Page 13 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
The music filled his soul, his mind and body transfixed by the woman before him. Emilia’s talents for the pianoforte were unsurpassed, at least in the company that Adam kept. Even some of the professional concerts he had been to paled by comparison.
It was not just her precise and fluid technique that made the music seem to become a part of her, but the expressions and passion that danced across her face. She moved with the music, her eyes closed, barely needing to refer to the sheet in front of her at all. She became one with the instrument as though she were carved as part of the piano itself.
Despite his best efforts, Adam felt a tear break free, tracing a path down his cheek. It was as though, in the pit of his stomach, a cauldron of emotions had lurked for months with the lid tightly fastened. Now, as the music sent a tendril of joy and happiness through the room, the spiralling fingers of it prized open the lid, and everything began to burst free.
The music spoke of loss, resilience, light, and beauty that persists, even in the darkest depths of despair. For the first time since Anastasia’s death, Adam felt a spark of something bright and new ignite within him. It was a trembling, terrifying moment of recognition, surrounded by a room full of strangers, most of whom were listening with interest and admiration, butnothingof the soaring ecstasy Adam felt.
Time seemed to slow, the air thickening and growing stiflingly warm as the figure before him transformed. It wasno longer Emilia at the pianoforte but Anastasia—clear as day, impossibly vivid, and achingly beautiful. Her fingers glided over the keys, her voice humming softly in tune, and her form swayed in tender harmony with the melody.
Then she raised her gaze, and Adam’s heart stilled in that breathless, timeless moment that seemed to stretch into eternity.
How he had longed to see that kind gaze again, to look upon her gentle face and witness the warmth in her eyes once more. She leaned back, her fingers still playing, and she laughed. It was a high, magnificent sound that seemed to transcend the space, and for the first time, her memory did not trigger pain. Adam could feel the sadness, as he had always done—perhaps he always would—but beneath it, there was something else now. Under the chaos of his sorrow and grief was an undercurrent of bright, tender joy, and he allowed it to touch his heart as the tears fell in earnest.
Then the music stopped, and reality snapped back into place.
Emilia lifted her fingers from the keys and breathed a sigh of relief. The room erupted with applause from every quarter, and she rose, making a small courtesy to the company. She felt elated by her performance—not quite renewed, but certainly, as though she had proved her talents once more.
Her relief and gratitude were extinguished, however, when the Duke of Elderbridge immediately approached in front of her audience, eclipsing them from view with a smile that looked more like a smirk.
It is almost as though he is pleased with me.She thought.As though he were a tutor, and I had passed the first test.
He bowed to her, and she curtsied quickly, aware of how many eyes were now upon them.
“Lady Emilia, that was superb. " His deep voice grated at the back of his throat.
She forced a smile. “Thank you, your Grace. There is nothing I enjoy more than playing.
“And performing. You are very talented indeed.”
She felt the heat of an infuriating blush suffuse her cheeks. To anyone watching them, it would look like she was blushing at a compliment. In truth, she was merely out of practice at taking them. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration as a knowing gleam entered his eyes.
Can this man truly believe I am interested in him? He is old enough to be my father.
“I would request the first dance from you, my Lady. I have never been so pleased to be in the company of such a partner.”
The thought of allowing him to dance with her made her skin crawl, but she would not embarrass her mother and father in such a public setting.
“Of course, your Grace, I would be delighted,” she managedas her eyes flitted across the room to look at her parents. Her mother had her hands clasped before her in apparent glee, and her father looked exceedingly proud.
They are not proud of me for my playing. They are proud that my music has finally attracted a suitor.
There was a bitter taste in her mouth as the Duke of Elderbridge took her arm, and the crowd parted for them as though they were newlyweds.
They walked back toward the ballroom, the duke saying nothing on the journey as the bustle and babble of the crowd followed them over the highly polished floors of the entrance hall.
Entering the room, Emilia noticed the group of players in the corner were awaiting their arrival and as soon as she set foot inside, they began to play a waltz. Emilia glanced back ather mother, enraged at the possibility that this had all been by design, but her look of fury was wasted as her mother was whispering rapidly in her father’s ear.
She turned back to the floor and tried her best to relax. The worst thing she could do was put the duke off entirely. If she were too obvious with her innermost feelings, every single guest would observe it in an instant. Despite her own disgust at the match, anyone else in high society would see the duke as an ideal husband for her. She had to tread carefully to ensure she did not disgrace herself further.
As the rest of the couples congregated, Emilia felt the duke’s fingers settle in the small of her back and take her hand in his. She deliberately lowered her shoulders, trying to keep her face neutral as they began to move.
Passing around the edge of the dancefloor, Emilia felt a prickling at the back of her neck as though someone were watching her. Her face felt hot and uncomfortable, and she discreetly tried to glance at the crowd.
At the edge of the room, all three of the duke's daughters were standing in a line, like Grecian statues, staring at their father as he passed them. Emilia averted her gaze instantly, but the eldest, Sophia, had narrowed eyes, her fingers gripping the fan in her hands so tightly that she might break it. Penelope and Caroline whispered together incessantly, their eyes travelling over Emilia’s figure and making her miss a step in the dance.
The duke’s fingers tightened immediately around her, and Emilia endeavoured to regain her composure. To refuse the dance would have been unthinkable, yet now the implications of it seemed far worse. She was flooded with anxiety as she considered how this might look. With two weeks of the house party ahead of them, the duke would have no obstacles in his pursuit of her. She could not imagine how she would repel every single advance without causing offence.
“You are an excellent dancer,” the duke said, that same strange smile on his lips. Emilia didn’t believe he was intending to smirk, but he had a look of laughing arrogance that didn’t come over well.
