Page 44 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“I will go and prepare now, I think,” she murmured.
“Of course,” Sebastian agreed. “I’ll follow in a moment or two. I haven’t so much preparation to do.”
Eleanor giggled. “Of course,” she replied.
Sebastian smiled and sat in the drawing room as she hurriedoff. He leaned back, his senses still reeling from his longing for her. He breathed in, trying to calm himself. He felt his lips lift in a smile. He had, at least, been able to comfort her. For the last few weeks, he had felt a little useless—all he seemed to have to offer was a place for her to sleep. Now, at least, she had talked to him, confided in him. That was a relief.
He pushed back his chair, ready to go down to his own room to get dressed. He smiled to himself. He had attended a hundred balls, he was sure, but he had not had this sweet knot of anticipation in his stomach before. This was entirely different, and he was looking forward to seeing what Eleanor and the seamstress had planned for her to wear. Perhaps she would be able to use his gift, if it matched her dress. It was going to be a very pleasant evening.
Chapter 17
The sky was velvet dark outside the windows of the ballroom. Sebastian drew in a breath. Around him, the big room was bustling with activity—the servants had brought the food and drinks from the kitchen, and the footmen were putting finishing touches to the tables. The floor gleamed where all the maids of the staff had polished it until the marble tiles seemed to glow in the sparkling light of the four big chandeliers. The candles were four-hour candles, their longer length such that they would burn for four hours. The ball would end at midnight. Sebastian gazed around the splendid room with its soaring ceiling and long columns, his hand moving to his cravat. It felt too tight.
“Where is she?” he murmured aloud.
Beside him, his father—who had been so quiet that Sebastian had almost forgotten he’d come in—murmured a reply.
“She will appear soon, Sebastian.” He smiled. His face was tired, new wrinkles carved into his cheeks since his apoplectic attack. He wore a pale brown tailcoat and brown breeches, his high-necked shirt also sporting an elaborate cravat.
“I know,” Sebastian replied. He felt his stomach knot uncomfortably. Eleanor had gone to dress more than half an hour before, and she had still not come down to greet the guests. They were going to start arriving at any moment, and she was still not there.
“She’s a lady. It’s her prerogative to take as much time dressing as she needs,” Papa said with a small smile.
“I know, Papa,” Sebastian said impatiently. He gazed out over the room. Eleanor should be here enjoying it—it wasbeautiful. The musicians had set up and were starting to tune up together, the slow slide of their bows over the strings filling the room with a sweet, if discordant, harmony. Sebastian felt his heart thud. He had not felt so excited, or so nervous, about a ball since he attended the first ball he’d ever been to.
“And if the guests arrive, what matters it?” Papa asked kindly. “We can greet them as well as she can.”
Sebastian smiled. “I know, but they’ll expect that she...”
“We’ll tell them she’s getting ready,” Papa said with a smile. “I think anyone will understand that.”
“Papa...” Sebastian breathed out. He wasn’t only impatient for the guests’ sake. He wanted to see her.
“Here he is,” Papa commented, as the butler arrived, and Matthew wandered up to them almost at the same instant.
“Lord Edmore,” the butler announced. Matthew grinned.
“Good evening,” he said to Sebastian and his father, as though he’d just arrived. Sebastian sighed.
“Good evening, Matthew,” he greeted him, an ironic smile on his face. “What a surprise.”
“I’ll bet,” Matthew said with a grin. “I am certain you weren’t expecting a thing.”
Sebastian inclined his head. “I’ll expect you to save some sandwiches for me,” he told Matthew as his friend wandered off into the ballroom.
“I’ll do my best,” Matthew replied.
Sebastian breathed out. At least the first guest to arrive was his friend. He glanced at Papa, who was standing calmly, staring at the door.
“Lord and Lady Anselm, and their son, Lord Hugh,” the butler intoned loudly.
Sebastian inclined his head as the earl and his wife wandered up, and shook hands with him and his son, bowing to his wife.
“Sebastian! A fine evening, eh? A pleasure to see you. You look so well,” Lord Anselm commented with a smile.
“Thank you,” Sebastian replied, feeling tense. Where was she?
Papa and the earl chatted for a moment or two, and then they all wandered into the hall. Sebastian’s stomach knotted. The guests were starting to arrive swiftly now, the butler already announcing two more as the first lot went down the small flight of stairs into the room.
