprised the man didn’t call you out.”
Holbrook winced. “Would you believe that I sought him out and threatened to call him out if he hurt your sister? This was before they were married of course.”
Geoffrey couldn’t hold back a bark of laughter. How had he never heard this story? “My brother-in-law is a crack shot. He would have killed you.”
Holbrook rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I realize now that I came perilously close to meeting my death after issuing that threat. But that’s all in the past. We’ve reached a truce. He loves your sister, and he realizes now that my interest in her was never romantic. Which is why he told me about your situation.”
Geoffrey’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darted to one of the exits he’d made a point of noting after arriving. He could still slip out to the card room.
Holbrook moved in front of him. “Tell me you’re not planning to cause a scene. There’s already enough talk swirling around about your sister. Any scandal you cause to escape this betrothal will impact her.”
