Page 45 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“Lord Grantley and Lady Amelia.”
“Good evening,” Sebastian greeted them, bowing politely and shaking hands.
The guests drifted past after exchanging a few pleasantries, and Sebastian felt nauseous. Where was she? Had she fallen asleep? Should he go and send her maid to wake her?
“Lady Newcliffe and her son, the Honorable Mr. Ellingate, and her daughter, the Honorable Miss Ellingate.”
Sebastian bowed and greeted the party of guests, his stomach knotting up with tension.
“Lady Glenfield.”
Sebastian blinked and stared.
The hall—which had seemed so full of color and life just a second before—seemed suddenly dull and dreary. There, in the doorway, caught by the light of the candles, stood the most stunning creature he had ever set eyes on.
Clad in a green silk gown, the skirt falling from a high waistband, the sleeves brief puffs of silk, Eleanor seemed to shine in the candlelight. Her skin glowed, and her lovely pale brown hair was ringleted and brushed until it shone, decorated with a brief ribbon. She smiled and turned towards him, and his heart stopped. Her hazel eyes—the green in them brought out by the dress—seemed to glow and her smile was radiant.
He forgot, for a moment, how to breathe.
“Eleanor,” he greeted her breathlessly, as she came to stand beside him. “You look...you look...” He swallowed. He didn’t know what to say. “You’re beautiful,” he managed, his cheeks flaring. He looked at the ground for a moment. He had come to see her as beautiful every day, loving the sweet, dirt-speckled creature who held his hand and told enchanting stories in the same way she dug determinedly in the garden and organized the cleaning staff. She was a delight and he admired and respected her. Seeing her like this, a mysterious beauty he barely knew, radiant and smiling in her green gown...this was something entirely new.
“Thank you,” she said, her smile dimpling her cheeks sweetly as she looked down at her silk-clad feet for a moment.
He smiled at her, then glanced down at her neck where the low neck of the gown revealed it.
“You’re wearing the gift,” he murmured.
“Yes,” she replied, smiling at him. “It matched perfectly.”
“It does,” he breathed back.
He had ordered her an emerald pendant in London, on a gold chain, the emerald as big as the nail of his small finger and set between two tiny diamonds. He had chosen the stone without much thought, other than that the rich green color had reminded him of her eyes.
Now, he stared at it. It suited her perfectly.
He glowed with warmth. He felt proud, seeing the necklace around her lovely neck. He had bought her that gift, and it suited her so well. He felt his lips lift with a smile and when the next guests appeared, he shook their hands quite vigorously.
“Lord Avebury and his wife, Lady Avebury.”
More guests poured in, and Sebastian bowed and shook hands and greeted and asked after relatives until he thought his back might break. He looked around at the hall, seeing how full it was with people. The noise was becoming louder, too, thechatter and laughter of the guests making it almost impossible to talk, even on the stairs where they stood.
The butler announced more guests, raising his own voice to carry over the noise of so many people chattering.
Sebastian greeted them and then, blessedly, the butler went to the doors.
“That must be all the guests,” Papa commented, turning to smile at them.
“Good.” Sebastian let out a sigh of relief. His feet hurt and he longed to talk with Eleanor. He turned to face her, and she smiled at him. “Shall we go down to join in the revelry?” he asked her with a smile.
“Yes. I think we should,” Eleanor said with a smile.
Sebastian bowed, his heart thumping. He felt oddly shy with her, though she had slept in his bed. This was the first time he had escorted her to a ball, and he glowed as he walked down the stairs with her on his arm.
“Well,” he murmured as they reached the floor. “This is pleasant.”
“It is,” Eleanor said with a grin. “Though I say so myself.”
He laughed aloud. “As you should,” he said with a smile. “It’s a terrific ball.”
